Apple iPad 4 review

ntroduction

Three Apple tablets in a single year. This is more than anyone asked for and yet, by some weird logic - or lack thereof, not too many for Apple to successfully sell. All fine and dandy, unless you got the iPad 3 - better luck next time if you were unfortunate enough to buy it in September.

Well, so much for the new iPad. Number 4 is the new new iPad. You must've heard the one about the double positives. Did we hear some iPad 3 owners say "Yeah, right"? To be honest, they're not without a point.

Apple iPad 4 Apple iPad 4 Apple iPad 4
Apple iPad 4 official photos

Anyway, the tablet market is still Apple's to lose and the least it could do is send a message to the competition. The double November release may look like a knee-jerk reaction to Google and Microsoft's raid on the slate market but the fact is that Apple has the depth to compete on two fronts. The mini against compact droids and the iPad 4 against the Surface means Cupertino is leaving nothing to chance in defending its number one spot.

The fourth generation iPad is no major upgrade. It keeps the design, display and the main camera of its predecessor. What it gets is a new chipset and the new Lightning port. Oh, and there's an HD FaceTime front cam but that's barely worth mentioning.

Overall, it's the same tablet as the one released in March, with the class-leading Retina display and a welcome boost to the processing power. Plus, the Lightning port ensures seamless compatibility with the iPhone 5, which has sold by the millions.
Key features

    9.7" LED-backlit IPS LCD touchscreen, 2048 x 1536 pixels; scratch-resistant, oleophobic coating
    Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity, carrier-dependent hotspot support
    Optional LTE connectivity (data only)
    Optional GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS support (for the 3G model only)
    Apple A6X SoC with 1 GHz dual-core processor
    PowerVR SGX554MP4 quad-core GPU
    1GB of RAM
    iOS 6.0 with iCloud support and activation
    16/32/64GB of inbuilt storage
    652 grams of weight (662 grams for the LTE version)
    Bluetooth 4.0
    Lightning USB port
    11,560 mAh battery
    Accelerometer, compass and three-axis gyro-sensor
    5MP auto-focus camera
    1080p video recording at 30fps
    1.2MP secondary camera capable of FaceTime HD calls
    Four and five-finger gestures
    1080p TV-output with the Apple Digital AV Adapter (purchased separately for $39), 720p video streaming
    Supports magnetic cases

Main disadvantages

    iTunes still required for uploading most of the content
    Reflective screen struggles outdoors
    No standard USB port
    No stereo speakers
    No GPS receiver in the Wi-Fi version
    No memory card slot
    Lack of basic iOS apps - stocks, clock, calculator, voice memos

It's an Apple device so things like a file manager and a memory card slot are not even up for discussion. They'll probably never be. Nothing on the list above should come as a surprise and, if you are still with us, you are OK with most of it.

The A6X chipset potentially doubles the processing power but let's be honest, the real life gain is not enough to make anyone throw away a still fresh iPad 3. Yet that's what Apple just did - you can think of that as investing in the future-proofing of the device more than anything else.

iPad 4 over iPad 3

    Apple A6X chipset with PowerVR554MP4 quad-core GPU for allegedly 2x faster performance
    1.2MP front FaceTime camera with HD video
    GLONASS support (for the cellular version only)
    Lightning USB port

Whether or not Cupertino will admit to feeling the pressure from Microsoft, they knew the right thing to do is prepare. Apple could not afford to have development split between flagship devices running different hardware.

Someone had to take the hit and leaving iPad 3 users out in the cold was probably a hard decision for Apple. The new product launch schedule may've put the iPad 4's market prospects in question too - users are less certain whether they should commit to a new device that may soon become outdated. Apparently, the new Apple tablets are doing great, but the iPad 4 seems to be the one that's always in stock, while the mini takes about 2 weeks to deliver.

But the iPad mini already had its moment in the spotlight here, it's now iPad 4's turn to have our full attention. Before we get busy, we should note that numbers are the short and easy way to set the different generations of Apple tablets apart. What was until recently known as the New iPad (iPad 3) is now discontinued. The current model (iPad 4) is officially called iPad with Retina. The only older generation Apple tablet officially in circulation is the iPad 2. Quite a mess, indeed.

Apple iPad 4 Apple iPad 4 Apple iPad 4
Apple iPad 4 live photos

Anyway, that should be enough introduction already. Let's take a closer look at the iPad 4 hardware. Join us right after the break.

Samsung Galaxy S II AT&T

GENERAL 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

3G Network HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100

Announced 2011, August

Status Available. Released 2011, October

SIZE Dimensions 126 x 66 x 8.9 mm

Weight 121.9 g

DISPLAY Type Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

Size 480 x 800 pixels, 4.3 inches (~217 ppi pixel density)

- Gorilla Glass display

- TouchWiz UI v4.0

- Multi-touch input method

- Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate

- Touch-sensitive controls

- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off

- Gyroscope sensor

SOUND Alert types Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones

Loudspeaker Yes

3.5mm jack Yes

MEMORY Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall

Call records Practically unlimited

Internal 16GB/32GB storage, 1 GB RAM

Card slot microSD, up to 32GB, 8 GB included, buy memory

DATA GPRS Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32 - 48 kbps

EDGE Class 12

3G HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps

WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot

Bluetooth Yes, v3.0 with A2DP, HS

Infrared port No

USB Yes, v2.0 microUSB (MHL), USB On-the-go

CAMERA Primary 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash

Features Geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization

Video Yes, 1080p@30fps

Secondary Yes, 2 MP

FEATURES OS Android OS, v2.3.4 (Gingerbread)

CPU Dual-core 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, Mali-400MP GPU, Samsung Exynos C210 chipset

Messaging SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS

Browser HTML

Radio Stereo FM radio with RDS

Games Yes

Colors Black

GPS Yes, with A-GPS support

Java Yes, via Java MIDP emulator

- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic

- NFC support (optional)

- TV-out (via MHL A/V link)

- SNS integration

- Digital compass

- MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264/H.263 player

- MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player

- Organizer

- Image/video editor

- Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)

- Google Search, Maps, Gmail,

YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa integration

- Adobe Flash 10.1 support

- Voice memo/dial/commands

- Predictive text input (Swype)

BATTERY Standard battery, Li-Ion 1650 mAh

Stand-by Up to 400 h

Talk time Up to 8 h

Nokia N8 Technical Infomation

General	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
	Announced	2010, April
	Status	Available. Released 2010, October

Size	Dimensions	113.5 x 59.1 x 12.9 mm, 86 cc
	Weight	135 g

Display	Type	AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	360 x 640 pixels, 3.5 inches
		- Multi-touch input method - Proximity sensor for auto turn-off - Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate - Scratch resistant Gorilla glass display

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes
		- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Detailed, max 30 days
	Internal	16 GB storage, 256MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
	Card slot	microSD, up to 32GB, buy memory

Data	GPRS	Class 33
	EDGE	Class 33
	3G	HSDPA, 10.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2.0 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, UPnP technology
	Bluetooth	Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0, USB On-the-go support

Camera	Primary	12 MP, 4000x3000 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, Xenon flash
	Features	1/1.83'' sensor size, ND filter, geo-tagging, face detection
	Video	Yes, 720p@25fps
	Secondary	VGA videocall camera

Features	OS	Symbian^3 OS
	CPU	ARM 11 680 MHz processor, 3D Graphics HW accelerator
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, RSS feeds
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS; FM transmitter
	Games	Yes + downloadable
	Colors	Dark Grey, Silver White, Green, Blue, Orange
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support; Ovi Maps 3.0
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.1
		- TV-out (720p video) via HDMI with Dolby Digital Plus sound - Anodized aluminum casing - Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic - Digital compass - MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player - DivX/XviD/MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV player - Voice command/dial - Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) - Video/photo editor - Flash Lite v4.0 - T9

Battery		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1200 mAh (BL-4D)
	Stand-by	Up to 390 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 12 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 30 min (3G)
	Music play	Up to 50 h

Samsung T669 Gravity T Technical Infomation

General 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 1700 / 2100

Announced 2010, June

Status Available. Released 2010, June

Size Dimensions 110 x 56.6 x 15 mm
Weight 120 g

Display

Type TFT resistive touchscreen, 256K colors
Size 240 x 320 pixels
- QWERTY keyboard
- Accelerometer sensor
- Turn-to-mute

Sound

Alert types Vibration, MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone Yes
Memory Phonebook Yes, Photocall

Call records 90 received, dialed and missed calls
Internal 50 MB
Card slot microSD, up to 16GB, buy memory

Data

GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G HSDPA
WLAN No
Bluetooth Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
Infrared port No

USB Yes, microUSB v2.0

Camera

Primary 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels
Video Yes
Secondary No

Features CPU 184 MHz processor
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM, RSS
Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML

Radio No

Games Yes

Colors Various

GPS A-GPS only; Google Maps

Java Yes, MIDP 2.0
- Social networking integration
- T-Mobile Social Buzz
- MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
- MP4/H.264 player
- Organizer
- Document viewer
- Voice memo/dial
- T9
Battery

Standard battery, Li-Ion 1000 mAh
Stand-by Up to 400 h
Talk time Up to 6 h

Vodafone 845 Technical Infomation.

General
2G Network GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100

Announced 2010, April

Status Coming soon. Exp. release 2010, May

Size Dimensions -

Weight -

Display Type TFT touchscreen, 65K colors
Size 240 x 320 pixels, 2.8 inches
- Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate

Sound Alert types Vibration; MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone Yes

Memory Phonebook Practically unlimited entries, Photocall
Call records Practically unlimited
Internal 512 MB storage, 128 MB RAM
Card slot microSD, up to 16GB

Data GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth Yes v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port No
USB Yes v2.0

Camera Primary 3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus
Video Yes
Secondary No

Features OS Android OS, v2.1
Messaging SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM
Browser HTML

Radio No

Games Yes

Colors Black

GPS Yes, with A-GPS support

Java Yes, MIDP 2.0
- MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player
- MP4/H.263/H.264 player
- Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
- Organizer
- Photo/video editor
- Voice memo
- T9

Battery Standard battery, Li-Ion 1200 mAh
Stand-by
Talk time

Samsung I9000 Galaxy S Technical Infomation

General
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

Announced 2010, March

Status Coming soon. Exp. release 2010,

Size Dimensions 122.4 x 64.2 x 9.9 mm
Weight 118 g

Display Type
Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size 480 x 800 pixels, 4.0 inches
- Multi-touch input method
- Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
- Swipe text input

Sound
Alert types Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
Speakerphone Yes
- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory
Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records Practically unlimited
Internal 8 GB/16GB storage
Card slot microSD up to 32GB

Data
GPRS Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
EDGE Class 12
3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; DLNA
Bluetooth Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
Infrared port No
USB Yes, v2.0 microUSB

Camera
Primary 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus
Features Geo-tagging, face and smile detection
Video Yes, 720p@30fps
Secondary Yes, VGA

Features OS Android OS, v2.1 (Eclair)

CPU 1 GHz processor

Messaging SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM

Browser HTML

Radio Stereo FM radio with RDS

Games Yes

Colors Black and Grey

GPS Yes, with A-GPS support

Java Via third party application
- Digital compass
- MP4/DivX/WMV/H.264/H.263 player
- MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player
- Organizer
- Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
- Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa integration
- Voice memo
- T9

Battery
Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh
Stand-by -
Talk time

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