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Apple iPad 3 review

9.2/10 AVG.
RATING
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Apple iPad 3
Apple iPad 3
Apple iPad 3
Apple iPad 3
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9.2/10
Informr score
The Apple iPad 3 currently has an Informr score of 9.2 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 42 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

If the tablet market of 2012 were a monarchy, then the iPad 3 Wi-Fi would be the one you'd find sitting comfortably atop the throne. The kingdom's crown jewel? You guessed it: a sweet, sweet apple with a little bite in it. With the iPad 3, Apple has taken everything good about the iPad 2 and injected improvements all around. Design-wise, its undeniably as beautiful as any contraption made of glass, metal, and plastic can be. And as with many of today's available Apple products, in terms of technical specs, it does not disappoint.

Although it came out heavier and wee bit thicker than the previous iPad, the Apple iPad 3 brings features that do more than compensate for these minor inconveniences. The biggest highlights from the spec sheet include the dual-core Apple A5X System-on-a-chip which handles all the complex computing tasks on the device, the 9.7-inch Retina display that features a native resolution of 2048x1536 pixels, and the 42 WHr built-in battery that can give up to 10 hours of video playback or up to 30 days of standby time.

Just like every other iDevice before it, this product comes pre-packaged with the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system called iOS. It ships with iOS 5.1 which brings in plenty of new software features that will allow users to make the most out of the hardware. Speaking of which, the iPad 3 comes with a whole host of useful hardware features such as built-in sensors for motion and ambient light, wireless antennas for Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi, built-in cameras for image capture, video recording, and video conferencing, and built-in storage that starts at 16GB and can go all the way up to 64GB.

For all of its positives, however, Apple's 3rd iPad is still not quite a perfect product. For many people, a 10-inch screen can be too big to comfortably hold. Others find Apple's closed eco-system, one that only lets you install Apple-approved apps, to be too restrictive. Still, with its huge app catalog, delectable screen and polished user experience, most reviewers agree that this is the best tablet on the market today.

Need to know: Apple iPad 3 Wi-Fi

1. Complex computing and graphics processing duties are handled very well by the proprietary Apple A5X SoC under the hood. (The Good)

2. The 9.7-inch 2048x1536 pixel Retina display is unparalleled in the world of IPS LCD technology. (The Good)

3. It no longer holds the record for the longest battery life out of all 10-inch tablets. (The Bad)

4. The whole iOS App Store experience and required iTunes system integration for device management can be quite troublesome at times and needs improvement. (The Bad)


iOS
Operating system
Operating system
iOS
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
9.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
9.7"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
11560 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Pocket Gamer
Pocket Gamer

Sleep Attack TD is a challenging tower defense title that manages to add a couple of new layers to tower defense games in general. Just don't expect to be able to beat it in your sleep.

- Nadia Oxford, Pocket Gamer
Mobile88
Mobile88

The iPad 3 still lays down the benchmark of what a tablet should be, and improves on a proven design with an upgraded processor, Retina Display, and a better camera. But with the iPad 3, we would reiterate something you may have heard before. If you own the iPad 2, then the iPad 3 is not that much o...

- Mobile88 Team, Mobile88
GottaBeMobile
GottaBeMobile

I don’t have many complaints and the experience will only get better as time goes on. App developers will optimize their software for the new iPad and the web experience will improve – low resolution photos look terrible. The new iPad offers a far superior experience over the iPad 2 and so far, I th...

- Adam Mills, GottaBeMobile
Mobile Syrup
Mobile Syrup

Yes, the Retina display is absolutely ridiculously stunning. Whether you love, hate or are ambivalent about Apple products, no other company has yet to mass produce a device with such an unmatched, and for a while, unmatchable, display.Yes, the iPad is thicker and heavier. It also runs quite hot on...

- Daniel Bader, Mobile Syrup
HotHardware
HotHardware

The third generation Apple iPad is a great tablet device. While I feel that the Retina Display, and its power requirements, might be overkill, there's no denying that it looks fantastic. The iPad's LTE performance on Verizon's network was equally filled with overkill, but in a way that I think is mo...

- Michael Oryl, HotHardware


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Quick view

Screen Size
9.7"

The Apple iPad 3's screen size is 9.7 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a Dual-core Apple A5X 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
5+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 5+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.
Storage
16/32/64 GB

Internal memory is 16/32/64 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
11560mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 11560 mAh battery. Apple's performance ratings are 30 days standby time, 10 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

iPad 3 Specs

Overview
Release Date March 16, 2012
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare iOS Smartphones

Processor Dual-core Apple A5X 1 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32/64 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Manual, USB Power Adapter
Cellular
Networks
No
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
No
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB No
USB OTG Support No
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection
Video Recording Formats
H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Geotagging
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel density 264 pixels
Size 9.7 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 11560 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 6 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Up to 30 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Aluminium
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 24.1 x 18.6 x 0.9 cm (9.5 x 7.3 x 0.4 in)
Weight 652 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech No
Screen Reader Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Mute Key: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP
PC Synchronization: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, eAAC, AAC+, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV
Video Playback Formats: H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, GIF, HTML, JPG, PDF, PPT, PPTX, RTF, TIFF, TXT, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): The new iPad Wi-Fi, iPad 3rd Generation Wi-Fi, iPad 3 Wi-Fi
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Apple iPad 3 Reviews
Where to buy Apple iPad 3
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