Apple fans will be able to buy the new iPad in India from today. The prices start at Rs 30,500 for the base 16GB Wi-Fi only model.
The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white for Rs 30,500 for the 16GB model, Rs 36,500 for the 32GB model and Rs 42,500 for the 64GB model. The iPad Wi-Fi + 4G models will be available for Rs 38,900 for the 16GB model, Rs 44,900 for the 32GB model and Rs 50,900 for the 64GB model.
The new iPad features a new Retina display with 2048x1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi), Apple's new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing photos and 1080p HD video.
You still get the same 9.7-inch slate with no changes to ports, the magnetic cover or dimensions. However, the new iPad does seem to have put on a bit of weight.
Slightly heavier
Thickness is now slated at 9.4mm, going up from the 8.8mm of the earlier avatar. The new iPad now weighs in at 1.44 pounds for the Wi-Fi version as compared to the iPad 2's 1.33 pounds. The 3G version sees a similar weight difference.
So now that we've established that the outside is still pretty much the same, what about the inside? To start off with, the dual-core A5 chip has been replaced with a faster A5X chip, but full details are not out.
The new iPad also gets a graphics upgrade in the form of a quad-core GPU, four times the performance of the iPad 2. It will run on an updated version of iOS, 5.1 which is also available for download on existing iOS 5 devices.
The camera has undergone a huge change too, so the measly 0.7-meg clicker is now a hefty 5-megapixel with autofocus, face detection and the ability to shoot Full HD 1080p videos, something Apple calls the iSight camera. The front VGA camera (for Face Time) remains unchanged.
But the screen is what really got everyone talking. The iPad 2's 1,024x768 pixel screen has been replaced by Retina Display with a resolution of 2,048x1,536 pixels. Saturation has also increased 44 per cent, so expect amazing HD video playback on.
Big news for iPad apps is the introduction of iPhoto, with professional photo editing features. Dictation is also a new addition and you can create notes, type messages and even browse the Web by dictating into the inbuilt microphone.
Connectivity options have improved with the new iPad now supporting 4G and LTE networks, although Indian users won't feel the benefit for a while because 4G networks are still being rolled out by operators.
Despite the brighter screen and enhanced connectivity, battery life remains 10 hours.