Apple iPad 3 Wi-Fi Review

Apple iPad third generation has just hit the market with an impressive 9.7" Retina display which is the most stunning display that we have seen on a tablet. Though the new iPad looks the same as that of old but to be frank, it brings a massive upgrade. The new screen is simply outstanding and it is hard to exaggerate the importance of the new screen. Apple has loaded down four times as many pixels into the same space and the enhancement has to be checked to be understood. The display is surprisingly sharp. Text and photos look simply stunning.

Compare the new iPad with the iPad 2 and you will find the world of difference. The iPad 2 all of a sudden starts looking so hazy. While you can see minute details on the new iPad that if you want to see on the iPad 2 would be just indistinguishable smears. On the new iPad, the App icons are even more sharper and you can also read some of the infinitesimal magazine covers on the Newsstand icon. Apple makes sure that the screen is well covered in terms of graphic processing with some extra GPU cores as well and thus the performance is flawless and outstanding.

The new iPad comes with 5 mega pixel camera with the Wi-Fi hotspot support too however, it is carrier-dependent. The long list of cons should not be a surprise. Let’s take a close look.

The retail box of the new iPad only covers the essentials. Here is the list of items that you will get when you unbox the iPad.

• Your Brand New Tablet
• A Short Manual
• A Very Compact Charger
• A USB Cable

The new iPad looks exactly the same as that of the Apple iPad 2 however, it is much more upgraded and improved version. This new tablet is thicker around 0.6mm and bit heavier i.e. 50g. Further, it does not possess any identifying numbers or letters to its name. The new generation iPad screen by far is the best screen you would have ever seen on a tablet. The quality of its display allows the developers to generate apps of larger power than ever by working all of the above.

Advantages

• The new iPad is the same as that of its predecessor. There is same aluminum unibody, the tapered edges, the flat back, the controls, camera placement, logo and even the model inscriptions.
• The differences between iPad 2 and the new iPad are the weight and the thickness. The new iPad is thicker and heavier as compared to iPad 2. It weighs 50g and 0.6mm thicker.
• The control keys are also the same. Merely the new iPad comes with each and everything that we loved about the iPad 2.
• Additionally, the new iPad comes with FaceTime camera that is present right above the retina display. Further the hidden ambient light sensor is also there for automatic adjustment of screen brightness levels.
• The new iPad comes with a 5 mega pixel camera that is capable of 1080p@30fps video recording.
• The device is also supplied with the identical smart cover that can magnetically attach to your iPad and also protects its screen as well as back. You can also convert it to a stand quite easily that will help you in typing and let you watch movies with a good angel.

Disadvantages

• At the bottom of the new iPad, there is no surprise for you. The proprietary Dock connector and the single loudspeaker are there.
• The reflective screen of the new iPad really struggles outdoors.
• There is a little bug in the new iPad that when you hook it to the charger, it will not start charging until you stop using apps. That’s quite annoying and would possibly be fixed with an update.
• You need to be aware that some older smart cover including third party ones may not work properly with the new iPad. This is due to the different orientation of the magnets polarity.
• There is no memory card slot and no standard USB port either.

Apple has recently announced its new iPad that comes with an improved display with a faster processor and an upgraded camera. The Retina display offers 3.1 million pixels which is higher than the screen resolution of a HDTV. If you compare the new iPad with the iPad 2, you will find improvements quite visible. A 5 mega pixel rear camera is also equipped with the new iPad that features the same lens technology as that of the Apple iPhone 4S, and is also capable of recording full 1080p HD video.

Advantages

• The Retina display is the essential feature of the new iPad. The amazing 2048 x 1536 Retina display has got the pixel density of 264 ppi which is not even close to the iPhone 330, however still better than any tablet presently on the market.
• The images appear a lot more sharper in the new iPad, and the pixels are hardly noticeable even really up close and the most minuscule text is still faultlessly readable.
• The new iPad uses a warmer (yellowish) color scheme as compared to the colder (bluish) iPad 2.
• A long list of pros of the iPhone Retina display transmit over here as well namely the vibrant colors and the great viewing angels. More interestingly, the Apple managed to keep the same brightness levels as that of the previous version.
• On the iPad 2, apps in folders are just blobs of pixilated colors while on the new iPad you can almost make out text.
• The Retina display smoothes out the edges and also renders text pin-sharp making ebooks, documents and website easy to read.
• The new iPad also claims to have better contrast, greater definition with still and moving images, and better color saturation and an improvement of 44% over the iPad 2.

Disadvantages

• The reported overheating in gaming and video playback is the main issue. The opinion over the new iPad heating issue range from the heat being intolerable to it’s not a big deal.
• The issue of the iPad heating does exist and the new iPad gets a bit hotter that you cannot comfortably hold it. This is a pretty major difference that the users will feel with their hands. Further, if you use the device in the hotter or warmer environment or in direct sunlight, the temperature rise can be a bigger deal for you.

Talking about the user interface and the operating system, the new iPad comes with an iOS that looks and feel similar to the one on the iPhone. The user interface has modified in order to match the 9.7 diagonal of the big screen and into the bargain you get a hold one more app on the dock. Performance wise, the new device is provided by an improved dual core chip, the A5X, with a quadcore GPU.

Advantages

• The new iPad needs some extra processing grunt in order to power this next generation display, and for this it is supplied with an improved dualcore chip, the A5X, with a quadcore GPU. While the HD video and menu swiping is also smooth, as you would expect.
• The operating system looks and feels somewhat similar to that of the iPhone while the user interface has modified in order to match the 9.7 diagonal of the big screen. In this way, you will get one more app on the dock.
• The first screen to meet is the lockscreen that has the familiar "slide-to-unlock" slider. Once you unlock the device you dive right in to the simplicity of iOS. Reordering the apps and putting them into folders is also very easy.
• You would anticipate compromised battery life with all its muscle enhancements. However, the Apple claims that the new iPad battery offers ten hours of Wi-Fi web surfing, nine hours on a mobile network and ten hours of video or music. The longevity is reasonably good given the power and resolution boost you will get, though there are some differences if you compare it with the iPad 2.
• Voice dictation is another appealing feature of the new iPad which is supported wherever you see the virtual keyboard. You simply have to tap the mic button and then say out your piece tap the button again and voila! The device will automatically jot down your babble. The recognition is practically precise, despite the fact that you will have to carry out some manual editing, particularly with longer messages.
• The new iPad offers complete connectivity suite. You get internet connection through Wi-Fi or 3G and you have Bluetooth for a hands-free. The LTE connectivity is also supported. 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.
• This is the only iPad where you can secure 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.
• In the iPad's repertory, the web browsing has always been a fundamental point and this time with the new iPad, it is much faster and fluid and with the enhanced resolution, you will get the real pleasing browsing experience on the touch-enabled 9.7" screen.
• Loading speeds are faster than the previous versions and multiple tabs support and the auto fill and password managers also improve the usability of the Safari browser greatly.

Disadvantages

• The CPU used in the new iPad is the same as that of the iPad 2.
• The lack of basic iOS apps such as weather, stocks, clock, calculator, voice memos also is a drawback.
• Since, it is not Siri, therefore you cannot command it, or ask questions about the weather, or Thailand.
• The battery is non replaceable.
• iTunes still required for uploading most of the content.

The 5 mega pixel rear facing iSight camera is one of the upgrades the new device comes with. Its f/2.4 aperture optics are pinched from the iPhone 4S but it is of 5 mega pixel rather than the eight. Image quality is far better than the iPad 2 on the other hand, the tablet cameras are still hardly the last word in convenience.

Advantages

• The new iSight camera on the iPad is a real big deal as it finally crosses over the 1 MP marks and capable of 2592 x 1944 resolution photos, offers touch focus, face detection and geo-tagging.
• The f/2.4 aperture optics are pinched from the iPhone 4S but it is of 5 mega pixel rather than the eight.
• The camera of the new iPad is really fast to take photos and takes exceptionally little time in shot to shoot scenarios. The resulting photo quality is reasonably good. It produces good images with nice colors, plenty of detail, even beating the iPhone 4 at times.
• As expected, you can use the new iPad for 1080p video recording at 30 fps. The interface of the camcorder offers virtual capture key and front/rear camera switch.
• Fortunately, touch focus is enabled and works during capturing as well.
• The video quality is reasonably similar with the iPhone 4S - heaps of resolved detail lively and exact colors, good contrast and stable frame rate. The video stabilization works well too.

Disadvantages

• One-handed tap-to-focus is an assignment that is unattainable – and the results remain a way off fanatical compacts, particularly indoors or in cloudy conditions.
• There's no HDR setting on it which was kind of odd. Other than that, the camera app UI is all too familiar.
• You can't lower the resolution, use effects or even enable viewfinder grid.

The new iPad is the new and improved version of the best tablet in the market making it number 1 slate in the market. The major upgrade is its Retina display which is far better than the iPad 2. Apple has packed four times as many pixels into the same space and the improvement is simply outstanding. The display is amazingly sharp. Text and photos look beautiful.

Since Apple has got the tech golden ticket and is a trend setter, other companies and competitors have to nail their digital lockers before seriously challenging. Some of the iPad 2 accessories are also forward-compatible such as Smart Covers, camera kit, AV adaptors and docks.

On the whole, the new iPad is very much improved. With 5 mega pixel camera, you can capture beautiful scenarios and can record videos as well. One illogical twist is that too much content could be a problem here. Retina-optimized apps, 1080p video and hi-res photos come in critically heavy file sizes.

If you want better resolution, excellent display, clearer pictures and slightly faster web browsing, then you should go for the new iPad. Otherwise wait for the next iteration, which should also be compatible with UK 4G.