AppleInsider Staff
Alongside the release of iPad mini reviews, the embargo was also lifted for reports on the fourth-generation iPad, which brought incremental changes and tweaks including the faster A6X processor.
In practice, the most noticeable difference between third and fourth generation of iPad is how quickly apps launch. It's not so much that the older iPad is slow to launch apps, but the A6X-powered model is consistently and noticeably faster to do so.
The fourth-generation iPad is the very definition of an iterative change: Apple made important things better, but neither overhauled nor revolutionized anything.
The A6X speeds up the iPad back to levels you'd expect, and it handles Retina Display graphics even better. This is the iPad 3S, so to speak.
The new front-facing FaceTime HD camera doesn't feel as dramatic as it did on the iPhone 5 or fifth-gen iPod Touch. For one, the iPad's screen is a lot larger; also, that high-res Retina Display can display a lot more pixels, so the average image just comes off as grainier. It's still better than before, and it makes a difference on FaceTime calls, but the rear camera remains the same as before: 5 megapixels, no changes.
For now, one primary way you’ll notice that this iPad is better than the last version is in the front-facing camera.
It simply seems like Apple decided they wanted to push out a new iPad version before the holidays with the new connector and gave it a spec boost as a bonus. Why not do more? Because they don’t need to right now.
With the iPad with Retina, there’s the sense that you’re paying for potential. The current level of apps simply don’t take advantage of the improved chipset – save, perhaps, the browser – but you’re getting the newest connector and the reassurance that your tablet will keep up with whatever App Store developers throw at it over the coming months.
The third-generation iPad arguably didn’t need refreshing; in fact, if Apple hadn’t opted to change to Lightning, it could realistically have held off changing its largest tablet until early 2013, as per its typical yearly refresh cycle.
It was reported earlier on Tuesday that preorders for the fourth-generation iPad were sold out, with the next available shipments coming in one week.
Sponsored Content
Wesley Hilliard
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
132 Comments
Yep. They give us the fastest tablet ever made with the best screen on a tablet and the most versatile port on a tablet…
And all people can do is whine.
"Reviewers confirm 4th-gen iPad is merely an incremental refresh" This much was already known... The greater question is how developers will handle creating apps that specifically take advantage of the A6X's 'power' when Apple will still have devices running on the older A5, A5X, and A6 SoCs?
I believe that the real reason that the new "4th Gen iPad" was released is because of the Lightning connector. If the iPhone 5 had not shipped with the Lightning connector, but the old 30 pin connector, I bet we'd have gotten an iPad mini with 30 pin connector and no iPad 4th gen refresh. Apple could not be seen to have this new connector but then not have an iPad to sell to those who bought the iPhone 5 (and were new iOS customers and did not have legacy 30pin devices). Their two top devices, iPhone 5 and iPad would have different connectors and that would be bad in trying to sell to new customers. =
"Reviewers confirm 4th-gen iPad is merely an incremental refresh"
This much was already known...
The greater question is how developers will handle creating apps that specifically take advantage of the A6X's 'power' when Apple will still have devices running on the older A5, A5X, and A6 SoCs?
Same way that developers have handled this same situation on any platform.
-
Let's see... Twice as fast as the 3rd generation... I suppose one could call this an incremental refresh, but it's a heck of a refresh for the same money.
No body mentions if it runs cooler, weighs less, or if the battery lasts longer...