Fourth Generation iPad Replaces The iPad 2
A few days ago, Apple made two interesting moves. It released a new iPhone 5C version with 8 GB of internal storage, for European markets and it also retires the second generation iPad, replacing it with the fourth generation iPad which features a Retina display. If you remember, Apple retired the fourth generation iPad when it unveiled the iPad Air. We reported about it last year, mentioning that, in an odd move, the second generation iPad was still available in Apple’s iPad lineup, for $399, even though it featured very outdated specs. Apple’s usual pattern involves reducing a hundred dollars from the previous model as a new one is introduced, but for some reason the company decided to change this strategy when it released the iPad Air.
As the fourth generation iPad replaces the second generation iPad, it also keeps the same price of $399, just like the current second generation iPad mini with Retina display and a hundred bucks cheaper than the latest iPad Air and is available in a single variant with 16 GB of internal storage. Besides the WiFi only model, there is also the WiFi + cellular model available, which also comes with 16 GB of internal storage and it is available for $529.
The now old fourth generation iPad is powered by the A6X System on Chip, featuring a dual core CPU clocked at 1.4 Ghz, while the iPad 2 is powered by the A5 System on Chip, also featuring a dual core CPU but clocked at 1 GHz. Besides processing power, another very important difference between the two tablets from Apple is represented by the display. The fourth generation iPad features a 9.7 inches IPS LCD display, capable of a resolution of 2,048 × 1,536 pixels (at a 4:3 aspect ratio) and a pixels per inch density of 264 which makes it a Retina display. The iPad 2 on the other hand, does not feature a Retina display; instead, it features a 9.7 inches display, capable of a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels (at a 4:3 aspect ratio) and a pixels per inch density of only 132, twice as low as the fourth generation iPad display’s pixels per inch density.
The fourth generation iPad also features a 1.2 MP FaceTime HD camera, capable of recording videos at 720p and a 5 MP rear camera capable of recording videos in Full High Definition (1080p), while the iPad 2 features a 0.3 MP VGA quality front camera capable of recording VGA videos and a 0.7 MP rear camera capable of recording videos at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels (720p). As you can see, the difference between the two generations of iPads is pretty big when it comes to specs and features.
Another important difference between the iPad 2 and the fourth generation iPad is the Lightning connector, absent from the iPad 2 but present in the fourth generation iPad. With this move, all the iPads in Apple’s current lineup feature a Lightning connector, the only devices that Apple currently offers without a Lightning connector being the iPhone 4S and the iPod classic. It is also worth mentioning that from Apple current iPad lineup, the first generation iPad mini is the only tablet not featuring a retina display, as the iPad 2 is no longer available.
