iPad 4 Reviews: Faster, Lightning Port, Better Camera

Along with the iPad mini, Apple will release another new iPad model on November 2 – four-generation iPad. The embargo on reviews has been lifted, but they include no real surprises. The iPad 4 launched only seven months after the iPad 3 release.

Among the improvements is a faster A6X processor that runs at 1.4GHz and makes the device run almost twice as fast as iPad 3. The new chip doesn’t lower battery life and Engadget’s testing even revealed that it is slightly improved. The front camera has been upgraded to record HD video and the only external improvement is the replacement of the previous 30 pin dock connector with the new Lightning connector. CNet summarize it:

“The latest iPad adds several tweaks and improvements to secure its position at the top of the tablet heap. It's better all around, but third-gen owners need not apply”.

The release of the new model has the other interesting effect on Apple’s product line: it widens the gap between the "new iPad” and the iPad 2. Apple decided to keep the iPad 2 starting price at $399 and simply dropped the iPad 3 in favor of the new one. Now the $100 price gap between the two iPad models represents a bigger feature difference than before.