Design and build quality
There's no mistaking the iPad 4 from the previous version of Apple's tablet. Oh wait, yes there is. Once again, Apple has stuck to the same rectangular shape with rounded corners and edges. There's no change in the dimensions, so it's 186x241x9.4mm and 652g (662g for the cellular model). As we've come to expect from Apple, the build quality is exceptional. Attention to detail is paramount, and the iPad truly feels like a premium device. There's just one visual change to the design, which comes in the form of a Lightning dock connector. If you want to use existing 30-pin accessories with this iPad you'll need to separately purchase a £25 adaptor.
Hardware
First and foremost in the list of hardware tweaks is a new processor, the 1.39GHz Apple A6X, which is paired with 1GB of RAM. This dual-core processor with quad-core graphics is said to offer twice the speed of its predecessor, and double the graphics performance.
Our benchmarking revealed some impressive results. In GeekBench 2 we saw 1,769 points, which is signifi cantly faster than the iPad 3's 750 and has only recently been beaten by the Google Nexus 10's 2,505. The iPad 4 retains its crown in the SunSpider JavaScript test and GLBenchmark graphics test, however, where it recorded a speedy 854ms and 39fps respectively, versus the Nexus 10's 1,329ms and 27fps. But it's the real-life user experience that's most important. The iPad 4 is a nippy device, but we didn't feel it was twice as fast as the iPad 3 in general use. We could see no difference in general navigation, but the extra pace is more noticeable in demanding tasks, and particularly in graphics – the iPad 3 was capable of only 22fps in our benchmarks. Price and storage options are the same as with previous iPads – £399 for the 16GB, Wi-Fi-only version, up to £659 for a 64GB iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G/4G LTE connectivity. Be wise with your selection, though, since there's no possibility of storage expansion through memory cards. Bear in mind that apps supporting the Retina resolution take up considerably more space than previous versions, and you may fi nd yourself fi lling up 16GB of storage faster than you expected. The screen hasn't changed either. It's still a 9.7in Retina-quality (1536x2048) LED-backlit IPS panel, and there's still no faulting this display. The other big change is 4G LTE connectivity. The iPad 3 was marketed as 4G-capable, but it didn't meet the frequencies in use in the UK so Apple removed the claim. If you want, and can afford, 4G mobile broadband, then this iPad will cater for your needs. The iPad mini also supports 4G in the UK. Other connectivity options, such as Bluetooth, remain the same, but Apple has upgraded the Wi-Fi with channel bonding. There's not a great deal of change when it comes to the iPad's cameras either. Those hoping for an 8Mp rear camera will be disappointed to fi nd it's still the same 5Mp iSight camera seen in the iPad 3. It's unsurprising, then, that the photographic capability of the iPad 3 and 4 is very similar. The iPad forms a useful camera if you don't mind using such a large device for composition. The only change here is the addition of a back-illuminated sensor, which should help in low-light situations. More useful is a 1.2Mp FaceTime HD front-facing webcam, which can also capture 720p video. This image quality is offers is much improved over that of the iPad 3, which will not only better your Photo Booth pictures, but be more useful for Skype and FaceTime calls.
Software
The iPad 4 is preinstalled with the latest version of iOS. This includes the Siri, voice assistant which was introduced to the iPad with the previous generation of the tablet. Some recent and notable changes to the operating system include the switch from Google Maps to Apple's own mapping system, which hasn't been Apple's proudest moment – the app has received heavy criticism for its many failings, so it's handy that third-party alternatives are available in app form, and you can access Google Maps in the Safari browser.
Battery life
Apple touts a double-digit battery life of 10 hours when browsing the web over Wi-Fi. It's diffi cult to suggest a typical usage fi gure, since everyone will use their iPad in different ways, but we'd go along with that claim.
PROS Excellent IPS screen; super-fast performance; great graphics; latest iOS software; flawless design and build CONS Proprietary dock connector; no storage expansion VERDICT This is Apple’s quickest iPad yet, and a tablet in which we can barely find fault SPECIFICATIONS 9.7in (1536x2048 ‘Retina’) LED-backlit multitouch display with IPS technology; Apple iOS 6.0; 1.39GHz Apple A6X dual-core processor; 1GB RAM; 16/32/64GB storage; dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.0; 3G/4G LTE; 5Mp iSight rear camera; 1.2Mp FaceTime HD front camera, 720p video; 42.5Wh lithium-polymer battery; Lightning connector; 241.2x185.7x9.4mm; 652g
Source.Tablet World UK.Edition.3.2013
