iPad 3rd gen vs 4th gen

[purbeast0]

i'm kind of in the market for an ipad, and am just kind of wondering the real world difference between the ipad 3rd gen and 4th gen.

i know that the 4th gen has a newer processor. i also know that it has the new lightning connector.

there are some pretty good prices on a 3rd gen refurb from apple right now.

my primary use is going to just be browsing the web, using it for the remote to my ht, and just kind of kicking back with it while watching tv. sure i'll do a little gaming but probably nothing too intense.

i currently have an ip4 (not the 4s) and my wife has the ip5 and i know there is a 2-gen difference between the processors in my phone and hers. her phone is SIGNIFICANTLY faster than mine for doing everything.

i was wondering if the difference between the 4th gen and 3rd gen ipad is similar to what i'm seeing, and in general how the speeds compare between the ipads the iphones.

anyone here used both of these who can comment on real world usage with both of them?

 

[rsutoratosu]

i couldn't tell but benchmark can. Would you wait for the next ipad ? and drive down prices on 4th gen

 

[purbeast0]

i couldn't tell but benchmark can. Would you wait for the next ipad ? and drive down prices on 4th gen

not concerned about that. if that was my mindset i would never purchase anything because the second you do, it's obsolete.

 

[runawayprisoner]

IMO, 4th gen is indeed faster. However, neither holds a candle to the iPhone 5 in terms of performance. Most likely due to the significantly higher pixel count that they have to push.

 

[purbeast0]

IMO, 4th gen is indeed faster. However, neither holds a candle to the iPhone 5 in terms of performance. Most likely due to the significantly higher pixel count that they have to push.

would you compare the performance of the 3rd gen to an iphone 4?

hmm i wonder if the apple stores actually have the 3rd and 4th gen ones on display to play with. that could probably answer a few of my questions lol.

 

[dawks]

I'd say the iPad 4 is somewhat faster than my 4S, and its significantly faster than the iPad 2. I'd also say the iPad 3 is on par with the iPad 2 (same CPU, slighly tweaked GPU - significantly higher pixel count).

I love my iPad 4. Super fast, and I use the shit out of it. I'd pay $100 more for it over the 3 in a heart beat.

 

[JAG87]

The iPhone 4 is running on the A4 chip and 512MB RAM, which is really far behind in terms of everything compared to the iPhone 5 with A6 and 1GB RAM.

The iPad 3 and 4 are running A5X and A6X with 1GB RAM. The difference is no where near as drastic as the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 5. Graphics wise it's obviously faster, but otherwise it doesn't feel much faster than the iPad 3.

But IMO, get the 4. Goign forward, you'll be glad you have the Lightning connector, and you'll be glad you have the faster GPU inside. Nobody knows what future iOS iterations have in store in terms of GUI and GPU demand.

 

[purbeast0]

yeah that is very true. and the price difference is only $100 or around there so maybe i will stick with just the newest iteration. i'm only going with the 16gb wifi whatever version i get, so it's not like i'm spending an arm and a leg either way.

just that an ipad 3rd gen for under $400 was very intriguing.

 

[JAG87]

yeah that is very true. and the price difference is only $100 or around there so maybe i will stick with just the newest iteration. i'm only going with the 16gb wifi whatever version i get, so it's not like i'm spending an arm and a leg either way.

just that an ipad 3rd gen for under $400 was very intriguing.

Exactly, the difference is not worth the remorse nor the hassle of switching later on.

But be aware that the iPad Mini is likely to get a retina screen this year, and regardless of what people say, it is WAY more ergonomic to use in terms of thickness and weight than the full sized iPad. Also do know that a new full sized iPad is likely to go on a diet and get the same form factor as the iPad Mini, thinner and lighter. Although I know you don't like the waiting game, those are things you might want to consider.

 

[purbeast0]

Exactly, the difference is not worth the remorse nor the hassle of switching later on.

But be aware that the iPad Mini is likely to get a retina screen this year, and regardless of what people say, it is WAY more ergonomic to use in terms of thickness and weight than the full sized iPad. Also do know that a new full sized iPad is likely to go on a diet and get the same form factor as the iPad Mini, thinner and lighter. Although I know you don't like the waiting game, those are things you might want to consider.

well to be honest i don't think i want an ipad mini, mainly due to it's size.

one of the driving factors of getting an ipad is that i saw the app (roomie remote) that i want to use to control my theater on one, and i liked all of the real estate that it had on it. the view on the ipad is definitely different than the view on my phone.

i also think that browsing the web and typing on the keyboard would be better and easier on the 10" due to it being bigger.

i've never really used one though other than playing around with my moms, so i can't say for sure.

 

[JAG87]

well to be honest i don't think i want an ipad mini, mainly due to it's size.

one of the driving factors of getting an ipad is that i saw the app (roomie remote) that i want to use to control my theater on one, and i liked all of the real estate that it had on it. the view on the ipad is definitely different than the view on my phone.

i also think that browsing the web and typing on the keyboard would be better and easier on the 10" due to it being bigger.

i've never really used one though other than playing around with my moms, so i can't say for sure.

Make sure you go into a store and actually hold both of them. You'll realize what I'm saying.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Look at the power per pixel. The iPad 4 and 2 are very similiar when you look at it that way, and the iPad 1 and 3 are laggards.

Nothing will ever be as bad as the iPhone 4 was in power per pixel again, but I would still prefer the Apple device that will probably have a longer life.

An iPad 1 is junk now while an iPad 2 is still sold in stores. Some are just more obvious buys when you look by this metric.

Same reason I wouldn't take a retina Macbook even if it was $400.

 

[purbeast0]

Look at the power per pixel. The iPad 4 and 2 are very similiar when you look at it that way, and the iPad 1 and 3 are laggards.

Nothing will ever be as bad as the iPhone 4 was in power per pixel again, but I would still prefer the Apple device that will probably have a longer life.

An iPad 1 is junk now while an iPad 2 is still sold in stores. Some are just more obvious buys when you look by this metric.

Same reason I wouldn't take a retina Macbook even if it was $400.

you know, i was curious why stores carry ipad gen2 and gen4 but not gen3. just thought that was kind of odd.

i will definitely play around with a mini before i do make a decision though as i haven't done so before.

 

[runawayprisoner]

would you compare the performance of the 3rd gen to an iphone 4?

hmm i wonder if the apple stores actually have the 3rd and 4th gen ones on display to play with. that could probably answer a few of my questions lol.

iPad 3rd gen is of course faster than an iPhone 4.

But my advise to you is... wait at least until WWDC (June). Even among the developer community, a new iPad is already expected.

And personally, I think it makes sense for Apple to introduce new iOS devices (iPhone and iPad) along with unveiling iOS 7.

 

[desura]

depends on use.

Obviously the later one is better.

But if all you do is use the machine for web browsing and photo viewing, the ipad 3 allows some good cost savings.

If you like to game, the 4 is a no-brainer.

the 4 will have better battery life overall. Both should be the same size.

 

[dagamer34]

Newer is of course, always better. However, I think the iPad 3 is really too early for it's time. In some cases, it can actually be slower than an iPad 2 because it has the same CPU but has to decode images 4x as large.

I recently purchased an iPad 4 16GB off of craigslist for $360, so I'd look there.