When iPad 4 came out. IPad lineup. What is the screen diagonal of the iPad
What's the difference from the previous generation iPad?
At the end of October, along with the iPad mini, Apple introduced a new generation of iPad. Amid the excitement around iPad mini this unexpected announcement went almost unnoticed. Of course, this is also a consequence of the fact that the updated iPad, judging by what was said at the presentation, does not offer anything revolutionary. But - let's not rush to conclusions and we will understand everything in detail.
Let's start with the terminology. Apple hasn't given the new iPad its original name - it's just iPad (with Retina display). It was unofficially referred to as the iPad 4, as it is the fourth generation iPad. However, as we remember, the previous generation also did not have a number in the name. At the presentation, it was called The New iPad, and although later information appeared that The New iPad is not a proper name, but simply "the new iPad", the third generation of Apple tablets began to be called that way.
Now, the company's marketers have completely confused buyers and the press. Calling the “new” iPad of the previous generation is somehow strange, and most importantly, it is not clear how to call the iPad of the fourth generation. Without the previous The New iPad, one could call new every next generation. But over the past months, the word “new” has stuck to the third generation iPad.
Why this leapfrog? Why was it impossible to leave the numbering, as is the case with the iPhone? Apparently, Apple's marketers decided to follow the same path as with laptops. As we know, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air do not have numbers either, and generations are designated by phrases like "Late 2011" or "Mid 2012". Well, let's see how this affects sales. For the sake of simplicity and to avoid confusion, in this article we will nevertheless call our new product iPad 4, and the previous model - iPad 3.
So let's take a look at the specs of the iPad 4 versus the iPad 3 and major competitors.
| 4th generation iPad | 3rd generation iPad | ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity | Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 | |
| Screen | 9.7 ″, IPS, 2048 × 1536 (264 ppi) | 10.1 ″, Super IPS +, 1920 × 1200 (224 ppi) | 10.1 ″, PLS, 1280 × 800 (149 ppi) | |
| SoC (processor) | Apple A6X @ 1.4 GHz (2 cores of Apple's own architecture based on ARMv7s) | Apple A5X @ 1 GHz (2 cores, ARM Cortex-A9) | NVIDIA Tegra 3 T33 @ 1.6 GHz (4 cores + 1 auxiliary, ARM Cortex-A9) or Qualcomm MSM 8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus @ 1.5 GHz (2 Krait cores, ARMv7 ISA) | Samsung Exynos 4412 @ 1.4 GHz (4 cores, ARM Cortex-A9) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX 554MP4 @ 300 MHz | PowerVR SGX 543MP4 @ 250 MHz | GeForce ULP @ 520 MHz or Adreno 225 @ 400 MHz | ARM Mali-400 MP4 |
| Flash memory | from 16 to 64 GB | from 16 to 64 GB | from 16 to 64 GB + 8 GB cloud storage | from 16 to 64 GB |
| Connectors | lightning dock connector, 3.5mm headphone jack | Micro-HDMI 1.4а, 2 docking connectors (one at the docking station), 3.5 mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 (at the docking station) | dock connector, 3.5 mm headphone jack | |
| Memory card support | no | no | microSD (up to 64 GB), SD / SDHC (up to 64 GB, on docking station) | microSD (up to 64 GB) |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Cameras | rear (5 Mp; video shooting - 1920 × 1080), front (1.2 Mp photo, 720p video via FaceTime) | rear (5 Mp; video shooting - 1920 × 1080), front (0.3 Mp) | rear (8 Mp) and front (2 Mp) | rear (5 Mp; video shooting - 1280 × 720) and front (1.9 Mp) |
| the Internet | Wi-Fi (optional - 3G, as well as 4G LTE without support for Russian networks) | Wi-Fi (optional - 3G and 4G) | Wi-Fi + 3G | |
| operating system | Apple iOS 6.0.1 | Apple iOS 5.1 (update to version 6.0.1 available) | Google Android 4.0 (update to version 4.1.1 available) | Google Android 4.0 |
| Dimensions * (mm) | 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 | 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 | 263 × 180.8 × 8.5 | 262 × 180 × 8.9 |
| Weight * (g) | 652 | 652 | 597 | 600 |
| Price** | $699 | N / A (0) | $406() | $452() |
* - according to the manufacturer's information; in the case of iPad, the weight of models without a cellular module is indicated; In the case of Infinity, weights are indicated for a tablet without a docking station.
** - for all tablets the price is indicated for the configuration with 64 GB of flash memory and without a cellular module (if possible); for the fourth generation iPad the official US price is indicated (excluding state tax), for the other three tablets the average price in Russia is indicated, while for the ASUS tablet the price is given for a complete set with a docking station.
Let's pay attention to one essential feature. Immediately after the appearance of the new iPad 4 in the Apple online store, the previous model disappeared from sale - while the iPad 2 is still available. Thus, Apple simply replaced the top-of-the-line iPad model rather than expanding the range. It is not entirely clear what will happen to those third-generation iPad models that are now on store shelves. Will their prices fall (as they did before, after the appearance of new generations of iPads), or will stores simply sell the third-generation iPads until the warehouses are empty, and then buy the fourth-generation iPads, thus trying to avoid the proximity of two generations of iPads on the same counter?
As for the characteristics, then, as we can see, the changes compared to the iPad 3 relate exclusively to the internal components: a new SoC, a new front camera ... But a comparison with competitors is hardly possible based on this table alone. At least, there are no such characteristics on which the iPad 3 would be inferior to competitors, and the iPad 4 would surpass them, so it is difficult to draw any preliminary conclusions here. Let's instead move on to face-to-face introduction and testing.
Packaging and equipment
The packaging of the iPad 4 is virtually identical to the packaging of the previous generation tablet.
As for the package bundle, everything is predictable here too (the set of plugs for charging depends on the region in which the device was purchased, so you shouldn't pay attention to this). The only difference is the Lightning cable instead of the traditional one. As you can see, not only the iPhone and iPad mini, but also the "adult" iPad got a new connector.
Design
As a matter of fact, the Lightning connector is the only external difference between iPad 4 and iPad 3. Therefore, if you buy a new product from your hands, pay attention that the connector is small oval (Lightning), as in the photo below, and not long and narrow (traditional 30 -pin connector).
As we remember, iPad 3 also did not differ very much from iPad 2. However, there were still some design changes. And the main one is an increase (albeit small) in mass and thickness. In the case of the iPad 4, there is no change in size and weight, or any other external nuances. Again, the only difference between iPad 4 and iPad 3 is Lightning instead of a 30-pin dock connector.
It would be strange (for obvious reasons) to draw any conclusions regarding the iPad's design. But note that since the release of the iPad 3, this design has not become outdated at all and still looks relevant (though not much time has passed).
Screen and software
Like the iPad 3, iPad 4 features a remarkable Retina display. The 2048x1536 resolution at the time the iPad 4 was released was not surpassed by competitors, and in other respects, the iPad 4 screen is great. True, in mid-November, a 10-inch appeared on sale in some Western countries google tablet Nexus 10 with a resolution of 2560x1600 (and a pixel density of 300 ppi), which is more than that of the iPad 3 and 4. But we have not yet been able to evaluate the Nexus 10 screen (but we will definitely do it!)
As for the iPad 4, we didn't notice any differences compared to the iPad 3 screen. Apparently, this is the same display. But this is good, because, again, at the moment this is almost the best display in 10-inch tablets.
Here is a detailed examination of the Retina screen, carried out earlier by the editor of the sections "Monitors" and "Projectors and TV" Alexei Kudryavtsev.
The front surface of the tablet is covered with a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface. Resistant to scratches is available. An anti-glare filter, judging by the reflection of bright light sources, or not, or it is not very effective (the first iPad has about the same). There is a special oleophobic coating on the outer surface of the screen, which to some extent prevents the appearance of fingerprints and makes them easier to remove. Although, for example, the same ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime had an oleophobic coating more effective, this can only be confirmed by direct comparison (the old iPad has an oleophobic coating or not, or it is very “weak”).
With manual brightness control, its maximum value was 330 cd / m² (iPad 2 - 280 cd / m²), minimum - 2.8 cd / m² (25.2 cd / m²). As a result, at maximum brightness in bright daylight, it will be possible to see something on the screen, and in complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness control works "in the style of Apple", which is thoughtlessly copied by other manufacturers (it does not apply to Samsung): in the "Auto" mode, when the level of ambient light increases, the brightness increases, but when it decreases, it remains unchanged, and we did not wait. However, if you put the tablet into sleep mode and turn it on again, the brightness will be set in accordance with the ambient light level. The minimum and maximum levels in Auto mode depend on the position of the brightness adjustment slider. So, when the slider is set to the maximum, the automatic adjustment in bright light sets the brightness to the maximum - 330 cd / m², in the dark - at 300 cd / m² (which is a lot). If the slider is located approximately in the middle, then in bright light it will be about 250 cd / m² (optimal), in the dark - 4.5 (which, of course, is too little). In general, the creators of the iPad need to discard their dogmas, allow the brightness not only to increase, but also to decrease automatically, and at the same time, bring the matter to the end - to allow the user himself and explicitly to set the limits of automatic brightness adjustment. The brightness control is apparently carried out by adjusting the voltage on the backlight LEDs. Most likely, it was not without pulse-width modulation (with its help it is more economical to regulate the voltage), but it has a high frequency and there is a smoothing filter in front of the LEDs. As a result, the backlight, regardless of its intensity, has a barely pronounced modulation with a frequency of slightly less than 16 kHz. For example, this is how the brightness versus time graph looks like in a 2 ms window (along the vertical axis - brightness in arbitrary units):
Most manufacturers in their devices with LED backlight (tablets, laptops, monitors) adjust the brightness using pulse-width modulation (PWM) with a change in amplitude from 0 to 100% rectangular pulses. And although the negative effect of PWM backlighting with a sufficiently high frequency (from 180 Hz and above) still needs to be confirmed, Apple still needs to be given credit for its devices (at least, those we tested - iMac, Apple LED Cinema Display , Apple Thunderbolt Display, MacBook Air and iPad), the backlight does not flicker. The “old” iPad also lacks PWM brightness, and automatic brightness adjustment works in much the same way.
The New iPad uses an IPS-type matrix, so the screen has very good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shift, even with large gaze deviations from the perpendicular to the screen. True, which is typical for any IPS-matrix, the black field is lightened when deviated diagonally: the left corners (when oriented downward with the Home button) remain close to neutral gray when deviated to the right, but when deviated to the left, the right corners acquire a pronounced purple tint. With a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the black field, with the exception of a couple of local areas on the border of the screen, is good (the first i Pads also have an IPS matrix, but with a more pronounced purple tint when the gaze deviates to the corners). The response time for the transition black-white-black is 14.4 ms (7.8 ms on + 6.6 ms off). The transition between midtones of 25% and 75% (by numerical color value) takes 25.1 ms in total. The matrix is \u200b\u200bsignificantly faster than typical IPS solutions used in tablets (the first two iPad time We did not measure the response.) For the 32-point gamma curve, the exponent of the approximating power-law function was 2.19, which corresponds to the standard value of 2.2 to within an acceptable error, while the real gamma curve practically coincides with the power-law dependence.
The first two iPads have a similarly good gamma curve.
The contrast is quite high - 830: 1 (in the "old" - 740: 1). The color gamut is exactly sRGB:
The iPad 2 is getting worse: like the vast majority of tablet IPS screens, the color gamut is noticeably narrower than sRGB:
The Sony Tablet P is also close to sRGB coverage, but perhaps this dual-screen tablet uses * VA matrices, and not IPS, as we suggested in the article. While this question remains open.
The spectra of the "new" iPad confirm what was said about color gamut:
For comparison, the spectra of the iPad 1 and 2 screen:
It can be seen that in the "old" iPad matrix light filters mix the components together. This technique allows you to increase the brightness of the screen with the same energy consumption for the backlight. In the new iPad, blending is exactly what it should result in standard coverage.
The color temperature balance is good - shades of gray have a color temperature of about 7000 K - but the deviation from the spectrum of an absolutely black body (delta E) is relatively large (due to some excess of the green component), although below 10, which is considered acceptable for a non-professional device ...
The screen of iPad 1 and 2 is at least somewhat better than the new one, albeit in little things: the color temperature is a little closer to the standard 6500 K, the delta E changes less and less when going from white to shades of gray.
In total, the screen of The New iPad is distinguished not only by its high resolution, but also by excellent color reproduction - in particular, by an almost perfect gamma curve and standard color gamut. As a result, photos and videos on this tablet will look exactly as they should be displayed on a “consumer” device. Those who are paranoid about PWM in the backlight will be glad that Apple has not changed its tradition in this device either - backlight flickering is not detected even by a hardware test. Well, the owners of this gadget will have to put up with the peculiarity of the algorithm for automatically adjusting the brightness of the screen - or, even easier and more pleasant, convince themselves that this is how everything should work :)
Exact screen dimensions: 24.6 cm (9.68 inches) diagonal, 19.8 cm wide, 14.9 cm narrow.
In part software the iPad 4 is also nothing new. Except for the fact that the iPad 4 comes with iOS 6 preinstalled, while the previous model ships out of the factories with iOS 5. But it can be upgraded to iOS 6.
Performance
Here we come to the main difference between iPad 3 and iPad 4. This is performance. The previous model ran on the Apple A5X SoC, which contained two ARM Cortex-A9 CPU cores at 1 GHz, as well as a PowerVR SGX 543MP4 quad-core GPU at 250 MHz. In the new SoC, the frequency of processor cores has increased to 1.4 GHz, while the frequency of the GPU - up to 300 MHz. The number of cores in both cases remained unchanged. However, if in the case of the Apple A5X, the Cortex-A9 CPU cores were used, now (starting with the Apple A6) Apple itself has created the CPU cores based on the ARMv7s architecture.
Let's take a look at how the SoC change affected the iPad 4's performance, as the rest of the specs (RAM, screen resolution) remained unchanged.
Let's start with the synthetic Linpack benchmark, which reflects CPU performance. It will allow us to understand how effective the new architecture of CPU cores is.
Well, we see that the difference is gigantic. Obviously, this cannot be explained solely by the increased CPU frequency. Apparently, the updated architecture is really highly efficient.
Next we will have the SunSpider 0.9.1 browser benchmark. It tests the speed of the JavaScript engine in the browser and can be useful both for testing the CPU and for determining how comfortable it will be to browse on this device Internet pages. Please note that we tested the iPad 3 tablet with the current version of iOS 6, so that itself operating systemand the browser was the same on both devices. On each device (previously cleared of cookies and loaded pages, as well as rebooted), the test was run three times. The table shows the best results.
So the iPad 4 is more than twice as fast as the iPad 3. Note that this is pretty close to the iPhone 5, but even better. Thus, at the moment, iPad 4 is the absolute record holder among ARM devices in this test. For comparison, here are the results of the main Android competitors.
In the GeekBench 2.3.6 multiplatform test, the iPad 4 also completely defeated its predecessor, but the competitors from the Android camp were generally no worse.
Perhaps this is because Geekbench is sensitive to the number of CPU cores. And in this parameter, both NVIDIA Tegra 3 and Samsung Exynos 4412 overtake Apple A6X. However, do not forget that this is a benchmark, but real applications, as a rule, do not use all four cores. Therefore the gain aSUS tablets and Samsung in this benchmark does not mean at all that it will be more comfortable to perform any operations on them.
Let's say more: at the moment, there are not even such areas of application of tablets, which regularly require a lot of computing power of the CPU. Compilation, 3D modeling, rendering, archiving, professional graphics and the like, which we usually test processors for PCs, on tablets, no one does. Yes, from time to time there is a need for computing power - for example, to index a new dictionary or database of a cartographic program, but these are one-time needs and are almost always not critical to the speed of execution. At the same time, games for mobile devices they are mostly written in such a way as not to overstrain the processor, and when playing video, the GPU is much more important (provided that the video player can use hardware acceleration). Perhaps this is why Apple in its SoCs does not increase the number of CPU cores, as competitors do, but focuses on GPU performance. iPad 4 is another proof of this.
To answer the question of how much the GPU performance has increased, we used GLBenchmark 2.5.1, which simulates scenes from 3D games (Egypt HD and Egypt Classic). In the first table, you will see the results of the iPad 3 and iPad 4, and in the second, the results of competitors. Recall that since the screen resolution of Android tablets is different from that of the iPad, it makes sense to look first of all at the graphs with the word Offscreen - they show the performance when running a game scene at a fixed resolution of 720p. As for the rest of the graphs, they show the performance at the maximum display resolution - and therefore, both iPads with a resolution of 2048x1536 are in worse conditions than Android devices with 1280x800.
| 4th generation iPad | 3rd generation iPad | |
| 41 fps | 22 fps | |
| 48 fps | 27 fps | |
| 34 fps | 21 fps | |
| Offscreen MSAA not supported | Offscreen MSAA not supported | |
| 35 fps | 18 fps | |
| 39 fps | 22 fps | |
| GLBenchmark 2.1 Egypt Classic (C16Z16) | 59 fps | 53 fps |
| GLBenchmark 2.1 Egypt Classic (C16Z16 Offscreen) | 122 fps | 87 fps |
So, we see that PowerVR SGX 554MP4 (iPad 4) outperforms PowerVR SGX 543MP4 (iPad 3) by an average of 1.5 times. As for the Android rivals, they don't even reach the iPad 3 yet.
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 | ASUS Eee Pad Transformer prime | ASUS Padfone (in tablet module) | |
| GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD (C24Z16) | 16 fps | 16 fps | 18 fps |
| GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 15 fps | 11 fps | 11 fps |
| GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD (C24Z24MS4) | 16 fps | - | 12 fps |
| GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD (C24Z24MS4 Offscreen) | - | - | - |
| GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD (C24Z16 Fixed time) | 11 fps | 14 fps | 16 fps |
| GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD (C24Z16 Fixed time Offscreen) | 11 fps | 9.3 fps | 9.8 fps |
| GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt Classic (C16Z16) | 58 fps | 54 fps | 44 fps |
| GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt Classic (C16Z16 Offscreen) | 58 fps | 33 fps | 23 fps |
What does this mean in practice? First of all - that games for iPad can be more beautiful than for Android tablets. Truth, keyword here - "may". And it is not at all a fact that they really will. First, most of the major publishers are now looking to create multi-platform projects. And they are unlikely to draw significantly more beautiful graphics for the iPad than for top-end Android tablets. Most likely, Android tablets will be the benchmark. Therefore, the potential of the iPad 4 GPU will remain (at least for the first time) undisclosed. Secondly, even if you look at the situation within the framework of one platform (iOS), it is unlikely that in the next year and a half, developers will create games that require the performance of iPad 4 and for which the performance of iPad 3 is not enough. Of course, in two years, when the iPad 5 and iPad 6 come out, system requirements will write: "iPad 4 and newer." But that will be in a couple of years. Today, you probably won't be able to feel the difference in real-world applications between iPad 3 and iPad 4, despite the impressive difference in benchmarks.
Autonomous work
IPads have always had very decent battery life. iPad 4 is no exception. Moreover, at maximum GPU load and maximum screen brightness, it will work even longer than iPad 3 - this was shown by GLBenchmark 2.5.1. An Egypt HD scene fired at 60 fps, the iPad 4 was able to play at 100% screen brightness for 5 hours. The iPad 3 did worse at around 4 hours. From which we can conclude that the new SoC is not only more efficient, but also more energy efficient.
With other uses, the duration of the iPad 4 battery life has not changed compared to the iPad 3: about 10 hours when reading or quiet (without too frequent page refresh and downloading heavy content) web surfing via Wi-Fi, about 5, 5 hours of online video playback via browser. The identity of the results is clear: the battery is the same here (Apple traditionally does not report its capacity, but such a conclusion can be made from the data provided by the company on the operating time), the screen is the same, so during normal use, which does not imply an increased load on the SoC, there is no difference can.
Camera
The rear camera in iPad 4 is identical in resolution and aperture to the third generation iPad: 5MP and f / 2.4. But the front camera of the iPad 4 has a resolution of 1.2 megapixels, which is higher than that of the iPad 3. In addition, the front camera supports 720p video for FaceTime video calls. Overall, the iPad 4 is identical to the iPad mini in terms of cameras. This is, of course, very strange, since the iPad 4 is a top device, and one could expect from it the same camera as the iPhone 5. On the other hand, hardly anyone will use a 10-inch tablet for taking photos often, but for occasional shooting, the rear camera is very good.
Let's start with a 100% fragment of a shot from a building window on a cloudy day. Here and below, there will be a frame of iPad 4 on top, and below - iPad 3.
As you can see, the pictures are almost indistinguishable, the only slight difference is in the white balance. Recall that almost all shooting parameters (including white balance) are set automatically by the cameras of iOS devices, and the user does not have the ability to manually adjust them.
The next couple of shots are night shots.
Here, too, the results are very similar in terms of the picture and the same in terms of shooting parameters - both tablets set ISO 800 and shutter speed 1/15 s. But the result, oddly enough, the iPad 3 turned out even slightly better (the noise is more noticeable, but there are more details).
The last photo test - capturing text - both devices passed without problems.
This test shot leaves no doubt that the slight difference in picture is due to differently set white balance, and not due to shooting conditions (which might have changed slightly over the time between shots). It's a shame that the iPad camera's white balance cannot be adjusted, but the color distortion is by no means catastrophic.
When shooting video, we still have no complaints about the iPad. The rear cameras of both tablets shoot in Full HD, with very good clarity and color reproduction. But here's what's interesting: iPad 3 has a higher video bitrate! Here are sample videos: (66.7 MB, 31 seconds), iPad 3 (77.9 MB, 30 seconds).
In general, the iPad 4 camera left a good impression, but it is embarrassing that the cameras in Apple tablets of the 3rd and 4th generations, while the known characteristics are identical, still behave a little differently. In particular, video from iPad 4 has a lower bitrate, and the color rendition when shooting a photo is slightly different.
conclusions
The main question that arises for everyone after the release of a new iPad or iPhone: is it necessary to purchase it if there is a model of the previous generation? And if there is no previous model, then perhaps it is worth taking advantage of the price reduction for it and taking it, and not the newest one?
In the case of the fourth generation iPad, I would answer these questions like this. Changing iPad 3 (also known as The New iPad) to iPad 4 is definitely not worth it. Because the only thing you can tell the difference between the two models here and now is using the most demanding 3D games. And this difference will not be in performance (for all 3D games in App Store the performance of the iPad 3 is quite enough), and in the battery life: the iPad 4 will have it slightly higher. Thus, the purchase of the iPad 4 today is justified only by the expectation that after some time (a year and a half, definitely not earlier) there will be games on sale that will be specially optimized for the iPad 4 and for which the performance of the iPad 3 will not be enough. In the meantime, owners of iPad 3 should definitely not worry, and those who are just looking at an iPad with a Retina display and choose between iPad 3 and iPad 4, it makes sense to proceed from the price. If you see that the iPad 3 can be bought for $ 100 less than the iPad 4, then feel free to grab the iPad 3. However, Apple seems to try to create a situation in which the iPad 3 and iPad 4 should not be on the shelves at the same time. And with official resellers, most likely, everything will be so: at one point, the iPad 3 will disappear from sale, and instead of it, the iPad 4 will appear. In this case, if you are going to buy from them, it makes sense to wait for this moment, so that later do not bite your elbows due to the fact that they were a little rushed and received a previous generation device for the same money (on the other hand, there is no guarantee that resellers will not raise prices). Well, when buying from "gray" sellers, you just need to carefully compare prices and seize the moment when the cost of the iPad 4 drops to the current cost of the iPad 3, and the previous model, in turn, drops in price by three thousand - and then take on the basis of their needs and capabilities. Do not forget when buying in an unreliable place or by hand to check which connector the iPad has: if it is iPad 4, then the connector must be Lightning. This is the main visual difference by which a new generation can be recognized without turning on the device.
Fair, not overpriced or understated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without "asterisks", it is clear and detailed, where it is technically possible - the most accurate, final.
With the availability of spare parts, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs take much less time. The website lists the approximate duration of any repair.
Warranty and liability
Any repairs must be guaranteed. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.
Half of the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works with suppliers directly, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts of current models so that you do not have to waste extra time.
Free diagnostics
This is very important and has already become a good form for the service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you shouldn't pay a dime for it, even if you don't repair the device as a result.
Service repair and delivery
A good service appreciates your time and therefore offers free shipping. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of the service center: correctly and according to technology, it can only be done at a prepared place.
Convenient schedule
If the Service works for you, and not for itself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient so that you can be in time before and after work. Good service works both on weekends and on holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00
The reputation of professionals consists of several points
Age and experience of the company
Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years, and it has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the SC are being restored.
Other service centers trust us and transfer complex cases.
How many masters in directions
If you are always waiting for several engineers for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken over immediately.
2. You are handing over your Macbook to a Mac repair expert. He knows all the secrets of these devices
Technical literacy
If you ask a question, a specialist must answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you have an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, the description tells you what happened and how to fix the problem.
Exit Apple iPad 4 seemed more like a surprise. Everyone was waiting for the iPad Mini, and since the new iPad (iPad 3) just went on sale, no one expected a replacement. Today the tablet has replaced the iPad Air, which has made the iPad 4 a budget tablet, making it hard to compare with its predecessor and Apple's new tablet.
Comparing the characteristics of the iPad 3 and iPad 4, it becomes clear that this new model is more a finished tablet than a completely new product. And if you look at what Apple has been doing with its products over the past year, you can see the meaning. First of all, the new tablet fits in with Apple's latest product line, including the iPhone 5 and new players including the stunning iPod Touch, all of which use the new Lightning connector instead of Apple's old 30-pin connector.
The new connector may seem a little annoying, but the bottom line is that this is a change that had to happen sooner or later. The old connector was bulky and large, while the Lightning connectors are smaller and allow for a much thinner body in the future. In addition, the new connector can be plugged into any position of the connector. Apple also sells a Lightning to 30-pin adapter so you can use old ones. peripherals... In addition, there is a standard range of add-ons including a Lightning SD card reader and a Lightning to USB adapter.
ConnectorLightning replaces the old 30-pin connector and puts iPad one step with other devices on iOS.
And while the iPad 3 uses a slightly modified version of Apple's A5X processor with a 4-core graphics core to handle high-quality images for a high-resolution display, the iPad 4 is powered by Apple's new A6X processor. A similar processor model is used in the iPhone 5, although the tablet model is clocked at 1.4GHz and the same 4-core GPU. Again, this step is well grounded as it allows Apple to focus on working with a single processor for the iPad and iPhone series.
Apple promised that the A6X processor would double the gaming and 2D performance over the old A5X, which was a very bold statement. Fortunately, we are pleased to report that the statement turned out to be true. On benchmarks, we saw the iPad 4 shutdown SunSpider Java Script in just 888ms, while the iPad 3 took 1.508ms for the same process. The BBC news site continues the tests, which loaded the iPad 4 in 3 seconds, and the iPad 3 in only 5.6.
Then we moved on to the Apple iPad 4 graphics. The GLBench review showed similar results: 25.6 frames per second (FPS) for the iPad 3 and 50.7 FPS for the iPad 4. This does not mean that the iPad 3 is a slow tablet at all. no, it's just that the iPad 4 is impressively powerful.
A characteristic feature of Apple products is the incredibly smooth operation of iOS. Every transition and animation looks incredibly smooth and there is not a single jerk or freeze inherent in Android devices. Browsing the web on iPad 4 is a real pleasure, even the most complex websites open quickly, even panning is fluid. In terms of day-to-day performance, the iPad has never been beaten.
Display and battery life
We're happy to announce that the new tablet features the same 9.7-inch screen, with its whopping 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution, as the iPad 3. The display was way ahead of the competition when it first came out, but today only a few can challenge it. primacy, the screen is currently capable of offering 2560 x 1600 pixels. And while the Google tablet has more pixels, the iPad 4's screen still looks prettier.
Its density is 264 pixels per inch (PPI), the norm for Apple Retina: you cannot make out individual pixels. From a technical point of view, there is no point in raising the resolution of a screen this size, you just won't see the difference. Also, when we talk about resolutions beyond Full HD, the differences become less and less significant.
This display may no longer hold its own in terms of resolution, but it is still one of the best screens in the quality category.
Importantly, along with the high resolution, the IPS panel offers incredible quality. The brilliant color saturation and contrast bring the image to life. The viewing angles are excellent, so you will always see the picture clearly, regardless of the tablet position. The high pixel density provides you with another advantage: even the smallest text looks legible and easy to read.
So, the iPad 4 may not have the highest screen resolution of any competing tablet, but it still has a high resolution and the quality is still the best.
As the last tablet in the series, the Apple iPad 4 was recently updated to iOS 7, and will soon receive iOS 8. Complaints about iOS 7 are a long time ago, the operating system makes the tablet lively, fast and sleek. We can say that iPad 4 is waiting for a full update with the release of iOS 8 in the fall.
The only area where we saw a slight drop was battery life in our non-stop video tests. If iPad 3 showed 11 hours of playback on medium screen brightness; the iPad 4 with the same settings lasted only 9 hours and 54 minutes. Considering the incredibly fast processor, this slight decrease in battery life is actually impressive. iPad takes a strong position against the competition.
Apple is overhauling the wireless chips inside the iPad, adopting 2-band 802.11n like the iPhone 5. With more routers now supporting 5GHz connectivity, faster speeds and fewer device calls, it's nice to see a new Apple device that supports these technologies.
For the cellular version, Apple has updated the chip to provide the tablet with support for 4G networks and not only in specific frequencies, but any networks anywhere. And while the iPad 3 received 4G as an option, for example, it did not work for all operators abroad.
Camera
Read in our article. Later…
Design and build quality
One of the areas where iPad is the undisputed leader is the case and build quality. Thanks to its aluminum body, iPad feels tough and durable, head and shoulders above its plastic competitors. With a neat bezel (available in black and white), the Apple iPad 4 we reviewed looks and feels like a premium device, and nothing else.
Fantastic build quality thanks to the aluminum body.
Despite the improved processor and new wireless chips, the iPad 4 remains the same size as the iPad 3. And at 652 grams of the Wi-Fi version, the tablet weighs the same. The tablet is heavier on paper than some Android devices, but considering it's made of aluminum and the build quality is much better, we don't mind a few extra grams.
As with previous iPads, you can buy iPad 4 in black and white, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular ( cellular) models. And if the Wi-Fi model costs 15,000 rubles. for 16 GB, 18,000 rubles for 32 GB and 21,000 rubles for 64 GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular models cost 4,000-5,000 more.
Already today you can find a 128GB version on the market that doubles the maximum storage capacity. This is a premium purchase, the cost of the Wi-Fi version will cost you from 24 to 28,000 rubles, and the Wi-Fi + Cellular version will cost about 30,000 rubles.
With this new model, Apple is creating a tablet with storage capacity worthy of an SSD ultrabook. The reason for the new model was the need for additional flexibility of Apple tablets, and the additional supply of internal memory expands the range of work on the tablet for its users.
Of course, this mainly concerns employees in the creative field of work, say, photographers who need to store large photographs on their iPads, musicians get more space to create and edit complex and large compositions. The extra memory will be useful in business areas.
Of course, more memory means more space for applications (especially useful if you like to play heavy games on your tablet), music and movies.
Previous models with different storage capacities did not leave the market, and the new 128 GB model became available on February 5, 2013 and is on sale to this day.
Conclusion
the iPad 4, now known as the iPad Retina Display, has replaced the iPad 2 as Apple's budget tablet. Unlike previous versions, the A6X-powered iPad 4 will only get one 16GB model, but will still be available in Wi-Fi and 3G / 4G variants. Currently, the cost of the tablet is estimated at 20,000 rubles for the Wi-Fi version and 26,000 rubles for the cellular version. New price tags are much cheaper than the cost of these models at the start.
However, the renewed iPad 4 is also only 4.500 cheaper than the current iPad Air 16GB, which runs on the much more powerful A7, and is significantly thinner and lighter than its fourth-generation predecessors.
Going back to the iPad 4 now seems primitive after the slim dimensions of the iPad Air, we're surprised Apple has been holding onto the thick and chunky iPad design for so long. The iPad Air is a huge improvement over the iPad 4, and we don't think the $ 4,000 difference makes the iPad 4 a good value for money.
I would like to note that even the latter offers better quality than the renewed iPad 4, since the tablet is almost 1,000 rubles cheaper and comes with an A7 processor, like the iPad Air. You can get a smaller screen with the Retina iPad Mini, but it also weighs only half the size of an iPad 4 and is more comfortable to hold in your hand.
7.5 Overall Score
Verdict
A renewed 10-inch tablet from Apple that is only worth buying if you are on a tight budget in line with its price tag. If you can add a few thousand rubles, forget about it.
iPad 4 is a device containing all the most interesting inventions of the manufacturer's company: high performance, good quality screen and camera, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
As you know, the iPad 4 not only came out in the same year with the 3rd generation, but was also announced at the same time as the iPad mini.
Therefore, we can conclude that these devices are not significantly different from each other.
Appearance
By appearance IPad 4 is a clone of iPad 3. There is only a minor difference between these devices - this is the new Lightning port, which replaced the 30-pin interface that was present on all models previously released.
Outwardly, this device has:
- metal case;
- screen with a black or white border around the circumference;
- Traditional Home button;
- front camera (1.2 MP);
- rear camera (5 Mp), top left corner on the rear panel;
- stereo speakers;
During operation, the tablet is very convenient. No squeaks or backlashes - the assembly is well done. Device dimensions: 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 mm. The weight of the 4th generation iPad is 652 grams (662 grams for the LTE version).
Speaker
The small speaker sits at the bottom of the device and has an average sound level like most tablets. Powerful sound can be obtained with a headset amplifier. The iPad works wonderfully with Bluetooth headsets and speakers.
Display characteristic
The display of the device is similar to that installed in the iPad 3, namely - LED-backlit IPS TFT Retina display, with a diagonal of 9.7 inches. The number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the screen (resolution) is 2048 x 1536 pixels, the density of which per inch is 264 ppi (the higher the indicator, the clearer the details). Page rendering is not very different compared to the previous version.
Another important indicator of display performance is the color depth of the display. It shows how many bits were applied to create color elements in one pixel, for iPad 4 - 24 bits. The display has a color rendering of 16 million shades.
The display also has an anti-glare and oleophobic coating to help remove fingerprints and marks easily. Considering that there is a layer of air between the display module and the protective glass, at maximum brightness there are almost no reflections in the sun.
Performance and software
the iPad 4 is based on the Apple A6X PL5598 SoC (System On Chip), which integrates all the important components of the device into one microchip. 2-core processor with clock frequency 1.4 GHz. GPU - 4-core PowerVR SGX554MP4. Volume random access memory - 1 GB. This tablet differs from the previous one by a more powerful processor, which allows it to work normally with resource-intensive games and programs. The gadget operates on the iOS 6 system.
The device passed all the main synthetic tests without any difficulties: GLBenchmark, Geekbench, SunSpider, T-Rex.
For example, the Geekbench test score is 1792 points (while the previous version has 762), the SunSpider scores 900 milliseconds, and the T-Rex scores 12 FPS.
Thanks to the processor and software, the device shows good characteristics Wi-Fi, for example, on a standard 802.11n 5GHz network, downloads at 37 megabits per second.
Device memory
The volume of the tablet's RAM is 1 gigabyte, which is enough for an Apple device, since the system distributes it correctly. You don't have to worry about your open tabs in the browser, nothing happens to them (restart, close) if you start working with another program. The size of the tablet's permanent memory varies from 16 to 128 GB, which is quite a lot.
Keep in mind, though, that iPad 4's 16GB of RAM may not be enough to accommodate and keep the growing weight of apps and games.
Battery
The device has a lithium-polymer non-removable battery with a volume of 11560 mAh. According to the company's standard, all iPads should work under normal load for 10 hours, for 9 hours at autonomous work (using 2G and 3G communication) and 720 hours standby time.
But such a long operating time also has disadvantages, the tablet accumulates a charge for a long time, namely, until the battery is fully charged (100 percent), it takes 6 hours to charge (iPad 3 - 7 hours). Also, the iPad is equipped with a stationary 12-watt power supply, and it cannot be recharged from a computer or laptop, which is a significant drawback.
Camera
The 5-megapixel main camera of the tablet is equipped with a CMOS BSI photo sensor, with a focal length of 4.3 mm. The camera has autofocus, geotagging, touch focus and face detection functions. The photos taken with this camera are of average quality, with a maximum image resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. Front-camera - 1.2 megapixel, with autofocus support. Focal length - 2.18 mm.
The captured video will be in HD quality at 30 frames per second, video resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels (2.07 megapixels). The device provides video stabilization, so the video is smooth and with well-visible details.
IPad 4 package contents
Upon opening the box, you will see the following:
- the tablet;
- charger;
- cable-Lightning;
- apple documents and labels.
If we talk about the completeness of the package, then the headset is not enough, and in fact it is a very important attribute.
The cost
Apple is a leader in the production of unique electronics products that are hard to find analogues. Therefore, the price of iPad 4 today is from $ 499 for models with a Wi-Fi connection, and with 4G LTE from $ 629.
Conclusion
Many Apple consumers were upset to see the 4th generation, as they expected to see an update in March 2013, but the device came out half a year earlier. If you are interested in the question of whether it is worth changing iPad 3 to iPad 4, then the answer is clear - not worth it. In terms of characteristics, the gadget is not far from its predecessor. The main reason for the release of the 4th generation iPad was the Lightning cable, which replaced the 30-pin cable.
Indeed, the new cable is more practical than the old one. But as for the performance of the 3rd and 4th generations, there is a lag of milliseconds from the new device when switching to pages, which is not critical.
But if you are the owner of the 2nd generation or even buy an iPad for the first time, then of course we recommend paying attention to the iPad 4, since the company has monitored and corrected most of the shortcomings.
In this article, we will discuss one of the most important characteristics of the iPad - screen size. This is the most striking part of the tablet and immediately catches the eye. During its existence, the "apple" company has released many models of this device. And they all come with different display sizes. Let's see how gadgets have changed according to this criterion over the years. And let's start the review with the very first rulers - iPad 1, 2 and so on.
A tablet device is a type of device, the size of the display diagonal of which is of great importance. The first generation, which was published 7 years ago, was already in the standard version, rooted for many years. The parameter in question for gadgets did not change until the 4th generation, although something new was added for other screen characteristics:
- iPad 1 had a diagonal of 9.7 inches (in iPad 2 the diagonal was left the same as in iPad 3 and iPad 4), with a resolution of 1024 × 768, 132 ppi.
- iPad 2 - same dimensions in inches, exactly the same resolution and pixel density.
- iPad 3 - 100% higher resolution than the first and second line of devices, and the same with pixel density.
- iPad 4 is all the same as its predecessor.
But regardless of the model, the picture on the display of Apple tablets has always been excellent. But technology is evolving continuously and gadgets of line 3 and 4 received a Retina display .
In the four, the screen resolution and pixel density parameter have also been increased. This made the image look like a glossy magazine picture. Pixels are not visible at all, which gives realism. The developer made a 100% correct choice by implementing this technology. Among the 10-inch tablets, this device is considered the best. The only drawback is the lack of anti-reflective coating. This disadvantage on the forums has been noted by many users.
The IPS matrix element, included in the model ranges 1 - 4, produces a color gamut for maximum naturalism and maximum viewing angles. Its quality is especially evident in the process of comparing with previous display options. The capacitive sensor has also been improved. In addition, a warmer color gamut and improved image detail have been added.
Display sizes for iPad Air, iPad Air 2
The further development of the tablet was very interesting. The body has been radically improved, new shades have appeared. The bezels have been significantly reduced, but the dimensions of the displays remain the same (as in the fourth and other iPads).
The more compact dimensions of the iPad Air line of tablets have taken them to a higher level, made them stylish and modern.
Characteristics of displays of devices of the Air model:
- iPad Air - 9.7-inch, Retina, 2048 x 1536 resolution, 264 ppi.
- iPad Air 2 - exactly the same parameters as the first "air" tablet.
As you can see, everything remains the same. Only Retina technology is of interest. Thanks to it, the response time to touching the display and power consumption are significantly reduced.
Screen settings iPad mini, iPad mini 2-4
Now is the time to highlight tablets that are close to the modern standards of top-end devices. The developer paused a bit with the size of the displays and this innovation is for the better.
Mini versions are widespread and loved by many users. After all, carrying such a gadget with you is very comfortable, and its functionality is not inferior to conventional models:
- iPad mini - 7.9 inches, 1024 x 768, 163 ppi
- iPad mini 2 - Same diagonal, but 100% increased resolution and pixel density.
- iPad mini 3 - exactly the same performance as the second mini variation.
- iPad mini 4 is exactly the same as version 2 and 3.
As you can see from the above characteristics, the diagonals of the mini devices are not at all the same as in 4 iPads and other standard versions. They are much smaller. The resolution setting is the same, and the number of dots is 1 inch larger.
Pro line tablets
In terms of "appearance", the two variations of the gadget of this line are almost identical. Therefore, users here choose by functionality, because not everyone needs a TV to constantly carry with them:
- Pro variation 1 - 9.7 inches, Retina, 2732 × 2048 resolution, 264 ppi.
- Pro variation 2 - 12.9 inches, the rest of the parameters are exactly the same.
To date, these two models are the best, both in terms of picture quality and performance. The latest anti-glare coating makes working in the sun comfortable.
Above was a historical background regarding the development of tablets from the "apple" company in terms of display size. It is interesting how the iPad will evolve in the future, but this is anyone's guess. But judging by the performance. At least another 2 - 3 years, Pro will be at their best and will satisfy the needs of the most demanding users.
And since the subject of our today's conversation is the iPad of the second line, further we will consider in detail the other characteristics of this line of tablets.
IPad 2 design
No revolution has happened since the second generation of devices. The consumers were presented with the same product in a minimalist style, very neat, made of glass and aluminum materials. You can not love Apple devices, but you cannot deny that they are of decent quality. By design, they are several steps ahead of similar competitors' gadgets. Let's say you can't put plastic products from Samsung Tab or Motorola XOOM, consisting of separate elements assembled together, in one row. If you have any doubts about this, just turn the "apple" tablet in your hands, and immediately feel the difference.
The back part remained the same "unkillable". It is made of scratch-resistant metal. The socket has now become almost flat - it narrows only towards the end part. The first line of tablets didn't have that.
"Two" is much thinner than its predecessor (and even iPhone 4). Visually it seems that you can even scratch yourself like a piece of paper. This effect is created thanks to the same narrowing towards the ends. In it, the developer applied the same design idea as in the MacBook Air, in which the minimum thickness parameters are equal to only 3 millimeters.
The tablet also lost some weight. True, only 6 grams compared to its predecessors, but still this is a positive result. However, at that time, according to this criterion, the iPad 2 was ahead of the competitor from the Korean company - Galaxy, which weighed 7 grams less. At the same time, his body was made of plastic, which does not add to his price.
IPad 2 Package
Everything here is standard and predictable, nothing new. In the box with the second tablet, besides the device itself, the user found:
- charging cell;
- uSB cable;
- documentation;
- apple brochures and stickers.
The Apple company, as always, has not changed the principles of minimalism. Nothing remarkable of the accessories was placed in the box, which is rather large in volume. By the way, the adapter is for an American outlet. So, whether you like it or not, you will have to purchase an adapter.
Battery of the second tablet
The operating period without additional recharging of devices of the second line is the same 10-12 hours. The same was true for this type of starter product. And this is all during active operation with the use of wireless elements, when watching movie clips and listening to music tracks.
All of this is impressive considering that it is a device with a nine-cell battery. According to these criteria, Apple's tablet has no competitors until now. Close gadgets from other companies operating on Android last about 6 hours without recharging. It is especially pleasing that a long period of autonomous operation was preserved with a significant decrease in the thickness of the case.
And a little more about the display ...
This element was the pride of the company already in the very first tablet. At that time, it was of the best quality - competitors had nothing like it. In the second generation tablet, everything is the same. Many fans of "Apple" products expected to see Retina technology in it, that is, a 400% increase in resolution. But for such parameters, the device did not have enough processor power and graphic element. In other words, the miracle did not happen. And if it happened, then the starting cost of the gadget would skyrocket by at least 50%.
But even this display has become one of the best in terms of brightness, resolution and responsiveness to touch. No wonder any devices with a sensor mechanism are usually compared with iPhones and iPads, because the latter have no equal.
However, there are also more significant distinctive points in comparison with the previous version and competitors. For example, thanks to the oleophobic layer, the display is not easily soiled. It is very difficult to stain it with touches. And if suddenly some kind of dirt appears, it is easy to remove it. Users of the first line and tablets of competitors have to clean constantly.
Efficiency has increased in many ways - when surfing the net, when working with graphic elements. We should also mention the increase in memory on board the second tablet up to 512 MB. Of course, today such an indicator will seem ridiculous, but at that time it caused delight.
The operating system in this line of tablets, in comparison with the previous one, was also more advanced. She was an order of magnitude higher. Accordingly, the functionality has expanded, and the work has become faster.
The tablet performs all the commands perfectly. This concerns the interface, a nimble browser, the absence of freezes and braking of programs, a vividly playing video.
