The new iPad or the iPad 3 is an upgrade to the iPad 2 model. Apple has launched the new device a few days back. Living up to their reputation, Apple has delivered yet again. Negating all hypes, the iPad 3 is more of an evolution in the field of tablets rather than a revolutionary product in itself. The basic design of the product is very much similar to the iPad 2. You cannot tell it apart from the iPad 2 in the switched off mode. The only markable difference otherwise, is its weight. Yet, like I said, the iPad3 has several upgraded features. The iPad 3 weighs around 60g more than the iPad 2. So when you hold the device, you will know the difference. The question is, has it lived up to its brand name?
Layout and design
As said earlier, the design features are similar to the iPad 2. It is available in 2 different categories: the new iPad Wi-Fi and the new iPad 4G. Obviously, the latter costs more. You can get iPad3 under the 3 basic formats of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. Comparing it with the likes of Toshiba and Asus tablets, the iPad 3 has disappointed as it is heavier. In todayâs market, lighter and sleeker models are always the top class products. The iPad 3 does provide that extra screen size, but it had to compromise on the light weight. It weighs around 652g, something which will cause a strain to your hands. However, you wonât mind much when you know, this product offers the best screen resolution among most of the mobile devices. The dimensions are similar to its former version. The back has a smooth aluminum finish which lends it a classy look. It is available in 2 colors, the white bezel and the black.
The design is solid and there are no loose ends. Apple has taken care to deliver a compact and superbly built product. The front end has a glass covering like your general tablets do. However, the smooth finish makes it difficult to grip. Add to this, the extra weight of the product and you will definitely need both your hands to be comfortable with the device.
Key features
Resolution: Talking about the display, we can see that the resolution has increased to two times when compared to iPad 2. As mentioned, the iPad 3 offers the best resolution among the current mobile devices. It is powered by what we call the Retina display. This boasts a gigantic resolution of 2048 x 1536. The color resolution too is flattering, with 264 ppi. This is what offers a crisp and superb picture quality. Over 3.1 million pixels are involved in representing an image or video on the screen.
Processor: Apple uses a modified form of the iPhone 4 processor. It is known as the A5x. It is said that the A5x performs better than the quad core Tegra 3 processor. As far as the speed is concerned, there can be nothing better than this. This not only enhances the execution of applications and multi tasking on the tablet, but also boosts the quality of display.
Connectivity: As far as connectivity is concerned, the iPad is equipped with the standard 4G LTE version. Browsing speeds of up to 73 Mbps can be obtained easily. 4G LTE is accompanied by 21 Mbps HSPA+ and 42 Mbps DC-HSDPA.
ISight camera: It has 5 MP camera but it captures far better quality images than what a normal 5 MP camera would do. It also has an illuminated sensor at the back, IRS filter and 5 element lens. It can also feature auto-exposure and auto-focus. It can easily capture still pictures.
Voice detection: Although it doesnât have the smart assistant Siri, it does offer you voice detection. You can activate this feature using the standard on screen keyboard button.
Other features
The new iPad 3 includes the general features of an iPad.
- It has a battery life of 10 hours.
- Optional GPS and AGPS.
- 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.
- Bluetooth 4.0.
- 5 MP camera with auto focus.
- HD video quality.
- VGA camera for face time calls.
Drawbacks
No device is perfect. Although Apple has made modifications and enhancements on several grounds, the iPad 3 still has a few complaining areas.
- Lack of stereo speakers
- Heavy weight
- Reflective screen; causes difficulty if you are outside in the sunlight.
- No Siri.
- No memory slot.
- GPS is not available in the non Wi-Fi version.
- It gets really hot while using.
- You cannot charge it while using.
- Does not support flash content on the web.
Price
Following is the price of the Wi-Fi variant devices of iPad 3:
- 16 GB – $499
- 32 GB – $599
- 64 GB – $699
And if you are looking for Wi-Fi + 4G support on your new iPad, here are the prices:
- 16 GB – $629
- 32 GB – $729
- 64 GB – $829
Conclusion
The iPad 3 is an evolutionary product. It is more like an update model of the iPad 2. Apple has surely worked on a lot of areas to improve the user experience. This includes the superior display and screen resolution and the 4G LTE connectivity; The 5 MP camera and the video recording quality are other inclusions. All in all, this is a good product and worth buying. But maybe you would want to wait until it launches a further upgraded model. It might have Siri application included in it, since the app is very popular. There are drawbacks as well as positives for the product, but ultimately it is you has to make the choice.
