Maybe you ’re not one of the millions of folk who already own an iPad . And maybe you ’re quick to do something about it . Apple ’s append an extra wrinkle for you to consider : Which generation iPad should you purchase ?
Last yr , when Apple rolled out a unexampled mannikin of its pad , the conclusion was not terribly complicated — either you bought the fresh variation or you did n’t . This time around , though , Apple has not only introducedthe third - generation iPadbut kept around the iPad 2 — or at least , it keep around two versions of that tablet . So it ’s not just a question of which example iPad to purchase : You also have to count on out if the 16 GB iPad 2 and its shorten toll tag prove to be more likeable than the tardy translation of Apple ’s pad of paper .
First , the basics : Apple only offers the iPad 2 at one capacity now—16 GB , with the Wi - Fi - only version price at $ 399 . A interpretation of the iPad 2 that also includes the ability to connect to 3 grand networks costs $ 529 . Comparable models of the newfangled iPad cost $ 100 more—$499 for the Wi - Fi - only 16 GB variant and $ 629 for one that can connect to cellular connection .
Jason Snell’siPad reviewgoes in - deepness on the merit of the latest version of Apple ’s lozenge . ( And hisiPad 2 reviewfrom last yr is worth reading if you ’d care to know about that edition ’s strong point . ) As for take a shit any iPad 2 - versus - iPad comparison , I find the honorable way to root the issue is to ask a few questions about your design for your new pad .
What will you use your iPad for?
The most important constituent to press is what you ’ll habituate your shining novel lozenge for . If you want to utilize it for watching movies , playing game , reading books , surfing the World Wide Web , checking e-mail , and the like , the truth is you ’ll be well - served by either interpretation of the iPad . textual matter will attend a iota crisper on the new iPad , as will video recording , photos , and any apps optimized to take advantage of the fresh iPad ’s Retina showing ; you ’ll see even more item in high definition movies or when search at photographs with the Modern iPad , too . But many sept have contentedly used the iPad 2 for a year or longer , without finding that the non - Retina presentation employed by that aged model see blurry or unclear .
If , however , you visualize yourself primarily read on your new iPad , you may well benefit from getting that newfangled iPad and its Retina presentation . Once again , the iPad 2 ’s screen is n’t lousy by any stretching , but prolonged reading material periods may get less full eyestrain with the high - resolution display in the new iPad ensuring the nipping text possible .
In fact , there ’s only one iPad use display case which entirely rules out the iPad 2 as an selection — and that ’s if you destine to use your new tablet as an oversized still and/or video photographic camera .
The iPad 2 ’s rear - facing cameraislousy . It takes foggy photograph little better than a non - smartphone ’s junky admit television camera . The novel iPad ’s front - facing camera is unaltered from what you ’ll get in the iPad 2 , but it ’s intended mainly for video chats . The rear - face photographic camera , on the other hand , is a 5 - megapixel iSight camera . It wo n’t measure up to what you ’ll find in an iPhone 4S , but it ’s for certain corresponding to the iPhone 4 ’s camera .
That said , an iPad makes an awkward camera : It ’s prominent , and hold it up to snap pic call for two hands . But if you expect to employ your iPad for photography , natural spring for the new model .
How much storage do you plan on needing?
The iPad ’s memory board is n’t expansible : What you get when you buy the tablet is what you ’ll have for the rest of its life . As mentioned , the iPad 2 only provide 16 GB of storage . The new iPad , on the other bridge player , is available in 16 GB ( $ 499 ) , 32 GB ( $ 599 ) , and 64 GB ( $ 699 ) sizing . If you design to lade your iPad up with not just scores of apps , but also your full music subroutine library , a clustering of movies , and a great helping of photographs,16 GB may just not skip it .
Thus , if you do expect to store all variety of large media on your iPad , I would n’t regard a 16 GB iPad modelling acceptable anymore . That means your last - cost alternative is the $ 599 32 GB new iPad . If you rather do n’t plan to store several gigabytes of music on your iPad — either because you project to use iTunes Match , or sync no or small music — the 16 GB size remain a practicable option , which means you need n’t cross the iPad 2 off your list just yet .
How much networking speed do you need?
If you ’re contented with a Wi - Fi - only iPad , this enquiry is n’t relevant to you . But if you want a model that has the power to connect to a cellular connection , you ’ll need to consider the fact that the iPad 2 is only compatible with 3 grand web .
The new iPad can connect with truehearted Long Term Evolution , or LTE , meshwork . This other version of quaternary - propagation ( 4 thousand ) cellular engineering means quicker , more effective downloads , as my colleague Glenn Fleishman details in his aspect at LTE . And in his critique of the Modern iPad , Jason Snell determine that downloads and uploads over LTE gave Wi - Fi a foot race for their money . If you plan on connecting to a electronic web with your iPad , the third - coevals framework and its LTE capability may be the way to go .
That is , if you subsist in an area that propose LTE coverage . NeitherVerizonnorAT&Thave widen their 4 G networks across the Carry Amelia Moore Nation yet . When LTE ’s not available , your next - generation iPad will descend back to the same 3 G meshing that serve the iPad 2 .
Still , carriers are build up their 4 G range . Verizon project to be in 400 markets across the U.S. by the conclusion of 2012 while AT&T is targeting the final stage of 2013 to entirely replace its current web with LTE reportage . You may not live in an area with LTE reporting now , but you might presently enough . For that reason , the third - coevals iPad outdo the iPad 2 if you place a agio on web connectivity .
How to decide
So if you do n’t contrive to use your iPad for extensive picture taking and ceaseless reading , you do n’t need more than 16 GB of computer memory , and cellular connectivity is a moot stage for you , should you just save the $ 100 and go for the iPad 2 ?
The result is a definite maybe . $ 100 corrupt an awful lot of apps ; saving that spare hundred bucks on your iPad leverage affords a whole pile of games involving shuttlecock in various emotional land .
But the unexampled iPad is , objectively , a better iPad than the iPad 2 . Beyond the Retina display , the new manikin also adds support for voice dictation and more RAM than the iPad 2 . When Apple inevitably releasesanothernew iPad in 2013 , it ’s potential that new iPad 2 owners will feel more buyer ’s compunction than folk who opt for the new iPad instead .
The original , first - generation iPad still supports iOS 5 completely . Will it endorse iOS 6 , or will that be specify to the two newer iPads ? At some point , an iOS update will surely leave the iPad 2 in the lurch while keeping the third - generation iPad supported . But then , at some point , the third - genesis iPad will be out of date , too .
Thus , if you have the extra $ 100 to spend , the new iPad is objectively ranking to the iPad 2 , and more time to come - proof . But if saving the cash today helps your coin bank explanation , it ’s impossible to be disappointed by the iPad 2 , which is a perfectly fine pad of paper in its own right .
[ Lex Friedman is a Macworld staff author . ]
