(Updated: please see notes at the bottom of this article)

Why did I settle for iPad 2, and forego the new iPad — or iPad 3?

(Note: Apple is not calling the new third-generation iPad the iPad 3, but for purposes of this post and the discussions hereinafter, and to avoid confusion, I’ll refer to the third-generation iPad as the iPad 3.)

When I sold my iPad “Classic” back in June 2011, I had it then in my mind to just get the next version of the iPad. Thus, the delight when the iPad 3 was announced by Tim Cook last March 7, 2012 (or March 8 in the Philippines).

The major improvements (or changes) of the iPad 3 from the iPad 2 are:

  • Retina Display — capable of 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi);
  • New A5X Chip — same dual-core processor as the A5 chip of the iPad 2 but the upgrade comes in the quad-core graphics (vs. dual-core GPU);
  • iSight — 5-megapixel back camera;
  • 4G LTE connectivity — for faster cellular data browsing;

See detailed comparison at the Apple Store.

Before I took the plunge and got the iPad 2, I have watched the video reviews by The Verge and MacWorld. And from that, here are my impressions: Continue reading