The global announcement of the Apple iPad 3 (A1430) took place on March 16, 2012, but even despite this, the first review was made about a week earlier by Vietnamese reviewers. The impression of the Apple iPad 3 is contradictory, because it seems that we have already seen something similar somewhere. Indeed, the new product is very much reminiscent of the previous generation iPad, to the point that the controls are the same in shape and located in identical places in the design.

In general, there is nothing wrong with the direct similarity of the new product, because the old model is considered the “gold standard” among tablets. However, the device must be different in some way and the main emphasis here was on technical characteristics and price). When the Apple iPad 3 (A1430) entered the market, it cost about 40,000 rubles for the 64 GB version; in fact, the question immediately arises: is the device worth such a lot of money? So let's look at this.

The device has dimensions of 241x186x9 mm and a weight of 650 grams. The weight of the new mobile device was very pleasing with its even distribution, which cannot be said about many Android tablets. The camera here is similar to the iPhone 4S with autofocus; in good lighting it takes pictures quite well for a mobile device, but there’s nothing to brag about. The module is capable of recording video in 1080p format.

It is worth noting that the new product has a less easily soiled rear panel that does not scratch, and the quality of the materials will be subjectively a little more interesting. Now let's take a closer look at the technical specifications.

Screen

The main difference between the new Apple iPad 3 (A1430) and its predecessor is its screen, the resolution of which has increased from the traditional 1024x768 pixels to a truly impressive 2048x1536. The pixel density on this screen is 264 ppi. So, if you hold the device at a distance of half a meter from you, you will not notice any pixels.

When you first look at the application icons and text, you will be impressed to say the least, as the level of detail is truly amazing. In general, having seen such a screen at least once, you will probably no longer have the desire to use anything else. Viewing angles, as before, are excellent, the color gamut is 99% RGB (unlike its predecessor, where this figure was 61%).

Performance

Now even tastier - performance specifications. The Apple iPad 3 (A1430) is powered by a 1 GHz Apple A5X processor (ARM Cortex-A9 base) and a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 graphics chip. The amount of RAM has increased and is now 1 GB. If we again compare the device with its predecessor, it is difficult to notice much of a difference in performance gains, because the updated characteristics are simply “gobbled up” by the impressive screen resolution.

But some applications actually started to launch a little faster and this is due to the increased amount of RAM. In general, the animation is fast and clear, applications launch instantly, excellent response to touch - all this has long been a standard for Apple. Android devices do not reach this level, although some even do it well, but compared to iOS, they still look a little ridiculous and unfinished.

Battery and heating

The Apple iPad 3 (A1430) received an LTE module, impressive 4-core graphics, and a screen with a huge resolution - this requires significantly more energy than was previously required. So what did the company's developers provide us with? And they presented a battery with a capacity of 43 Wh, which is 70% more than its predecessor; that's about 20% more than the 11-inch MacBook Air.

According to the manufacturer, Apple iPad 3 can last about 10 hours via connected Wi-Fi or 9 hours via an LTE network. In reality, the Apple iPad 3 really surprised: the device was able to work for more than 12 hours when watching videos in HD format, which is truly worthy of applause.

But while we gain something, we lose something. The increase in performance and its energy consumption led to a long charging process. In an 8-hour night, the tablet manages to charge approximately 80-85% via USB, which is not very encouraging. Also, do not lose sight of the fact that the device began to get really hot, especially under increased loads in games.

Results

The review turned out to be really short, because we didn’t discuss the operating system and here’s why: iOS on the old iPad and the new Apple iPad 3 (A1430) is the same. The difference can only be seen in the slightly modified display of icons and fonts. Well, it’s worth noting that by purchasing this device, you will receive a closed operating system, which nevertheless is dominant among mobile devices. iOS also offers a slightly larger range of applications in its branded store than Android, although the difference is not particularly noticeable.

One of the truly impressive features of the device is its screen with a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels with maximum viewing angles and amazing picture quality. Having looked at such a screen at least once, a person is unlikely to want to use any other screen, although we do not forget that competitors are not asleep.

At the same time, the price of the device remained approximately the same, and the battery life was really impressive. In other words, we still have the same old iPad, but more advanced. If we compare the Apple iPad 3 with its Android competitors, then the price of the Apple device will be a little more expensive, but there is really something to pay for.

Reasons to buy Apple iPad 3:

• excellent design and screen, durable aluminum body;
• a screen that has virtually no competitors;
• the speed of work is beyond praise;
• huge range of software;
• long operating time.

Reasons not to buy an Apple iPad 3:

• charging process takes too long;
• strong heating of the case, especially under increased loads.

This year, Apple faced a special challenge. She needed to make something more advanced than the iPad 2, although due to its popularity and the sluggish development of Android tablets, it generally did not need updating. Therefore, the Cupertino team decided to focus on the main problem in their second “tablet”. And, let's be honest, the efforts were not in vain. The new iPad has become even more ideal, surpassing its closest competitors in all respects.

All the best deals on iPads (there are even 10 thousand cheaper than the market). They change something and even give it away for free.

The box of the new iPad is no different from the packaging of last year's tablet. High-quality white cardboard, a minimum amount of waste paper, a cable, a charger and two miniature apple stickers. The main difference from all other generations is the picture of the iPad itself, on the springboard of which a new blue “wallpaper” is installed.

Frightened by the reviews of the first iPad 3 buyers, I took it out of the box and began to twirl it in my hands. I tried to feel the increased weight and thickness, but, fortunately, I could not notice either one. Finding the Home power/lock button, I pressed it and saw it - new screen with a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels!

Finally, after the iPhone 4/4S screen, you can look at the iPad display with the same pleasure! Icons of standard applications and the entire interface of the iOS operating system simply come to life before your eyes. I stared at the Facetime and icons for a long time, but I still couldn’t see any hint of a pixel. The text in the e-readers, already updated for the Retina screen of the new iPad, looks simply gorgeous, second only to traditional periodicals because they behave worse in direct sunlight.

No matter how hard I tried, I did not notice an increase in the speed of the system. I launched various applications, HD videos on Youtube, played GTA III and Real Racing 2 HD, but did not notice any features of the updated chip Apple A5X with 4-core GPU, which is used in the new iPad. We'll wait for specialized toys from the developers at Epic Games, and then we'll draw some conclusions.

iPad camerastopped being a disgrace acquired 5 megapixel sensor with a whole bunch of new functions (autofocus, tap focus, face recognition, video shooting in 1080p format with 30 frames per second). It’s not easy to imagine a person who will use a new tablet as their main photo tool, but I still decided to take some photos on the street. The picture quality has improved greatly, although the noise has not disappeared.

Photo is clickable

Information about the previous photo

After 15 minutes of testing the third-generation iPad camera, I finally realized that its absence on the back cover of the tablet would not upset me at all. It would be much more interesting to get an improved front camera for Facetime/Skype conversations. Existing VGA parody, unfortunately, spoils the entire impression of the high-resolution Retina screen.

As a result, all the innovations of the third iPad can be divided into two categories - those that will be useful for a Russian-speaking person living in this side of the ocean, and those that will only be a pleasant but useless addition. To the first point include a Retina display, an improved camera, quad-core graphics chip capabilities and Bluetooth version 4.0 in the future. To the second- support for LTE networks, voice typing a la Siri (of course, without Russian language support) and increased battery capacity (lasts 9-10 hours). The new iPad has become better, faster and a little more functional than all previous generations and has already deserved to get rid of numbers and letters in its name and become a household name. iPad is the best device in its class, and the new iPad is just further proof of that.

> Opinion of Artur Malosiev

A year ago, I did not buy an iPad 2, being satisfied with my first generation tablet. But now it’s time to upgrade, because the resources of the “first” are clearly not enough. In February, a battered, used iPad 2 fell into my hands, but with a intact display, and I enjoyed its company for a month. When the box with the iPad 3 arrived at my house, the first thing I did was test it...

Speed ​​of opening games and websites

I tested the speeds of the iPad 2 and 3 on the games Mass Effect Infiltrator and Sky Gamblers. It's a fighting draw here. There are differences in terms of graphics, read about that below.

When browsing the Internet, the iPad 2 is slightly weaker than the new model, but the difference is so small that it can be ignored. For those who like numbers, I can give you the data from two tests that we measured yesterday with the entire editorial team.

(x1000)
– Air (i7) – 586
– iPad 3 – 100
– iPad 2 – 98
– iPhone 4S – 76
– Galaxy Note – 55
– iPhone 3GS – 38
– iPhone 2G – 8

Sunspider
– Air (i7) – 246
– iPad 3 – 1818
– iPad 2 – 1772
– iPhone 4S – 2150
– Samsung Galaxy Note – 2925
– iPhone 4 – 3410
– iPhone 3GS – 5113

It was not by chance that I got here, it was suggested by Roma Yuryev to show the capabilities of Android OS. The numbers given in the test above were obtained on the “bare” laptop firmware. However, then Roma flashed his phone with a custom image of CheckROM NoteHD V5 and the Franko #7 kernel, as a result of which the speed of the Note increased by 1.8 times and it was ahead of the iPad 3 in tests. This is what manual customization of Android means.

Like Kostya Gribanov, I did not notice a difference in performance.

CAMERA

There is no point in comparing the quality of photos of the iPad 3 with the iPad 2, so I tested the camera of the “third” under the watchful eye of the iPhone 4S. Compared to the iPhone 4S, pictures taken on the iPad 3 are less saturated. The optics are the same, but the sensors are different. On iPad 3 it costs less.

I can hardly imagine people running down the street and taking pictures on an iPad, but due to the weight of the tablet, the pictures will be less blurry than on the same iPhone :) The iPad 3 sensor is comparable to the iPhone 4 - it processes information here and there Omnivision OV5650 with an operating temperature range from -30 to 70° C and an active cell size of 1.75 microns (versus 1.4 microns for the iPhone 4S).

Job stabilization systems leaves much to be desired. Probably because it is software, not optical. Where to find the trigger Off to turn it off completely?

The front camera remains unchanged.

DIMENSIONS

If you can tell by eye where the iPad 2 is and where the iPad 3 is, then you are Robin Hood.

Most people, even from half a meter away, will not be able to tell exactly what model of tablet you have in your hands. The width and height of the iPad 3 remained the same - 185.7 x 241.2 mm, but the thickness increased by only six tenths of a millimeter - from 8.8 to 9.4 mm.

iPad 2 on top, iPad 3 on bottom

In similar configurations, the iPad 3 is 50 grams heavier than the iPad 2 due to the battery.

BATTERY

The battery capacity of the iPad 3 has increased by almost 1.7 times (6930 → 11560 mAh), as the graphics chip and monstrous display require more resources. And as a result, the tablet charges very slowly: only 20% per hour in idle mode.

It is curious that in a car, with the navigator running and GPS activated, charging an iPad 3 from the cigarette lighter can take several days.

DISPLAY

OOOOOOO! YOU CAN FALL IN LOVE WITH THE NEW IPAD WITHOUT MEMORY JUST FOR THE DISPLAY!

When you move your gaze from iPad 2 to iPad 3, déjà vu arises, as in the case of comparing the quality of the screens on the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. Once you fix your gaze on the iPad 3, you will no longer want to look at anything else.

Was: 1024 x 768 pixels
It became: 2048 x 1536 pixels

That is, the pixel density has increased 4 (four!) times with the same diagonal of 9.7 inches. Because of this, pixels are not felt at all on the iPad 3 screen. Let's compare?

In 2012, the new iPad was released - a device that radically changed the idea of ​​tablets. The abundance of technical innovations in its composition made it the best-selling tablet in the world. A unique Retina display, an Apple A5X gadget chip based on a dual-core processor and quad-core graphics, a gigabyte of RAM, fourth-generation Bluetooth, a powerful 5 MP camera capable of recording video in full resolution and a powerful battery ensured the iPad new 3 a resounding victory over its competitors.

External features and design of the device

Externally, the device is practically no different from the previous model. With the same overall dimensions, The new iPad has greater thickness (9.4mm versus 8.8mm for the iPad 2), increased weight by 50 grams, a larger camera lens and a metal base for the synchronization socket.

At a quick glance, it is almost impossible to distinguish one iPad from another. In order to “identify” the iPad new 3, you will have to pick it up - it is heavier than its predecessor due to the powerful battery with increased capacity. The manufacturing company Apple thus provided power to all the high-tech components of the legendary tablet.

Display

The most striking innovation of the new iPad 3 is the unique 9.7″ Retina LED display. Anyone who has ever used a tablet gets a dose of adrenaline when they look at the screen of a working iPad new 3. The display resolution is 2048x1536 (264 dots per inch, which is twice as high as the iPad 2). This significantly exceeds the resolution of Full HD (1920x1080) devices, allowing the small screen to display sharp images with amazing detail. The screen pixels are invisible to the eye (hence the name Retina), it is ideal for those who are used to working with a tablet for a long time. These are mainly fans of bright and dynamic games, readers of fascinating books, photographers and connoisseurs of Internet surfing.

The color saturation of the screen is increased by 44%, the IPS matrix ensures viewing content or video without distortion and color shifts at large screen angles. The oleophobic coating of the display will keep it clean, and automatic adjustment of screen brightness makes working with the iPad 3 even more convenient.

Camera

The gadget's camera can easily be called revolutionary. The decision to install the advanced full-frame 5 MP iSight camera on the tablet from the iPhone 4 with a five-element lens made the iPad 3 a leader among tablets. Automatic image stabilization and autofocus allow you to shoot on the go, and the backlight sensor makes it possible to take photos and shoot videos with Full HD resolution (30 fps) even in low light. The front camera of the iPad new 3 has a resolution of only 0.3 MP, which is quite enough for communicating via Face Time.

Performance

When creating the tablet, Apple developers focused on graphics that clearly demonstrate the outstanding capabilities of the Retina display. Leaving for the main work a processor based on two ARM Cortex A9 cores with an operating frequency of one gigahertz, the company’s specialists focused on working with graphics 4 graphics cores PowerVR GPU, enhancing the capabilities of the hardware with one gigabyte of RAM. As a result, iPad 3 new demonstrates the enormous capabilities of the display when working with graphic, Internet applications and powerful games. The operating speeds of the Apple iPad 2 and iPad 3 are almost identical; The quality of graphics output on the latter’s display makes it the envy of graphomaniacs. Any games that the tablet can handle will certainly delight players with high quality textures and depth of graphics.

Functionality

Apple's new tablet The new iPad 3 is capable of playing Full HD video on the screen. To check this, you only need .

A powerful processor allows you to almost instantly load the heaviest applications, work with graphics and video. A large amount of RAM makes it possible to keep a large number of applications in minimized mode without the slightest impact on performance.

iPad 3 works with Bluetooth 4th generation, supports WiFi and broadband Internet access in 3G/4G format. It is possible to use the tablet as an access point for five different devices.

Working with applications

Working with third-generation iPad applications has become more productive - in addition to increasing the speed of work, experts note an increase in their capabilities (we are talking about graphic applications, web applications and video processing programs).

Working with the browser on the Apple iPad new is noticeably more detailed in the content; small text in the background is easily distinguishable and readable, which is a real technological breakthrough for a tablet with a small screen size. If the standard browser does not suit you, you can always use another one, for example, .

A powerful 5 MP camera allows you to work with photo and video editors capable of processing full HD video on a tablet. All The new iPad applications work quickly and have a large performance reserve.
The unusually high resolution of the Retina screen will appeal to lovers of reading - thanks to the high clarity of the image, the eyes practically do not get tired.

The high-tech filling of the gadget allows you to scale maps to the finest detail without the risk of slowdowns and freezing.

Gamers will appreciate the ability of the Retina display and quad-core graphics accelerator to work together. Now even relatively old games shine with color and surprise with the quality and depth of texture rendering. The new ones immerse you in their unreal atmosphere twice as quickly. The absence of the slightest graphics defects makes the Apple tablet a real dream for every graphomaniac gamer.

For those who work with text, the voice typing feature will be useful. The disadvantages of this option are that it recognizes only English and the program ignores punctuation marks.

Autonomous operation

iPad 3 is considered one of the most durable tablets. It was not for nothing that Apple specialists increased the weight of the new product. Despite the “gluttony” chipset and the unique Retina display, the gadget is able to work in autonomous mode for 10 hours declared by the manufacturer. The battery has a huge capacity of 11666 mAh. will be able to give the user of the device three hours of games with three-dimensional graphics, more than six hours of watching full-length films or eleven hours of fascinating reading. It is noted that the indicators vary greatly depending on the screen backlight brightness used.

Pros and cons of using Apple The new iPad

Among the disadvantages of the gadget are:

• slight heating of the case during prolonged use of games or “heavy” applications;
• the high resolution of the Retina display (2048×1536) implies the use of specialized content;
• The software set of iPad 3 copies the set of the previous model;
• the uselessness of the 4G module in our conditions.

The advantages of iPad 3 are:

• unique high-resolution Retina display;
• expanded processor capabilities compared to previous models (especially related to graphics processing);
• a powerful battery that allows the tablet to work offline for up to twelve hours.

ABOUT The appearance of a new iPad model began to be discussed almost immediately after the release of the iPad 2 (spring 2011). In the fall of 2011, Apple had already announced the launch of iPad 3 releases. The release date was also announced - March 2012, and on March 7, the presentation of the iPad 3 took place in San Francisco. However, from that moment on, it was customary not to number models, but to link them only to years. Thus, starting with iPad 3, the version number is not used in the name. It was officially called simply The NewiPad. However, the appearance of the next model less than a year later and earlier than announced, the name of which sounded “4th generation,” forever turned The New iPad or iPad 2012 into the iPad 3.

The new model had a choice of black and white housing, a choice of memory capacity of 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB, and was remembered for its support for 4G and, most importantly, a seriously improved “Retina” display, with increased pixel density and a resolution of 2048x1536 (versus 1024x768 on the iPad 2), which was expected, but never arrived in the second model.

This iPad is also notable for the fact that it is the first one released after Steve Jobs.

Tim Cook

In the photo: Apple CEO Tim Cook at the presentation of the new version of the iPad in March 2012.

The first users of the third iPad immediately positively noted the quality of the display, camera and processor power of the new model.

In general, visually, the Apple iPad 3 tablet retained all the basic capabilities, design and concept of its predecessors, becoming only a little more massive.

After long-term use and in comparison with previous and subsequent models, the third generation iPad was remembered by users as a powerful, stable and reliable tablet, however, with one “but” - if you do not update it to the latest version of the OS. More on this later.

IOS versions of the third iPad

The 3rd generation Apple iPad tablet launched with version IOS 5.1, and the latest for iPad 3, OS version 9.3.5, was released in 2016. Starting with version IOS 7, the design has completely changed - skeuomorphism (three-dimensional design), which in turn made working with the device as clear as possible even for a child, has been replaced by a stylish, trendy flat design.

Users, however, noted that the iPad worked fastest on version 6.1.3.

Firmware

iPad 3 allows you to install the new version of iOS completely free of charge from the official website. There you can also find out the latest OS version for your model.

We remind you: in the winter of 2018, Apple, unexpectedly for everyone, officially allowed downgrade - changing the firmware to older versions of IOS, the so-called. kickbacks, thereby violating the established policies of Apple. Perhaps this happened due to a wave of outrage over the low performance when installing software, especially on devices with a worn-out battery. Currently rollbacks are available only for certain versions and models.

Many note the highest performance in the history of IOS and the successful interface 6.1.3, nostalgic for IOS 6.1.3, which provided maximum autonomy for the device. According to reviews, 6.1.3 is the last iOS that provided charging for the whole day, while keeping all applications active.

It is considered ideal for the iPad 3 and legendary in terms of Apple's original philosophy. Business design, minimalism, performance, coordinated operation of all components, battery stability - all this is lacking in the latest devices from Apple, which, according to experts, are becoming more and more similar to Android devices.

By the way, for 4s and iPad 2 Apple is still signing up for 6.1.3. However, the situation may change, so check your specific situation at a particular moment on the website ipsw.me, where you can download the firmware version. For those who decide to rollback, experts recommend backing up first.

Latest version of IOS iPad 3

iOS 9.3.5 firmware is the latest for iPad 3 and final for iOS 9. Quite stable, but resource-intensive. Users do not recommend using it, since there are noticeable system freezes and it is generally uncomfortable to work on it. According to reviews, it is worth updating to iOS 9.3.5 only in one case - if you are already on version 9. For iPad 3 after 6.1.3, it will be more comfortable to update only to version 7 or 8. Who wants to get performance, but not an outdated voluminous design – it’s best to go with version 7, it consumes less resources than versions 8 and 9.

iPad 3 specifications

Main technical characteristics of iPad 3
operating system	iOS 5.1 – iOS 9.3.5
CPU	Apple A5X 1 GHz, 2-core (GPU 4 cores 250 MHz)
Flash memory	16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB
RAM	1 GB
Display	9.7″, Retina 2048×1536, IPS matrix, LED backlight, glossy, anti-fingerprint and multi-touch support
Net	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G lte
Inputs and outputs	30-pin dock connector, 3.5mm mini-jack, microphone, built-in speaker, Micro-SIM card slot
Location	Wi-Fi, compass, Assisted GPS, GLONASS, mobile network
Battery	42 Wh, built-in, lithium polymer
Cameras	Back cover – 5 megapixels, front – VGA
Sensors	3D gyroscope, accelerometer, light sensor
Dimensions	241 × 186 × 9.4 mm
Weight	652 g

Let's look at some important characteristics in more detail.

Battery

The Apple iPad 3 tablet was equipped with a more powerful battery than its predecessors. Given the new screen, this is rather a necessary measure.

Frame

The body of the iPad 3 is thicker and heavier than its predecessor and most of the models that followed it, but thanks to this it is more reliable - even if dropped it may not be damaged. The thickness and weight are explained by a more powerful and voluminous battery.

Keyboard

What was notable about the iPad 3 at the time of its release was a keyboard with the ability to dictate by voice (the Siri voice assistant in different languages ​​is not yet available in this model).

iPad 3

Camera

The iPad 3 offered a more powerful iSight camera with autofocus and an advanced optical system that allows you to create better quality photos and videos than on the previous two models. Video recording in Full HD 1080@30p resolution has become available.

Screen

The most anticipated feature of the iPad 3 was the Retina screen, with super resolution and a 3x4 aspect ratio, on which pixels are 4 times larger than previous versions and yet they are not visible to the human eye. Photos look richer on it, games are more realistic.

Touchscreen

The edge of the matrix is ​​wide enough to allow you to comfortably hold the device in your hands without touching the touch screen.

Display

A viewing angle of 178 degrees allows you to watch movies comfortably.

Replacing glass and touchscreen

The screen is covered with protective glass with a touchscreen, which can be replaced if necessary - either glass together with the touchscreen panel, or all of this separately. Replacing the glass is also possible at home - but taking into account the fact that antennas and microcircuits are attached under the edges of the touchpad, and very delicate work with the case is required.

Features of apple ipad 3

Let us remember that the idea of ​​​​creating a tablet came to Steve Jobs in 2010, the essence of which was to abandon the combination of keyboard, computer and monitor and replace it with one universal portable device that would be convenient and beautiful. Considering the purpose of the iPad, the Apple iPad 3 tablet surprisingly copes with its tasks even after so many years since its introduction.

It is noteworthy that it was the iPad 3 with an improved screen, which had no analogues, that became the first devices that Android smartphone users wanted to purchase and were appreciated by them.

But is an iPad 3 necessary in 2019 and how much does it cost to purchase it?

Let us note how the apple ipad 3 tablet differs from other models of the entire ipad line.

• iPads 3 and 4 differed from the latest generations of iPads by having the largest battery capacity, so the latest models still hold a charge worse.
• The pixel density of the third generation model was also ideal for the iPad – 264 dots per inch. This density turned out to be optimal regardless of the screen diagonal. By the way, the 9.7 diagonal in the iPad 3 also turned out to be optimal and the most popular.
• This is the first iPad to introduce the new revolutionary Retina screen, combined with a reliable battery and a nostalgic “natural” design (in the case of iOS 6.1.3). At the same time, it has high performance. For this reason, it is considered rare and special.

Price policy

At the time of release, the iPad 3 cost $500 without taxes, and with a 4G module - $629 without taxes.

Buy now iPad 3

Nowadays, an iPad 3 with iOS 6.1.3 can only be purchased used for $100 or less, or used for a thousand dollars as a “museum exhibit.”

Judging by the reviews, this model with iOS 6.1.3 continues to work stably to this day and performs its functions properly.

A huge number of Apple fans became interested in retro versions when, in mid-2018, official rollbacks to older versions of the OS suddenly became available. It is iOS 6.1.3 that has become and remains the most popular for rollback. After it, no other was considered so clear and convenient in terms of interface logic and so stable in terms of optimization.

Surprisingly, the main applications we use today, downloading them from the App Store will be compatible with 6.1.3, although they will be older and simpler versions.

iPad 3 video review

The New iPad comes in the brand's usual minimalist white packaging. At first glance, this box is completely identical to that used in the previous version of the tablet; it has exactly the same height and width, but there is one significant difference.

By increasing the thickness of the tablet by just 0.6 mm, Apple made the box a full centimeter thicker! The meaning of this operation is not entirely clear; from a logistics point of view, the situation has clearly worsened, but the marketing message is clearly understood - “by purchasing a New iPad, you get more for the same money.”

For those who are worried about being given an iPad 2 instead of a new product, here are a few more visual features of the packaging New iPad. On the top of the box is a photo of the tablet, in both cases the same angle is used, but the screen of the new iPad has a different wallpaper - “ripples on the water” with a more pronounced blue background instead of the usual grayish “water drops”. On the bottom edge, instead of a bitten apple, there is a silver emblem of the iCloud service. Well, and of course the main proof is two stickers with configuration designations on the back of the box. On the left is the amount of memory and the presence of a 4G module, which is clear to everyone, on the right is the part number and model designation. The new iPad is indeed labeled simply as “iPad”, to distinguish it from iPad 2 You can use a part number of the form MDxxx (for the previous version the designation Mcxxx was used).

Let's move on to unpacking the New iPad. There are no surprises inside the box; the tablet itself is wrapped in transparent plastic film and located in a shallow niche.

The rest of the accessories are placed in the compartments of the plastic tray, these are: a miniature paper envelope with brief operating instructions, a clip for removing Micro-SIM in the 4G version and two “Apple” stickers (without them they will not be accepted into the sect); USB cable/30-pin proprietary connector to USB; charger.

Interestingly, the American package includes New iPad the charger fit into one niche, while the European version needed two at once. The fact is that the “platypus” for the USA is made folding, while the European fork still remains solid.

Note that almost all branded accessories for the iPad 2, including SmartCover, are compatible with the New iPad; problems can only arise if too narrow cases from third-party manufacturers are used.

Design of the New iPad (iPad 3)

As you know, Apple keeps the design of its new devices secret until the last moment; if a few information leaks do occur, they almost never fall into the category of 100% confirmed facts. So, literally a few days before the announcement, photographs of parts of the New iPad case appeared on the global network, which indicated that the new product would become a little thicker. It is significant that many did not believe in their reality, although in the end it turned out to be true.

The second noticeable reason to talk about the noticeably updated design was provided by Apple itself, sending out invitations to the presentation with a photo of the edge of the bezel New iPad without the usual Home button. Indeed, at the moment the functionality of this hardware key can be replaced using multi-finger gestures, but in some cases (for example, when taking screenshots) you still cannot do without it. And yet, due to the fact that the information came directly from the manufacturer, many believed that the button would be removed, although in fact the photo simply showed the side, not the bottom, of the display bezel.

As a result, as you probably already know, the New iPad was made in the same design as the previous generation iPad 2. The decision is controversial from the point of view of that category of users who would like the current model in their hands to be clearly recognized by others. However, it is no secret that Apple prefers not to change the design of its devices, which is successful from its point of view, for at least two generations, and in some cases even longer - just remember the MacBook Air. Many people, including the author of this material, like this approach much more than the annual carousel of new design options, so the “old” design will not be considered a disadvantage.

Due to the use of a more capacious battery, the thickness of the tablet has increased by only 0.6 mm, but it would be hard to call this change noticeable. It is almost impossible to assess the increased thickness by eye; to do this, you will have to lay two tablets side by side on a hard surface and spend a long time looking for the difference. But the weight of the New iPad, increased by 50 grams compared to the iPad 2, is clearly visible even without scales. Interestingly, even this increase did not bring the final weight of the new product to the level of the first-generation Apple iPad, which was at least 30 grams heavier. During use, you quickly get used to the weight of the tablet; you can’t call it too heavy, but the fact remains that competitors are losing weight with each generation, and the New iPad had to gain a little weight.

For those who are not too familiar with the previous Apple iPad, we will briefly describe the features of its design. The front panel of the tablet is completely covered with protective glass, there is an additional camera on top, and a hardware Home key on the bottom. The bezel of the 9.7-inch matrix is ​​wide enough, which allows you to comfortably hold the device with your hands without touching the touch screen. There is a black and white version of the tablet design, affecting only the front panel - the base of the case in both cases is made of aluminum.

The back panel and beveled sides of the New iPad are made in the form of a single aluminum piece with a glossy apple in the center. The right side contains a volume rocker and a Mute slider, which can also be used to block the change of screen orientation from portrait to landscape. In the case of the 4G version, on the left you will find a slot for a Micro-SIM card, and on top there is a black plastic plug under which the antennas of the mobile communication module are hidden. Also on top is the power button and a standard 3.5-inch audio jack. At the bottom of the tablet there is a single speaker (stereo only in headphones) and a proprietary 30-pin connector.

This connector is fully compatible with previous Apple devices, but its design has been noticeably strengthened. It is not difficult to guess that in this way the developers decided to improve the reliability of this element in the face of the increased weight of the device. So what has changed? A hole of the required size is made in the metal case of the iPad 2, and the inside of the connector (except for the contacts) is made of plastic. But in New iPad the receiving part of the connector is one piece with the rest of the body; it is a kind of aluminum groove laid during the production of the back cover. Moreover, the “slides” through which the plug goes inside are now also made of metal, and only the central tongue with contacts remains plastic for obvious reasons.

It is obvious that the design of the new iPad is not able to push the user to switch from the second to the third generation of tablets from Apple. But an improved hardware platform, and most importantly, the Retina screen, which will be discussed later, not only can, but should also do this.

New iPad (iPad 3) screen

The New iPad's display isn't just good, it's GREAT (Caps Lock is more appropriate here than ever). I don’t want to waste your time selecting and listing epithets, just take my word for it - after getting acquainted with the 9.7-inch Retina with an impressive resolution of 2048 × 1536 pixels (264 PPI), the screens of other tablets suddenly become soapy and coarse-grained, as if you forgot put on your reading glasses. The picture looks like a magazine with excellent color printing placed under glass - the pixels are truly indistinguishable to the eye.

The screen resolution of the New iPad is greater than that of common Full HD TVs with parameters of 1920x1080 and certainly greater than that of any other tablet currently on sale (spring 2012). So far, the only alleged competitor to this model is the unannounced Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6, based on an ARM Cortex-A15 processor and rumored to have an 11.6-inch screen with an even higher resolution of 2560x1600. However, even with this, the pixel density remains at the level of the New iPad due to the larger screen size, we are talking about about 260 PPI.

By the way, an interesting example of “altered reality” from Apple - initially the company assured that only screens with a pixel density of at least 300 PPI (that is, iPhone 4/4S and iPod Touch 4 gen with 326 PPI) have the right to bear the proud name Retina. However, at the time of the announcement of the New iPad, it turned out that it was necessary to take into account not only pure density, but also ... the distance between the device’s screen and your eyes. And since you naturally don’t hold a larger 10-inch tablet as close in front of you as a 3.5-inch smartphone, the relative PPI of the new tablet fits right into the Retina frame. It's simple, right? He who sets the rules changes them.

The matrix production technology remains the same; it is still the same well-proven IPS, combining maximum viewing angles with a naturalistic color gamut. Such screens are inferior to competing AMOLED technology in terms of contrast and “richness” of the picture, and the choice between them depends on the personal preferences of specific users - some like the softness and naturalism of IPS, while others prefer the true blacks and sharp bright colors of AMOLED.

Let us remind you that in order to maintain compatibility with existing applications, Apple decided to increase the screen resolution of the New iPad proportionally. The resolution of 1024×768 pixels (132 PPI), which is not the highest by today’s standards, was immediately increased to “cosmic” 2048×1536 (264 PPI), as a result, the image dimensions doubled and the number of pixels quadrupled. Thus, the old software works without problems with the new tablet, “quadrupling” every pixel of its interface, but you will, of course, get the greatest visual pleasure from applications optimized for Retina.

The difference in the level of detail is clearly visible even in the example of icons of standard applications. So in Contacts the smallest letters of the card index are perfectly readable, in YouTube the speaker grille is clearly divided into separate marks, and there are notches on the verniers and finally the petals of the flower in the Photo can literally be counted on one’s fingers. When browsing in Safari, small fonts remain readable where the iPad 2 exhibited semi-blurry spots. Our website www.site can be easily read even in vertical orientation, the Themes menu, the Send news panel and the smallest sidebar elements are clearly visible without scaling. Let us separately highlight the quality of font rendering in the iBooks application. If you previously unknowingly increased the font size in order not to encounter pixelation of characters, now you can easily select a smaller scale - the text will look crystal clear, as if hand-drawn by an experienced caligrapher.

To evaluate the quality of graphics, the games Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy, Real Racing 2 HD and Angry Birds Rio were used. The first two projects are already optimized for the Retina display and really look great on the New iPad screen, the level of detail and realism of what is happening is just off the charts. On the test iPad 2 in the same games you can easily find the notorious “saw” on the diagonal elements, but on the new tablet there are no such artifacts in the same places. The authors of Angry Birds have not yet had time to sharpen their creation for the increased resolution of the New iPad, so this casual toy became an excellent litmus test when studying the difference in display. As we expected, running a regular, unoptimized game turns (temporarily, of course) the excellent Retina screen into a previous-generation display.

However, sooner or later, all developers of popular software and games will update their applications, which will lead to a corresponding increase in the size of their distributions. Thus, you may simply not have enough space for the usual set of software if you use the younger 16 GB version of the New iPad, and Apple has not yet offered a model with 128 GB of memory. We especially note two sets of excellent native applications for work and entertainment - we are talking about iWorks (Pages, Keynote and Numbers) and iLife (iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand).

Hardware platform New iPad (iPad 3)

Rumors that the new iPad will be based on the quad-core Apple A6 processor began to circulate long before the announcement of the tablet. At the same time, a seemingly ironclad argument was given in favor of this version of events - doubling the screen resolution will require greater performance. Yes, and giving a head start to competitors on Android, who are mastering the quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 with all their might, would not be very correct from a marketing point of view.

However, even here Apple proved that it doesn’t care much about competitors and trends in the mobile market. She still added cores to the processor, but not to its computing part, where only a pair of ARM Cortex-A9 with an operating frequency of 1.0 GHz still works, but to the graphics subsystem, building it on a pair of dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 GPUs - in As a result, the formula of the new Apple A5X looks like 2×CPU + 4×GPU. Interestingly, NVIDIA Tegra 3 contains 17 cores (4×CPU + 1 companion + 12×GPU) and at the same time, during the presentation, Apple indicated that its SoC is three times faster in terms of graphics performance.

The Apple A5X system-on-chip is made using a 45 nm process technology and is manufactured at Samsung's production facilities despite ongoing patent disputes between the two companies. Among the important architectural decisions, it is worth noting the transfer of RAM outside the processor chip - the RAM of the New iPad with a capacity of 1 GB consists of two separate 512 MB chips placed on the circuit board (in the company's previous solutions A4 and A5 there was RAM of 256 MB and 512 MB, respectively was integrated directly into the SoC).

Thus, Apple had to use noticeably more powerful (and therefore “gluttonous”) hardware that could provide sufficient performance when running graphics at double the resolution. Both the Retina screen and the 4G module contributed to the increase in energy consumption, so in order to maintain a 10-hour battery life, Apple literally had to find a way to significantly increase the battery capacity. As we know, the developers coped with the task with a bang, an additional 0.6 mm of thickness and 50 grams of body weight and the New iPad can boast of a 42.5 Wh battery, while almost all competitors have standard 25 Wh batteries.

Detailed technical characteristics of the New iPad are given in the table; in addition to the new processor and increased RAM, it is definitely worth noting the presence of a 4G LTE module, which is not yet relevant in Ukraine, which can operate in a maximum of 3G mode.

Performance and autonomy

Before moving on to the dry testing numbers, we will describe our general impressions of working with the New iPad. The main thing is that in everyday use there is no significant increase in the performance of the new product; some applications launch a little faster on the New iPad, others on the iPad 2, but in general they work with approximately the same responsiveness. There is no trace of such a dramatic jump in performance that was observed during the transition from iPad to iPad 2.

At the same time, an interesting pattern is observed: applications and games that are not optimized for the Retina display launch on the new iPad faster than on the old one, but look the same as on the iPad 2 due to the banal “quadrupling” of the original images. Obviously, this is due to the higher performance of the Apple A5X platform and double the amount of RAM. But optimized software (for example, Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy), on the contrary, usually takes much longer to load on the New iPad, slowly unfolding more detailed textures in memory, while the iPad 2 apparently works with the SD version of the content. At the same time, the slight delay at startup is more than compensated by the beauty of improved graphics on the highly detailed screen, but the fact remains that the New iPad is not always faster than the iPad. This statement is perfectly illustrated by the summary table of test results. As you can see, the performance level of the second and third generation tablets is almost identical, which is not surprising, and the New iPad takes the lead only in those benchmarks where the emphasis is on the graphics component, allowing the use of the resources of four graphics cores.

There is not much to say about the real autonomy of the New iPad; as we mentioned above, Apple promised users 10-hour autonomy and fulfilled its promise. At the time of writing the review, the New iPad and iPad 2 were tested using the same program and in the same way, according to a similar schedule, with a gap of 5%-10% in favor of the iPad 2, their fully charged batteries ran out. However, after reaching a critical discharge level, one small problem emerged - the new battery has a capacity 1.7 times higher (42.5 Wh versus 25 Wh), but is equipped with the same standard 10 W charger. Thus, your New iPad will take much longer to charge than it did with the iPad 2 - be sure to take this point into account.

We cannot help but note the significant heating of the back cover and part of the tablet screen during use under load - this is how we have to pay for the increased performance and a screen with a higher resolution. It is mainly the left side of the case that heats up, where the circuit board with the processor and other components of the tablet is located. Obviously, Retina has a noticeable effect on the temperature regime, since reducing the brightness of its backlight partially stabilizes the situation. It is quite possible that the battery also contributes. The temperature cannot be called “scorching”, but the heating is noticeably higher than in the case of the iPad 2 and, moreover, the almost cold iPad 1.

Camera New iPad (iPad 3)

The New iPad has two cameras at once, a front VGA option for communication and a 5 megapixel module, which for the first time received its own name iSight. The latter is built on the same CMOS sensor from Omnivision as the iPhone 4, while using completely new optics assembled from 5 elements. The camera supports autofocus, focusing by tapping on the screen, detecting faces in the frame and can shoot HD video in 1080p/30 fps quality with stabilization.

The quality of pictures and videos obtained using the 5 MP iSight camera is quite high, which is easy to see by reading the examples of shooting we received. If you're looking to make full use of the New iPad's photography capabilities, be sure to check out Apple's new photo editor, iPhoto, available in the AppStore for $4.99. In any case, the convenience of shooting with a massive 10-inch device remains a big question, although having a fairly high-quality camera on hand in this format is better than not having it at all.

Operating the New iPad (iPad 3)

In each section of this review, we pointed out the nuances that arose during testing of one or another function of the New iPad, so here we will just summarize briefly.

Due to the fact that the design and construction of the new generation of tablet have not changed too critically, the ergonomics of the device have remained approximately at the same level. That is, the buttons located on the beveled sides are still not very convenient to use in conjunction with the SmartCover case. A single multimedia speaker is still used, although it is unlikely that anyone would refuse stereo acoustics.

There are no operators in Ukraine yet that support the high-speed 4G LTE communication standard, so 3G is the maximum you can count on. The new voice input does not work in Russian and Ukrainian, and it is not as functional as Siri in the iPhone 4S.

Finally, let us once again note the “hot temper” of the New iPad, because at the moment it is not entirely clear how serious the problem with overheating of the device is. The tablet has just gone on sale, statistics on this situation have not yet been collected, but in any case, potential buyers should not lose sight of this fact.

Video review of the Apple New iPad (iPad 3) tablet

Results

The New iPad is all about the Retina display. For its sake, it was necessary to use a powerful processor, which entailed the need to use a more capacious battery and, in turn, increased the thickness, weight and heating of the new iPad. The system performance of the new product has increased slightly, battery life has dropped slightly, and the noticeable increase in 3D performance is almost completely utilized by the new ultra-high-resolution screen. The 4G module is not relevant in Ukraine, and improved camera performance can hardly be considered one of the critical advantages of the New iPad.

But all these shortcomings fade into the background before the excellent image quality and maximum level of detail of the notorious Retina, which none of the competitors can yet provide. Thus, it is worth purchasing a New iPad at this stage if the visual component of the tablet dominates your list of preferences - that is, you are a geek, an avid gamer, an enthusiastic photographer or a demanding web surfer. Casual tablet users may not even notice the improvement in image quality, and for them, purchasing a cheaper iPad 2 will definitely be a more justified purchase.

Liked

Retina display with the highest currently available resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels

New A5X hardware platform with two computing cores, four graphics cores and 1 GB of RAM

The battery capacity increased by 1.5 times made it possible to maintain autonomy at the same level

The price level for basic configurations remains the same

Improved 5 MP camera with new optics

Did not like

- heating of the aluminum back panel and screen under load

- battery charge takes 1.5 times longer than iPad 2

— applications optimized for the Retina screen are noticeably larger in volume than regular ones

— The new iPad is heavier and thicker than its predecessor

Technical characteristics of the Apple New iPad tablet

Apple iPad 4 Wi-Fi 16 GB White (MD513)
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	iPad	iPad 2	New iPad
Cost in USA	Wi-Fi $499 / $599 / $699; 3G/4G $629 / $729 / $829
OS	iOS 5.1
Display	9.7” (1024×768, 132 PPI) IPS, glossy, oleophobic coating		9.7” (2048×1536, 264 PPI) Retina IPS, glossy, oleophobic coating
Sensory capabilities	capacitive multi-touch up to 10 simultaneous touches
Brightness, cd/m2 (min/half/max)	20 / 100 / 270	20 / 120 / 300	3 / 105 / 295
Auto brightness adjustment	Yes
Platform	Apple A4	Apple A5	Apple A5X
CPU	1×ARM Cortex-A9 (1.0 GHz)	2×ARM Cortex-A9 (1.0 GHz)	2×ARM Cortex-A9 (1.0 GHz)
Graphic arts	PowerVR SGX535	2×PowerVR SGX543MP2	4×PowerVR SGX543MP4
Random Access Memory (RAM)	256 MB	512 MB	1 GB
Storage (Flash)	16 / 32 GB / 64 GB	16 / 32 GB / 64 GB (currently only 16 GB version available)	16 / 32 GB / 64 GB
Card reader	No
Connectors	proprietary port (30 pin), 3.5 mm audio port
3G/4G (optional)	UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)	AT&T model: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); Verizon model: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)	AT&T model: 4G LTE (700, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Verizon model: 4G LTE (700 MHz); CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz); UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
WiFi	Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 2.1+EDR		Bluetooth 4.0
GPS	only in 3G version		only in 4G version
Camera (main)	No	0.6 MP (960×720), HD video 720p/30 fps	5 MP iSight (2592×1936), autofocus, tap focus, face detection, HD video 1080p/30 fps
Camera (front)	No	0.3 MP (640×480), video 480p/30 fps	0.3 MP FaceTime (640×480), VGA video/30 fps
Microphone	Yes
Acoustics	1 speaker
Hardware keys	Home button, power button, volume rocker, position lock/mute slider
Battery	25 Wh Li-pol		42.5 Wh Li-pol
Declared autonomy	10 hours of browsing or video (Wi-Fi), 9 hours of browsing and video (3G/4G)
Dimensions and weight	243x190x13.4 mm, 680 g (730 g - 3G)	241.2×185.7×8.8 mm, 601 g (613 g - 3G)
Type	Tablet
Pre-installed OS	iOS 6
Screen diagonal, inches	9,7
Permission	2048x1536
Matrix type	IPS
Light sensor	+
RAM, GB	1
Built-in memory, GB	16
Memory expansion slot	-
CPU	Apple A6X
Frequency, GHz	1,4
Number of Cores	2
Graphic arts	PowerVR SGX554MP4
Built-in speakers	+
Battery life	up to 10 hours of watching videos, surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi
Front camera, MP	1,2
Rear camera, MP	5
Other	autofocus, image stabilization, face detection, geotagging, 1080p video
Ethernet	-
WiFi	WiFi 802.11n
Bluetooth	+ (4.0)
3G/4G(LTE) module	-
GPS	-
NFC	-
External ports	lightning dock connector port, 3.5 mm
Weight, g	652
Dimensions, mm	241.2x185.7x9.4
Case color	silver
Front panel color	white
Dock station	-