Review roundup: Apple's new iPad has 'spectacular' display, LTE 'screams'

Posted:
in iPad edited January 2014


The first reviews of Apple's third-generation iPad are beginning to appear, with most reviewers reporting that they are strongly impressed by the Retina Display and the fast 4G LTE speeds.



All Things D



Walt Mossberg of All Things D called the iPad's new display and move to LTE "massive" upgrades.



"Using the new display is like getting a new eyeglasses prescription—you suddenly realize what you thought looked sharp before wasn’t nearly as sharp as it could be," he wrote, later adding that it was the "most spectacular display" he had ever seen in a mobile device.



Mossberg was impressed by Apple's ability to maintain the iPad's long battery life even with the increased power demands from the screen and LTE. He did note that trade-offs came in the form of 8 percent more weight and 7 percent more thickness.



However, in spite of those trade-offs, the reviewer believes the upgrades to the iPad "strengthen its position as the best tablet on the market." Except for people who prefer one-handed use tablets, he recommends the device to consumers as their "best choice" in a general-purpose tablet.



Mossberg had trouble illustrating on a website or in print just how much better the new iPad's screen is than the iPad 2, but he did say it is a "big leap forward." When he put Apple's third-generation tablet next to its second-generation, he noticed that text that had seemed sharp on the older model now seemed fuzzier. He did note, though, that the new display, like all glossy LCD, color displays, still performs poorly in direct sunlight.





Left: iPad 2 Right: New iPad | Credit: All Things D







On Verizon, average LTE download speeds for the reviewer were over 17 megabits per second, compared to an iPad 2 average just over 1 mbps on 3G. AT&T's LTE network averaged over 12 mbps.



Performing his standard battery test, Mossberg got 9 hours and 58 minutes of battery life on the new iPad, compared to 10 hours and 9 minutes on the iPad 2. He was able to get more than a full day's worth of normal use out of the device, but not as long as the second-generation iPad.



Mossberg said the new rear camera has "greatly improved" from the "awful" performance of the iPad 2's shooter. "I loved the photos and videos it took, indoors and out," he said.



"Since it launched in 2010, the iPad has been the best tablet on the planet. With the new, third-generation model, it still holds that crown," he concluded.

















David Pogue of The New York Times said that content looks "jaw-droppingly good" when optimized for the new iPad's display. Apple's own apps, for instance, are "just incredibly sharp and clear," while Amazon's Kindle app has "relatively crude type" because it hasn't received a Retina-ready update.



As the "world's first tablet that can actually show you hi-def movies in full 1080p high definition," HD videos looked "dazzling."



Pogue called 4G LTE service "really, really nice" on the iPad. HE found that he didn't have to wait for videos to load before they started playing. Testing performed in San Francisco, Boston and New York produced speeds ranging from 6 to 29 mbps.



He was also pleasantly surprised by Apple's ability to preserve the iPad's battery life even with 4G, a "notorious battery hog." His all-day nonstop-usage test got nine hours out of the new iPad's battery.



"If you’re in the market for a tablet, here’s the bright side: For the same price as before, you can now get an updated iPad that’s still better-looking, better integrated and more consistently designed than any of its rivals," Pogue concluded, adding that iPad 2 owners don't have to feel "quite as obsolete as usual."





Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images







USA Today



Edward C. Baig believes that "nearly everyone" who gets their hands on a new iPad will be "delighted." The new device "snatches the crown" from the iPad 2 as the "finest tablet" customers can buy, he said.



Baig called the iPad's Retina Display "a screen to die for" and "the thing that will have you salivating." According to him, the first and second-generation iPad displays were "pretty sweet," but he was "blown away" by the new iPad.



As for other features, still images and video taken with the new iPad were "generally pleasing," even without flash, and 4G LTE speeds were "zippy" for him during a week of testing in San Francisco and Austin.



The reviewer said the the iPad lasted through an "entire day of being worked hard" without any battery problem.



Baig encouraged first-generation iPad owners with money to spare to go for the upgrade, but he was said it was "harder to justify" for iPad 2 owners, unless they have a family member who can inherit their current model.



"If you're a tablet newbie, there's no better choice on the market than an iPad, provided — and this is a pretty big if — price isn't an issue and you don't want a tablet that would fit in your pocket," he wrote.



Washington Post



Joshua Topolsky said the Retina Display on the iPad does in fact live up to the hype.



"This display is outrageous. It’s stunning. It’s incredible," he wrote. "There’s something almost otherwordly about how good this screen is. For rendered text or high-resolution images, it just looks like a glowing piece of paper."



He found there to be "no stutter, stagger or delay" when using the new iPad, unlike many other mobile devices that he has used.



The third-generation iPad "screams" on Verizon's 4G LTE network, the review noted. Topolsky said he saw higher speeds in midtown Manhattan than on his home network.



The reviewer said the iPad's battery life did live up to Apple's claims of 10 hours of active use and 9 hours using LTE. He also wrote that the new camera "performs admirably," though he found it hard to imagine that he would want to take photos with the iPad because of its size.



"In all, the new iPad is in a class by itself. As the latest product in a lineage of devices that defined this category, the iPad continues to stand head and shoulders above the competition."



Like others, Topolsky shied away from recommending that iPad 2 owners buy the new version, but he thinks first-time tablet buyers and first-generation iPad and Android tablet owners looking to upgrade should not hesitate to buy the third-generation iPad.



"The new iPad is the most functional, easy-to-use and beautiful tablet that any company has ever produced," he said.



Other publications have also published early reviews of the new iPad. Jim Dalrymple of The Loop said that he has been "in awe" of how good the iPad's Retina Display is since the first time he turned on the tablet. Writing for TechCrunch, M.G. Siegler the new screen to being able to see clearly after getting prescription glasses.





Credit:







MacWorld's Jason Snell said the third-gen iPad is "markedly better" than its predecessor on nearly every front. John Gruber of Daring Fireball marveled that specifications from his "dream iPad Pro" from 2010 have made it into the device just two years later.



[ View article on AppleInsider ]

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 60
    envirogenvirog Posts: 188member
    I still want one!!!
  • Reply 2 of 60
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    Great video from Joshua at The Verge:

    LTE is spectacular.





    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Oy6...e_gdata_player
  • Reply 3 of 60
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Postulant View Post


    Great video from Joshua at The Verge:

    LTE is spectacular.



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Oy6...e_gdata_player



    They do great videos which I'd think would be fairly easy for tech sites to edit but apparently my assumption is erroneous as very few do a good job.
  • Reply 4 of 60
    I know I am getting old but I can't see a difference in the iPad 2 vs "New iPad" screen based on that closeup. Also if you have to blow it up to tell the difference then I am not sure it has any real world use for most users. Its nice that the screen has a better resolution but I think the iPad 2 screen is pretty damn good.



    I am sure LTE is awesome.
  • Reply 5 of 60
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by extremeskater View Post


    I know I am getting old but I can't see a difference in the iPad 2 vs "New iPad" screen based on that closeup. Also if you have to blow it up to tell the difference then I am not sure it has any real world use for most users. Its nice that the screen has a better resolution but I think the iPad 2 screen is pretty damn good.



    I am sure LTE is awesome.



    You can't see it because you are using a display that can't show it at normal resolution, that's why we need to have the close ups that show the pixels are 1/4 the size. Remember, the previous iPads have a higher PPI than pretty much all PC displays.



    Did you see the first 3 generations of iPhone before the iPhone 4? If so, I imagine it's that kind of wow factor except more so because it's 8x the display area.
  • Reply 6 of 60
    Quote:

    The reviewer confirmed that the iPad's battery life did live up to Apple's claims of 10 hours of active use and 9 hours using LTE.



    O rly?



    Josh: I can say that the device pretty much lives up to Apple's ambitious claims.On Wi-Fi I nabbed almost exactly 9 hours of constant browsing, and on LTE, my number was closer to 8 hours and 15 minutes. That's not exactly where Apple pegs it, but that's because our testing methods are slightly different. (Apple sets their displays to 50 percent brightness, we use 65 percent)



    ---



    In the ballpark, maybe, 'confirmed' not really.
  • Reply 7 of 60
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    They do great videos which I'd think would be fairly easy for tech sites to edit but apparently my assumption is erroneous as very few do a good job.



    I agree 100%.
  • Reply 8 of 60
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by thataveragejoe View Post


    O rly?



    Josh: I can say that the device pretty much lives up to Apple's ambitious claims.On Wi-Fi I nabbed almost exactly 9 hours of constant browsing, and on LTE, my number was closer to 8 hours and 15 minutes. That's not exactly where Apple pegs it, but that's because our testing methods are slightly different. (Apple sets their displays to 50 percent brightness, we use 65 percent)



    ---



    In the ballpark, maybe, 'confirmed' not really.



    Keeping the power at 50% would be more accurate but because Josh had his display at 130% of what Apple uses for their test and Apple's history of equaling or beating their stated times I think it's safe to say that the G3 iPad does have the stated battery times if you were to create Apple's exact testing method. But technically you are right, it's not confirmed based on Josh's comment.



    Another issue that will need to be addressed — hopefully AnandTech will do so — is the comparable level of brightness does 50% or 100% offer on the G3 iPad over the iPad 2. I felt the iPads brightness at 100% was too low and I'm hoping that it's overall brightness is higher, but that new display could be an issue for me. If this has been addressed I'd love a link or quote.
  • Reply 9 of 60
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    Friday can't get here fast enough.
  • Reply 10 of 60
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by thataveragejoe View Post


    O rly?



    Josh: I can say that the device pretty much lives up to Apple's ambitious claims.On Wi-Fi I nabbed almost exactly 9 hours of constant browsing, and on LTE, my number was closer to 8 hours and 15 minutes.



    Not sure where you got that quote from. I can't find the words "pretty much" in his Washington Post review. This is what he had to say about battery life on the one I read:



    "As far as the battery life of the new iPad is concerned, the iPad lives up to Apple?s ambitious claims that you can do 10 hours straight of browsing the web, listening to music or watching video on this device (9 hours using LTE)."
  • Reply 11 of 60
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by thataveragejoe View Post


    O rly?



    Josh: I can say that the device pretty much lives up to Apple's ambitious claims.On Wi-Fi I nabbed almost exactly 9 hours of constant browsing, and on LTE, my number was closer to 8 hours and 15 minutes. That's not exactly where Apple pegs it, but that's because our testing methods are slightly different. (Apple sets their displays to 50 percent brightness, we use 65 percent)



    ---



    In the ballpark, maybe, 'confirmed' not really.



    To me the exact numbers are irrelevant. Will it get me through a day's use? Absolutely!!! I can carry it around campus all day and never have to worry about my charger.
  • Reply 12 of 60
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by joshong View Post


    Not sure where you got that quote from. I can't find the words "pretty much" in his Washington Post review. This is what he had to say about battery life on the one I read:



    "As far as the battery life of the new iPad is concerned, the iPad lives up to Apple?s ambitious claims that you can do 10 hours straight of browsing the web, listening to music or watching video on this device (9 hours using LTE)."



    From The Verge: http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/14/2870533/ipad-review
  • Reply 13 of 60
    take my money now
  • Reply 14 of 60
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    From The Verge: http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/14/2870533/ipad-review



    Thanks. It'd be interesting to compare the two different reviews he wrote for The Verge and the Washington Post.
  • Reply 15 of 60
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by joshong View Post


    Thanks. It'd be interesting to compare the two different reviews he wrote for The Verge and the Washington Post.



    I hadn't realized he wrote for both until I read your roundup.
  • Reply 16 of 60
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    The display is going to be so slick! Am I going to have to take a sledgehammer to all of my other displays and monitors now, because everything else is going to look so bad in comparison?



    The best display ever to exist on a consumer device, not bad.



    It's a huge game changer and anybody who says otherwise is either blind or a Fandroid or both.



    Looking at the closeup pictures, it doesn't even look like a computer display anymore, it looks like somebody just pasted a photo onto their iPad.



    I have a few books ready to read in my iBooks library, but I guess I'll wait until Friday before I start on a new book.
  • Reply 17 of 60
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    FaceTime still only works on wifi... I want it to work on LTE, too. Am I unreasonable?



    Gotta love carriers.
  • Reply 18 of 60
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    I hadn't realized he wrote for both until I read your roundup.



    The Washington Post review was the one that went up early (and was subsequently pulled) before the embargo lifted, so I went looking for it after the appointed time and only then realized that Topolsky wrote it.
  • Reply 19 of 60
    rmb0037rmb0037 Posts: 142member
    Can't wait. Not contributing much to the original article but i cannot wait for this bad boy to be released!! Got my lawn chair ready. Thursday night will be a long night
  • Reply 20 of 60
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Postulant View Post


    FaceTime still only works on wifi... I want it to work on LTE, too. Am I unreasonable?



    Gotta love carriers.



    In 2010 Jobs said that they needed to get the carriers to support all the protocols for it work seamlessly, but he also said that it would be coming "next year". Well 2011 is gone and it's not hear. If it comes with iOS 6 then I guess we'll know by WWDC so I guess you can say it's about 6 months overdue at that point. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.



    Jobs also said it would be open sourced but I don't see that happening.
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