While Apple never provides exact information on the amount of RAM they manage to build into their mobile devices, speculation and teardowns in the past always offered good indication and proof of the specs of iPhones, iPod touches and iPads. We know the iPhone 4 has 512 MB of RAM (likely to jump up to 1 GB this summer with the iPhone 5) and the iPad 1 only featured 256 MB of memory. The iPad 2 was announced yesterday, and now the question is: how much RAM does the A5-powered new tablet have?

According to a Korean semiconductor analyst quoted by AppleInsider, the iPad 2 has double the RAM of its predecessor – 512 MB. The analyst apparently also revealed through a series of tweets that Apple is using LPDDR2 memory in the iPad, contrary to LPDDR1 from the original iPad.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of Concord Securities also told AppleInsider that the RAM in the iPad 2 would run at a higher clock speed of 1,066MHz for greater memory bandwidth than the 800MHz memory in the iPhone 4.

Kuo also indicated back in January that the iPad 2 would have LPDDR2 RAM at a speed of 1,066MHz, corroborating Lee’s more recent claims. Kuo said the memory would be supplied by both Samsung and Hynix.

Previous rumors pointed to the iPad 2 featuring 512 MB or 1 GB of RAM. Someone got it right eventually, but we think the most important achievement for Apple isn’t the amount of RAM or Ghz in the A5 – rather, we’d focus on the improved specs in a thinner design that yet haven’t compromised the battery life. That should be the most important thing in the consumer experience and, together with a faster and snappier device, what will make sure Apple sells millions of this thing this year, again.

Update: Softpedia also notes that the iMovie for iPad webpage should confirm the new device has 512 MB of RAM. In fact, the app won’t work on the iPad 1 but it already does on the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G which, guess what, have 512 MB of RAM.

It looks like with the second-generation iPad Apple is really trying to replicate the distribution success of the first one. Indeed, Steve Jobs said yesterday that with a US launch on March 11 and a wider rollout in (at least) 26 more countries by March 25 this thing will be “everywhere”. But not just Apple retail stores, which helped getting the original iPad in the hands of millions of consumers last year.

Best Buy has already confirmed on their website they will have the iPad 2 at launch. 9to5mac speculates same will happen with Sam’s Club and Walmart – these are all current retailers of the iPad 1 and we wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the iPad 2 being available again through their channels.

So now the question is: will you get a white or black iPad 2?

Good question. This big, compared to the first iPad:

We’re not entirely sure about the 1.8x figure provided by our friend Nils, but taking a look at another photo from the Engadget liveblog seems to confirms we have three bigger battery packs now built right into the (thinner) iPad.

Apple’s tech specs page says it’s a “built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery” with up to 10 hours of usage.

In the weeks that lead to the official iPad 2 announcement today, you might remember some leaked case designs for the new device suggested there was a new “mystery port” at the top of the device. Some speculated it was USB, some said Mini DisplayPort, some even guessed it could be a port for the new Thunderbolt technology Apple launched with the new MacBook Pros last week.

Well it turns out, the case manufacturers were right, the rumors were not. There is indeed an opening in the top part, but it’s for the iPad’s internal microphone that’s been relocated in the middle instead of next to the headphone jack.

So, no Thunderbolt. But that mic sure must be beautiful to look and whisper at. [MacRumors via Engadget]

With the iPad 2 about to hit the shelves, what’s going to happen to the original iPad? Well, Apple is apparently getting rid of remaining stock with a discounted price. In the “clearance” section of the Apple Online Store, you can see the 16 GB base model is now available at $100 off the original price. Other models come with a similar discount.

Again, this seems to be a temporary offer until iPad 1 stock runs out. So if you really want one, be quick! [Thanks, Luke]