Apple has formally announced its third generation tablet – the new iPad. Apple’s new iPad comes with Retina Display for the same screen-size but supports higher image resolution. Packing an improved Apple A5X microprocessor, the new iPad also features a better 5 megapixel iSight camera and comes in 4G LTE support models. The new iPad will be available in 16 GB WiFi model starting $499 and in 4G version for $629 onwards.
Before the launch, many were referring the next generation iPad tablet as the iPad 3 or iPad HD. Apple on the other hand has surprised everyone by calling it – the new iPad. This new iPad has same size 9.7-inch display but the quality is different. Apple has used a Retina Display that supports 2056×1536 pixel Resolution and has 326 pixels per inch density. Retina display is the best possible screen in the market as of now for the tablet and even better than the laptops.
Under slightly thicker profile, the new iPad houses an Apple A5X Processor which is claimed to offer better performance than the Nvidia Tegra 3 mobile processor. The new Apple A5X mobile processor comes with quad-core graphics (PowerVR SGX543MP4) and it’s the same one used in the Sony PS Vita portable game console. Clearly, the new iPad is capable of pulling off all modern day games to the level of graphics created for gaming consoles.
Apple has added a new iSight camera that has a 5 megapixel image sensor that has been designed by Apple and comes with hybrid IR filter along with 5 element lens. This 5 megapixel iSight camera is capable of recording 1080p HD video. There’s a front facing VGA camera to perform the FaceTime video chat function. Apple has added new Dictation feature by putting a microphone icon on keyboard.
The new iPad is slightly thicker (9.4mm) than the iPad 2 (8.8mm) and also slightly heavier (1.4 pounds) than the iPad 2 (1.35) pounds.
The new iPad will come in WiFi, and WiFi+4G LTE models where in the new smaller Qualcomm chips have been used. The battery life of the regular iPad versions remain the same 10 hours however the 4G LTE supporting versions drop to 9 hours which is still significantly better than the ones promised by quad-core Android tablets.
The new Apple iPad will be made available from March 16 in US and there is no clear date when the new iPad would be made available in India. We are expecting an early launch by late April but there is no official confirmation on that.