Tablet World.pdf

“The extra
pace is more
noticeable in
demanding
tasks, and
particularly
in graphics”
Our benchmarking revealed some
impressive results. In GeekBench 2 we saw
1,769 points, which is signifi cantly faster than
the iPad 3's 750 and has only recently been
beaten by the Google Nexus 10's 2,505.
The iPad 4 retains its crown in the
SunSpider JavaScript test and GLBenchmark
graphics test, however, where it recorded a
speedy 854ms and 39fps respectively, versus
the Nexus 10's 1,329ms and 27fps.
But it's the real-life user experience that's
most important. The iPad 4 is a nippy device,
but we didn't feel it was twice as fast as the iPad 3 in general use. We could see
no difference in general navigation, but the extra pace is more noticeable in
demanding tasks, and particularly in graphics – the iPad 3 was capable of only
22fps in our benchmarks.
Price and storage options are the same as with previous iPads – £399 for the
16GB, Wi-Fi-only version, up to £659 for a 64GB iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G/4G LTE
connectivity. Be wise with your selection, though, since there's no possibility of
storage expansion through memory cards. Bear in mind that apps supporting the
Retina resolution take up considerably more space than previous versions, and
you may fi nd yourself fi lling up 16GB of storage faster than you expected.
The screen hasn't changed either. It's still a 9.7in Retina-quality (1536x2048)
LED-backlit IPS panel, and there's still no faulting this display.
The other big change is 4G LTE connectivity. The iPad 3 was marketed as
4G-capable, but it didn't meet the frequencies in use in the UK so Apple removed
the claim. If you want, and can afford, 4G mobile broadband, then this iPad will
cater for your needs. The iPad mini also supports 4G in the UK.
Other connectivity options, such as Bluetooth, remain the same, but Apple has
upgraded the Wi-Fi with channel bonding.
There's not a great deal of change when it comes to the iPad's cameras either.
Those hoping for an 8Mp rear camera will be disappointed to fi nd it's still the
same 5Mp iSight camera seen in the iPad 3.
It's unsurprising, then, that the photographic capability of the iPad 3 and 4 is
very similar. The iPad forms a useful camera if you don't mind using such a large
device for composition. The only change here is the addition of a back-illuminated
sensor, which should help in low-light situations.
More useful is a 1.2Mp FaceTime HD front-facing webcam, which can also
capture 720p video. This image quality is offers is much improved over that of the
iPad 3, which will not only better your Photo Booth pictures, but be more useful
for Skype and FaceTime calls.
Software
The iPad 4 is preinstalled with the latest version of iOS. This includes the Siri,
voice voice assistant which was introduced to the iPad with the the previous generation
of the tablet. Some recent and notable changes to the operating system
include the switch from Google Maps to Apple's own mapping
system, which hasn't been Apple's proudest moment
– the app has received heavy criticism for its
many failings, so it's handy that third-party
alternatives are available in app form,
and you can access Google
Maps in the Safari browser.
Battery life
Apple touts a double-digit battery
life of 10 hours when browsing the web
over Wi-Fi. It's diffi cult to suggest a typical
usage fi gure, since everyone will use their iPad in
different ways, but we'd go along with that claim.
Apple iPad with Retina display REVIEWS
READ
PC ADVISOR
ON THE
APPLE iPAD
SPECIFICATIONS
9.7in (1536x2048
‘Retina’) LED-backlit
multitouch display with
IPS technology; Apple
iOS 6.0; 1.39GHz
Apple A6X dual-core
processor; 1GB RAM;
16/32/64GB storage;
dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n;
Bluetooth 4.0; 3G/4G
LTE; 5Mp iSight rear
camera; 1.2Mp FaceTime
HD front camera,
720p video; 42.5Wh
lithium-polymer battery;
Lightning connector;
241.2x185.7x9.4mm;
652g
TABLETWORLD 27