Review: New iPad

Since the iPad was unveiled by Apple just over two years ago, it has been the device that defines the entire tablet category. It is the tablet against which all other tablets are measured - and often found wanting.

So when the new iPad (also unofficially referred to as the iPad 3) landed in my hands, my expectations were high. Very high.

The new iPad has exactly the same design as its predecessors. While this may be a disappointment to consumers who wanted something radically different, the new iPad follows Apple's evolution strategy for its products - keeping the major updates on the inside.

When compared with the iPad 2, the new iPad is marginally thicker and heavier - you're unlikely to be able to tell the difference unless you're directly comparing the two, and I mean closely comparing them. In keeping with Apple's iconic simplicity in its device design, the new iPad has a total of four buttons. A single home button on the front, a power/lock button, a volume rocker and a mute/orientation switch.

Once you turn the new iPad on though, the step up in technology is immediately apparent in the dazzling Retina display. While it may seem like just another number on the spec sheet, the impact of 2 048x1 536 pixels is obvious to any user. While people were not exactly complaining about the resolution of the iPad 2, the Retina display of the new iPad is something to behold. To put it into perspective, the average full HD screen has 1 920x1 080 pixels.

The new iPad runs iOS 5.1, and will soon be upgradeable to iOS 6. This means the user interface is identical to that of the iPad 2 and any other device running the current version of Apple's mobile OS. A key update that will be coming only to the new iPad with iOS 6 though, is the addition of Siri (the intelligent voice assistant). But back to what the new iPad can actually do right now.

HD apps look exceptional on the new iPad. Unfortunately though, there are many apps that are not optimised for the new high-res screen, and even their icons appear pixelated. The sheer range and quality of apps available in the App Store is still a major differentiator for Apple. The review device came with a vast selection of premium apps preinstalled, which made the experience of the new iPad that much better. Users can have any number of pages of apps, and can dock up to six apps to the bottom bar on the home screen.

While you can create folders of similar apps, and choose the positioning of the app icons, iOS is well known for its limited customisation. The closest you'll get to Android-like widgets are the options that appear when swiping to the right in the multitasking view. This brings up the brightness toggle, music player, volume, orientation and gallery shortcuts.

Photo-editing apps such as Snapseed and iPhoto make great use of the new iPad's improved 5MP iSight camera. While taking photos with a tablet can be quite awkward, the quality of the images and the available editing apps provide some incentive. Luckily, through the integration of iCloud, you can easily import images from your photo stream (if you have an account).

The 1080p HD video recording is also great. I would advise against trying to capture long video clips though, because holding a 10-inch tablet still in the air for extended periods of time can be somewhat challenging. The resultant video footage and playback is great though, with surprisingly good audio quality.

HD gameplay in Angry Birds Space and Plants Versus Zombies also kept me entertained for hours (how I ever played PvZ without a touch-screen, I don't even know). Starwalk also benefits from the improved resolution - creating a really impressive app that literally takes you on a guided tour of the solar system.

While Apple products are known for coming with limited user instructions due to the intuitive nature of their designs and interfaces, I have to admit I wasn't entirely convinced at first. But while I had the new iPad to review, I tested out some of the educational apps on a group of school kids at a local literacy project. They figured out what to do before I could even finish explaining how to use a touch-screen - and it was the first time they'd ever even held a tablet PC of any kind.

On the inside, the new iPad has a A5X chip with quad-core graphics to power the 3.1 million pixels. I found the new iPad to be very smooth and fluid in its performance, although there were times when it would inexplicably close applications or the browser. This is a problem that is not only limited to the iPad, but is disappointing on any tablet.

The battery life of the new iPad was very good. While it would take some time to charge, once fully charged, its stamina was quite impressive - especially when on standby. With heavy use, it still promises up to 10 hours' of battery life. It did get noticeably hot though during continuous gameplay.

While I had the new iPad, the Core Group also sent over the Helo TC helicopter, which can be controlled by an app on an iOS device.

The mini RC helicopter is a lot more robust than it seems. As a rookie RC flyer, I crashed the helicopter multiple times into cupboards, coffee tables and even a magazine rack in the office. It took me a while to get the hang of it, but I eventually managed to gain enough control to have some short flights before panicking and landing (or crash landing).

The helicopter is controlled via infrared, so it is limited to indoor use. An infrared attachment takes four AAA batteries and slips onto the top of the iPad or an iPhone. Users have the option of either tilting the iPad or using an on-screen joystick to steer the helicopter.

The option of saving up to three flight plans (which the helicopter then completes automatically) is also quite fun. The emergency landing function also works surprisingly well, as long as you leave enough space between the helicopter and the ground. Personally, I found the size of the iPad slightly awkward for controlling the helicopter, and felt more comfortable using the control app on my iPhone.

I asked some more serious RC fanatics to take the Helo TC for a spin. The little helicopter was just a bit too simple for their liking, and they complained that it was not responsive enough. Given its price point though (R699), the Helo TC is a really affordable and nifty toy for novices.

It's not often that I actually dread the end of the review period for a device, and the moment when I'll have to give it back. But when it came to the new iPad, I genuinely found it to be a useful device in multiple aspects - for work and play.

So all in all, I have no hesitation recommending the new iPad as easily the best tablet that money can buy at the moment. If you're in the market for a high-end tablet, then there is no question that no other tablet can compete with the new iPad's specs and price point.

For owners of the original iPad, the new features and specs of the new iPad do provide good reason to upgrade. However, for iPad 2 owners, the only real difference is in the resolution and the camera quality, so a decision to upgrade would depend on exactly what you use your iPad for. There's not much point forking out for the latest iteration if you primarily use the device for e-mail and Web browsing. For gaming and video viewing though, it's a different story. Is the Retina display going to change your life? Hardly. But it does make for a top-quality user experience.

At the end of the day, just like smartphone choice, tablet choice comes down to what users' needs are and how much they're willing to spend. I don't own a tablet myself, but after getting the chance to see exactly what the new iPad can offer, at this point, it would be the only one I would really consider buying.

Watch a video review of the new iPad being used together with the Helo TC here.