Six months after Apple announced the new iPad (or more commonly referred to as the iPad 3), they now announce its successor — the iPad 4. Six months is really too close to introduce a new model so we wonder why.
We looked at possible reasons why Apple would anger owners of the iPad 3 and found very few compelling reasons.
A new processor. Apple introduced the dual-core A6X chip with the iPad 4. This offered much better graphics performance to the tablet although we believe the quad-core graphics on the iPad 3 was enough to run hi-def games on its Retina Display.
A new connector. Just like the iPhone 5 and the new 5th-gen iPod Touch, the iPad 4 now uses a Lightning connector. It makes all three product lines more uniform. However, we don’t really see the point in rushing a new iPad just to adhere to the new connector port.
New LTE bands? The iPad 3 came out with LTE but a lot of global networks did not have support for it (we reckon the iPad 3 LTE may not be compatible with local networks). However, when we checked the LTE bands supported by the iPad 4, it still indicates Band 4 and Band 17. That’s 700MHz and 2100MHz which is still the same as the old one. That rules out LTE band support as the reason.
We’re really stumped and don’t know why Apple would release a new iPad six months after announcing one. If this is a trend, are we expecting the iPad 6 sometime in March or April of 2013? That’s too close right?
One other thing, Microsoft is set to announce Windows 8 and along with it, the Surface tablet. Is this Apple’s way of somehow stealing a little thunder from Microsoft’s biggest push in the tablet market? If so, then the iPad 4 makes sense.
What do you guys think?
The only reason I can think is the heating up problem of the iPad 3 as I’ve read on different blogs. The new CPU of iPad 4 could be more power efficient and maybe the solution for this. I don’t know.
I only say Google ipad 5 and then you start wondering yet a other one in march april
apple has arguably great products, but without a doubt i think what they “do” really well is the marketing of their products and the timing of their releases. Remember that these products mainly target the US market with the reasoning that “if America eats up our sh*t, then we see no reason why the whole world wouldn’t.” Anyway, Apple got a beating around this time of the year last year when the Kindle Fire edged the iPad2 in terms of sales. For me that’s the only reason why they moved their release window to a date closer to the holiday season.
i’m not an ipad use but just an iphone but i’ll not be bias to this thing but this is just a test that no matter how soon they’ll launch a new toy, certainly most of apple users will fall in line to get his/her one first…this is just a half-cooked ipad just like iphone5…
We don’t want “hotness exclusivity” with our device. We were made to believe that what we purchased was the best there is (at least for a year) making it worth our money. 6 mos later (2 mos for me), Apple comes out with a new device, better specs, but with the same price. I wonder if that A6x chip could address the overheating issues of the ipad3 which i personally experience, everyday. If it does address it, then there you go. I have the impression that they made a mistake on the ipad3 giving it an A5x chipset. They should have released this version of the ipad 6 months ago. I feel cheated as a consumer, but for Apple and everyone else who hasn’t bought their ipads yet, this is a good move. It is a great move. Never mind all those people who bought the ipad3 who were made to believe their device’s overheating problem is normal. Give me un update if the ipad4 does the same. I’m guessing not. Call me butthurt, because i am. I feel cheated.
It means, after 1yr. Your idevice will be 2gen old, so not much of a resale value. Hehe
Apple needs to release this to improve their investor’s outlook. the company stock took a hit and it needs this to recover.
its just too soon. when you bought your ipad3 6mos ago, you were gunnning for the best ipad…not necessarily the newest.
This article seems familiar… cnet.com anyone?
Me thinks Sascha Segan of PC Mag has one of the better reasons for this ….
“Apple’s goal is to sell devices, and it does that by releasing the best products it could possibly make. For the critical holiday season, if it can put out an iPad that’s aligned with its new Lightning dock connector, uses the latest processor, and works with additional wireless carriers, it will.”
and for those iPad 3 owners that were “affected”…he has these words…
“So what do the iPad 3 whiners want? I don’t think $100 would satisfy them, because their complaints are more existential. Do they want Apple to not release new products so existing device owners can get some sort of exclusive period knowing that they have the absolute hottest gadget on the block? Do they understand how absurd that is?”
The rest of his article is here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411368,00.asp
most likely to raise the prices of all the current products Apple had in store and to remove all the old products they have. Christmas is coming, habol pa sa sales….
Bili lang ng bili ah! kung walang pambili eh no comment na!
I pity the mindless iSheeps haha
They’re rebooting the product launch cycle. A new iPhone in September and a new iPad in November (instead of mMrch) makes a lot of sense for holiday shoppers. Previously, I would hesitate getting an iPad for Christmas knowing a new iPad will come out in March. Now I can get an iPad in December without being antsy about it being “obsolete” in 3 months. It’s actually a “win” for the consumer.
i think this proves how their innovation is drying out for the ipad. they had to make it small. check. but what about the big one? this new ipad4 would be in response to the backlash they got over the iphone4s. the incremental changes and then the hype. they figured better they screw a million people less now than they would if they released the ipad4 (technically ipad3s) a year later. the ipad is an ipad, i can’t imagine how innovative they can still get with it. but then again that’s apple’s job to think about that, and from the looks of it, there’s not much thinking being done.
No special reason. They did it for the sake of the lightning corrector and processor. They’re Apple. They can do anything they want for fuck’s sake. You should all be happy. It’s technology guys.
@john – agreed. They are apple and they can do anything they want. For those naawa sa isheep – please problemahin nyo sarili nyo they have the money and they are willing to burn it. If you dont have any doon kayo sa magnum ng cherry. After one year or less equals broken.
Kung makapraise naman ang iba dito, parang diyos si Steve Jobs. Ang totoo, kahit anjan pa c Steve Jobs, mauubusan at mauubusan pa rin sila ng tinatawag nilang inovation. Nabigay na nila lahat ng innovation nila step by step from the first iphone to the iphone 4s. Kaya ang latest products nila, wala ng innovation, upgrade na lang! At malay natin the next generation ng products nila may bagong innovation na naman, sini-save lang nila, irerelease ng paunti unti at pagkakaperahan dahil bibilhin at bibilhin pa rin ng mga fans.
correct. next product release is the ipad mini with Retina Display hahaha they will always find a way to get your money
Steve Job,come back to Earth.Apple is slowly rotting.
The reason to release it now is because iPad 3 sales will drop because consumers know that it will soon be phased out as it was the only one left without the lightning connector. By upgrading it now, Apple is assured that iPad 4 sales will not be affected.
i don’t think ipad2 has a lightning connector. why not phase that one out?
Dami na namang maloloko ang apple neto. Pero sabagay, pera naman nila yon. Kaya bili kung may pangbili. Pero sa totoo, kahit yong ibang mga walang pambili, pipiliting magkaron ng pepay para makabili. Buhay naman nila yon, kaya go. BILI!