The new iPad was introduced in March 2012, but instead of the anticipated iPad3, Apple chose to call this latest iPad – “The new iPad” or “3rd generation iPad” instead.
So what’s new in this third generation iPad? Here’s a full breakdown of this new tablet.
Exterior: The new iPad looks and feels almost the same as the previous generation. The latest is 0.03 inches thicker and 0.11 pounds heavier than the previous generation. The increase in size and weight is not really noticeable.
Display: This new tablet used Apple’s latest Retina display technology. This is the same technology featured in the latest iPhone4s. The Retina display offers an impressive high resolution of 2048 x 1536. This translates to more than 301 million total pixels with the same 9.7-inch (diagonal) screen size as before, for a density of 264 pixels per inch. . The new screen offers 44 percent better color saturation than the last generation screen.
Camera: The iPad2 was equipped with a lower quality 2MP camera. The new one offers a better 5 MP iSight camera (2592 by 1936 pixels), which provides auto exposure, auto focus, auto face detection, auto exposure lock, auto focus lock, and low-light noise reduction. Video functionality is also upgraded from 720p to 1080p resolution. This is the same setting found on the iPhone4.
Processor: A new dual-core A5x processor is now at the heart of the new iPad. Apple claims that the processor in this A5x is 4 times faster than many competing tablets.
Wireless: This new tablet now takes full advantage of the 4G wireless network. It is also compatible with the 3G network. Two different models will be offered to work with AT&T’s 2100 MHz and Verizon’s 700 MHz LTE networks. This faster wireless technology will be approximately 3 times faster compared to the previous model. Currently, it is not compatible with the Sprint cellular network.
Battery: The new one offers 10 hours of battery life for browsing WI-FI, watching movies and listening to music. This is the same as the previous generation.
Smart Case: The Magnetic Smart Case for iPad2 was introduced. It will still work for the current version like most accessories since they are both about the same size. Most of the back covers and accessories designed and manufactured for the predecessor will probably work on this current version.
Cost: The current model offers the same price points as the previous model. WI-FI only 16GB is $499, 32GB $599 and 64GB $699, WI-FI + 4G models will be 16GB $629, 32GB $729 and 64GB $829.
