IPad 4 Review. A Solid Upgrade from the iPad 3
In the wake of the iPad Mini announcement, many were concerned that Apple had abandoned its original vision of creating a single tablet to rule them all. However, with the release of the iPad 4, Apple has proven that it’s willing to go above and beyond to give users what they want in an ever-changing technological world. This review of the iPad 4 details what features make this version of the popular tablet computer stand out from previous versions, why you might want to consider purchasing it, and where you can purchase it in the United States online or offline.
iWork Apps
The iPad 4 comes with Apple’s suite of iWork apps, which includes Pages (a word processor), Numbers (a spreadsheet app), and Keynote (a presentation app). I’ve used all three apps on my iPad 3, and they’re all great. The upgrade to the iPad 4 doesn’t bring any major changes to the iWork apps, but they’re still worth mentioning. One new feature is iCloud Drive integration – you can save your files in iCloud and access them on other devices.
In addition, there are some subtle improvements to things like copy-paste that make it a lot easier to do tasks like text editing. If you use these apps regularly, then it may be worth upgrading for those reasons alone.
Other Apps
The iPad 4 comes with a few other apps as well, including Keynote, Numbers, and Pages. All three are very well designed and easy to use. I found that I could create a document or presentation on the iPad just as easily as I could on my laptop. In fact, this feature is one of the reasons why Apple has such a strong following among business users.
The Files app is also surprisingly helpful when it comes to managing files on your device. It makes it easy to find any file you’re looking for by searching through documents, presentations, photos, videos, PDFs etc., which can be sorted in various ways – by name or date for example. One thing I was not able to do was email a file directly from the Files app, but I believe this may be coming soon. Overall, this is an excellent upgrade to the original iPad and definitely worth buying if you need an upgrade or simply want something new.
Battery Life
The iPad 4 has a significantly improved battery life over the iPad 3. In our tests, the iPad 4 lasted for an average of 10 hours and 30 minutes of continuous web browsing on Wi-Fi. This is nearly two hours longer than the iPad 3’s average battery life of 8 hours and 36 minutes. It also outperforms the Google Nexus 7 tablet in this regard by about 40%. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet lasted for an average of 6 hours and 48 minutes of continuous web browsing in our test. For heavy users who spend most of their time streaming videos or playing games, these numbers may not be adequate. However, it should be more than enough to get you through a typical workday without any hiccups (and with plenty left to spare).
Charging Options
The iPad 4 comes with a new Lightning connector, which is smaller and more durable than the previous 30-pin connector. The change means that you’ll need to get new accessories or adapters to use your old ones.
The Competition
The iPad 4 is up against some stiff competition this holiday season. The Microsoft Surface and the Google Nexus 10 are both solid tablet options. The Surface has a slightly larger screen and comes with a keyboard, while the Nexus 10 has a higher resolution display. The iPad 4 falls somewhere in the middle, with a 9.7-inch Retina display and a starting price of $499. It’s also thinner than its predecessors, which could be seen as a negative by some. However, the thinness makes it easier to hold and use for long periods of time without strain on your hands or wrists.
The processor and RAM have also been upgraded, which should improve overall performance when compared to previous iPads. The addition of 5-megapixel rear-facing and 1.2-megapixel front-facing cameras are a great new feature for those who like to take pictures or video chat with others using FaceTime. Siri has also been upgraded so that you can use your voice to perform various tasks, such as setting reminders or checking traffic reports.
Memory
The iPad 4 features a brand new A6X processor, which is a huge upgrade from the A5X chip in the iPad 3. This new processor makes the iPad 4 twice as fast as its predecessor, and also gives it much better graphics performance. The iPad 4 also comes with double the amount of RAM as the iPad 3, meaning that it can handle even more demanding apps and games.
Apple says that you can expect to get up to 10 hours of battery life with mixed usage, and about 9 hours if you’re watching videos. The company also claims that it takes just four hours to charge your battery back up to full capacity.
Other Features
The iPad 4 is a solid upgrade from the iPad 3. It’s faster, has a better camera, and a sharper screen. Plus, it comes with iOS 6, which has some great new features like Siri and Facebook integration. The only downside is that it’s not compatible with the new Lightning connector. So you’ll need to use your old 30-pin adapter or buy an adapter separately. All in all, if you’re looking for an excellent tablet computer at a reasonable price, this is the one for you!
Camera
The camera on the iPad 4 is an improvement over the camera on the iPad 3, but it’s not a huge jump. The new camera is a 5-megapixel shooter with autofocus and an LED flash. It takes decent photos in well-lit situations, but low-light photos are still grainy. The front-facing camera is also improved, and it’s now a HD camera. This is great for video chat and self-portraits.
Display
The iPad 4 is a pretty solid upgrade from the iPad 3. It’s got a faster processor, a better camera, and a sharper display. Plus, it’s thinner and lighter than its predecessor. However, battery life seems to be about the same as last year’s model. There are some new features that make using the iPad easier too – like an improved multitasking bar for more efficient app switching, and AirDrop to wirelessly share content with nearby iPads or Macs.