Apple’s New iPAD Review
Apple’s New iPAD Review-
Apple’s New iPAD, iPAD 3 or just IPAD you can say whatever you like to call the New Tablet of Apple because Apple has not given any name to it is an upgraded version of iPAD 2. For the people those are already using Ipad 2 won’t find it any revolutionary as it is a copy of its previous version of Ipad 2 with retina display and enhancement GPU.
If you are going to buy iPAD first time then this New iPAD will be a must buy product to you to feel retina display and its many eye catchers features.
Retina Display that makes everything looks superbly crisp, an updated A5X processor bringing quad-core graphics and a 5MP camera on the rear with a VGA sensor on the front.
The iPad 3 is also the device that brings iOS 5.1 to the masses (well, it’s also on the likes of the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 as well)
The design of the iPad 3 isn’t really anything different from the original duo from Apple’s tablet range. Actually, while we’re thinking about it, it looks almost identical to the iPad 2 – to the point you’d struggle to tell them apart when turned off.
Let’s see what are the key features of iPAD 3–
Key features
- 9.7″ LED-backlit IPS LCD touchscreen, 2048 x 1536 pixels; scratch-resistant, oleophobic coating
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity, carrier-dependent hotspot support
- Optional LTE connectivity (data only)
- Optional GPS with A-GPS support (for the 3G model only)
- Apple A5X SoC with 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor
- PowerVR SGX543MP4 quad-core GPU
- 1GB RAM
- iOS 5.1 with iCloud support and activation
- 16/32/64GB of inbuilt storage
- Weight of 652 grams (662 grams for the LTE version)
- Bluetooth 4.0
- 11,560 mAh battery
- Accelerometer, compass and three-axis gyro-sensor
- Compatible with every iPad and iPhone app without any modifications
- The cheapest version costs less than a SIM-free iPhone
- 5MP auto-focus camera
- 1080p video recording at 30fps
- VGA secondary camera capable of FaceTime calls
- Four and five-finger gestures
- 1080p TV-output with the Apple Digital AV Adapter (purchased separately for $39), 720p video streaming
- Supports magnetic cases
The package contains:
- iPad
- USB cable
- Wall Charger
- Quick Start Guide
- Product Safety & Warranty Information
Build & Design
The iPad 3, is only marginally thicker and a little heavier than the iPad 2, and if you pick it up with no knowledge of the former, you’ll likely be mighty impressed.
Apple’s latest tablet is thicker (by 0.6mm), heavier (by 50g) and has no identifying numbers or letters to its name.
However, the third-generation iPad 3 is also faster, more powerful, has by far the best screen ever seen on a tablet.
The curved edges, the oleo phobic scratch-proof glass and the aluminium chassis are all the kind of thing that some Android tablets have tried to ape and failed. Of course, many will prefer the feather-light frames of some of the Samsung models but, like the screen, it really comes down to personal preference.
The iconic home button is back once again, despite rumours of its demise, and is easy to reach and hit within the thick bezel.
The rest of the buttons are all clustered tightly together in the top left-hand corner of the iPad 3, with the rocker/volume key, the mute/orientation switch and power/lock key all within an inch of one another.
Around the rear, shutterbugs will be extremely happy to find a respectable 5-megapixel auto-focus camera sans flash – now dubbed the iSight camera. Instead of that despicable camera from before, this one is already shaping out to be a welcome replacement because its sensor features backside illumination and a F2.4 aperture lens. In fact, this is exactly what’s found with its iPhone 4S sibling (save for the 8MP sensor), so yeah, it’s a nice improvement – though, there is still some awkwardness snapping photos with a tablet in public.
Lastly, it doesn’t get much notoriety amongst other things, but the same micro dots line the lower left corner of the milled aluminum casing, thus, shielding the iPad’s internal speaker.
Display –
iPAD 3 has packed a huge amount more pixels into the 9.7-inch screen – 1536 x 2048 to be exact. However, despite the fact that the Cupertino brand makes a big thing about the 330 PPI density of the iPhone 4, we’re looking at a screen that’s technically a lot less sharp than its Smartphone brethren – around 264PPI.
The Apple Retina Display smooths out edges and renders text pin-sharp so ebooks, websites and documents are so much easier on the eye. There’s better contrast, greater definition with still and moving images, and better colour saturation – an improvement of 44 per cent over the iPad 2, Apple reckons.
The colour reproduction will also appeal to many, as it’s pretty close to reality – it lacks the punch of the Super AMOLED HD screens seen on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note for instance, but it will depend on personal preference as to whether that’s a good thing.
Performance
Users coming from the iPad 2 won’t feel a performance increase. The iPad 3 feels exactly the same as the old one and that’s pretty fast and fluid.
The iPad 3 runs over dual-core processor with each core clocked at 1 GHz and 988 MB of RAM but where it gets really interesting is the GPU – it’s a PowerVR SGX543MP4 unit with four cores. It’s the same as the one in the PlayStation Vita and it really is powerful, handling both the intense graphics of games like Infinity Blade II and the quadrupled screen resolution.
However, with the dedicated chip handling graphically intensive tasks, the dualcore A5X seems more than adequate, keeping the new iPAD quick and slick.
New iPad : Camera
A lesser upgrade is the rear-facing iSight cam. Its f/2.4 aperture optics are pinched from the iPhone 4S, but with a five-meg resolution images are better than the iPad 2’s but tablet cams are still hardly the last word in convenience – one-handed tap-to-focus is mission impossible – and results remain a way off dedicated compacts, especially indoors or in overcast conditions.
The iPAD 3’s 1080p recording is very good as compared to 720p video recording quality of the iPad 2. Coughing up some crisp looking visuals, it’s indeed appealing to watch, even better when it’s complemented with clear audio recording, natural looking colours, and a smooth frame rate. Well, we can’t think of many occasions when it’s necessary to shoot video with a tablet, but if you find yourself in an unusual predicament where it’s needed, the new iPad delivers the goods.
Multimedia:
The “Photos” app of the iPad is still the same one we’re familiar with, but that’s just the way it is. Basically, its purpose is to display photos and videos, but beyond that, there are some basic editing functions for photos – such as rotating, cropping, and auto-enhance. However, you might want to look into purchasing Apple’s iPhoto app (or some other capable app) if you plan on doing some professional grade editing work with your photos.
If there’s one area that sorely needs a visual upgrade, it has to be the music player of the iPad. Simply put it, the conventional look it has going is too tiresome at this point, and pales in comparison to the eye candy found with others.
Delighting us tremendously already thanks to its unbelievable high resolution, the iPad is more than capable of producing a wonderful video watching experience. Besides the hassle of having to convert videos to have them load properly on the 4:3 aspect ratio display of the tablet, our eyes are entertained by a visual masterpiece on screen. Many thanks can be attributed to its Apple A5x SoC, it provides the raw power to smoothly play our test video with no fluff whatsoever.
Requiring the aid of an optional digital AV adapter, just like the iPad 2 before it, we’re given the added functionality of having a mirrored experience on our high-def TV. Fortunately, the interaction with the iPad is instant with no delay or lag with its response.
Connectivity
One of the most exciting additions to the iPad 3 is 4G. The first and most important one is the LTE connectivity. If you decide to opt-in for the Wi-Fi + 4G model of the new iPad, you will get a tablet that supports almost every mobile connection out there – all popular GSM, UMTS, CDMA, EV-DO, LTE bands.
A welcome addition is the iPhone-esque Personal Hotspot feature, although this will have to be activated by your provider. Bluetooth has also been upgraded to the low-power-consuming 4.0 standard, as used in the Nike FuelBand.
To use LTE or CDMA, you’d need a contract with a carrier and in some cases you’d have to buy the device only from the supported network providers.
On a positive note, Apple has finally brought the personal hotspot (available only when the carrier of choice supports it) on the iPad. This is the only iPad where you can tether your data connection through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or via USB cable. It works just like on the iPhone, so no iOS user should have problems configuring it.
The Wi-Fi connectivity is the same as before with a,b,g and n support.
The proprietary connectivity port is the last connectivity option on the list. You can use it for USB connection with a computer or you can attach an SD reader, USB or HDMI adapter on it. The SD reader and HDMI adapter are pretty much self-explanatory, while the USB one gives you a standard female USB port. There you can attach other devices supporting mass storage mode – cameras, iPhones, other tablets, etc. and download pictures and videos from them to the iPad.
There is one odd thing while charging the iPad – it won’t charge while you are using it. In most of the cases, the battery level won’t drop either – it seems the iPad is eating up all the charge coming from the wall charger and nothing is going into the battery. But if you start playing, let’s say Infinity Blade 2, the iPad will start draining the battery too. So, you shouldn’t use the iPad while charging.
There is one more thing – the iPad doesn’t show it is charging when connected to a computer, but in fact it is charging. Though the charge is so insignificant, that it is probably the right thing to say that USB charging is not really supported.
Battery
With all its muscle enhancements, you’d expect compromised battery life. Now, Apple claims the same figures as iPad 2, with ten hours of Wi-Fi web surfing, nine hours on a mobile network and ten hours of video or music. Although longevity is pretty good given the power and resolution boost you’re getting, we found some differences compared to the previous ’Pad.
Battery drain is noticed with the new iPad when browsing, viewing and creating content when compared to iPad 2. Watching a two-hour HD movie on both devices reduced 10 per cent more of the third-gen’s battery, while overnight energy seepage clocked in at six per cent, compared to zero from iPad 2.
Knowing that this beast is packing a speedy Apple A5x SoC, 4G LTE connectivity, and an intense Retina display, one would hands down question its battery life right from the onset. Well, as Apple so carefully mentioned at its press event, the new iPad is capable of getting the same battery life results as the iPad 2 before it. Rightfully so, we can confirm those allegations as the new iPad has the absolute capacity in getting us through a solid one day of heavy usage while constantly connected to the network. Naturally, relying solely on Wi-Fi increases its output, but in any event, battery life isn’t much a concern with this one.
Final Words
The iPad is an improved version of the best tablet on the market, which makes the new iPad number 1 slate by default. We’ll see more true quadcore tablets from Apple’s rivals before 2013, and they might boast some snazzier features too, but what they won’t have is the might of the App Store behind them.
One paradoxical twist is that too much content could be a problem here. Retina-optimised apps, 1080p video and hi-res photos come in seriously hefty file sizes – Nicolas Winding Refn’ HD Drive movie comes in at more than 3Gb, for example.
Apple’s new iPAD review Pros & Cons-
Pros
- Unbelievable 2048 x 1536 resolution
- Solid build quality
- Above average battery life
- Consistent, solid performance
- Shoots good-looking photos & videos
Cons
- Not enough noteworthy enhancements with iOS 5.1
Tech Specs of New iPAD from gsmarena.com –
| GENERAL | 2G Network | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 – for Verizon | ||
| 3G Network | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO – for Verizon | ||
| 4G Network | LTE 700 MHz Class 17 / 2100 – for AT&T | |
| LTE 700 MHz Class 13 – for Verizon | ||
| Announced | 2012, March | |
| Status | Available. Released 2012, March 16th | |
| BODY | Dimensions | 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 mm |
| Weight | 662 g | |
| DISPLAY | Type | LED-backlit IPS TFT, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors |
| Size | 1536 x 2048 pixels, 9.7 inches (~264 ppi pixel density) | |
| Multitouch | Yes | |
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | |
| SOUND | Alert types | N/A |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | |
| MEMORY | Card slot | No |
| Internal | 16/32/64 GB storage, 1 GB RAM | |
| DATA | GPRS | Yes |
| EDGE | Yes | |
| Speed | DC-HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, LTE, 73 Mbps; Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps | |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot (carrier dependant) | |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v4.0 with A2DP | |
| USB | Yes, v2.0 | |
| CAMERA | Primary | 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, check quality |
| Features | Touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection | |
| Video | Yes, 1080p@30fps, video stabilization, check quality | |
| Secondary | Yes, VGA, 480p@30fps, videocalling over Wi-Fi only | |
| FEATURES | OS | iOS 5.1 |
| Chipset | Apple A5X | |
| CPU | Dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9 | |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP4 (quad-core graphics) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, compass | |
| Messaging | iMessage, Email, Push Email, IM | |
| Browser | HTML (Safari) | |
| Radio | No | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS support | |
| Java | No | |
| Colors | Black, White | |
| – MicroSIM card support only | ||
| – iCloud cloud service | ||
| – Twitter integration | ||
| – MP4/MP3/WAV/AAC player | ||
| – Photo viewer/editor | ||
| – Audio&video player/editor | ||
| – iBooks PDF reader | ||
| – Google Maps | ||
| – TV-out | ||
| BATTERY | Standard battery, Li-Po 11,560 mAh (42.5 Wh) | |
| Stand-by | Up to 720 h | |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h |
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