Apple has as expected unveiled the latest iteration of its iPad tablet, introducing LTE support in select bands and a 2048x1536 display.
Contrary to the widespread expectations that the device would be named either the iPad 3 or the iPad 2S, Apple is instead referring to the tablet simply as “the new iPad.”
Apple has revealed it will launch the device in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and the US Virgin Islands on March 16.
The new iPad uses a dual-core A5X processor – despite rumors that it would include a quad-core chip – but a quad-core GPU.
Like its predecessors, the new iPad will come in Wi-Fi only as well as Wi-Fi and cellular models.
The technical specifications list two versions of the Wi-Fi and cellular models, one configured to use AT&T's LTE network on the 700-MHz and 2,100-MHz bands, the other to use Verizon's 700-MHz LTE network. Also variously supported are UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSPA+, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV/DO Rev. A.
Notably absent from the list is TD-LTE, considering China Mobile's assertion that Apple has agreed to support TD-LTE once it develops a 4G iPhone.
That said, only the AT&T and Verizon Wi-Fi+4G versions of the device have been announced, so Apple may develop more preconfigured versions for other operators in the future. The tablet market is also a different beast to the smartphone segment, with many iPad buyers opting to buy a Wi-Fi only version.
The 2048x1536 retina display translates to 264 pixels per inch, for a total of 3.1 million pixels. The device has the ability to both record and play 1080p HD video.
But the new iPad is also missing a few features that the rumor mill had been hotly anticipating. Although the device supports voice dictation, it will not come with the Siri personal assistant feature that debuted in the iPhone 4S.
Apple is also introducing only an incremental iOS update with the device, iOS 5.1, rather than the completely new version some observers had been expecting.
Apple will retail the iPad for the same launch price as its predecessor, which in the US means $499 for a 16GB model, up to $699 for a 64GB. The models with cellular capability cost an extra $130.
The company has meanwhile lowered the cost of the iPad 2 by $100, with the base 1GB model now retailing for $399.
Ovum principal analyst Adam Leach expects the launch of the next iteration of the iPad to enable Apple to maintain its lead in the tablet market for at least the rest of the year.
“It is not the first time that Apple has enjoyed a first-mover advantage; however, we expect competition to get more intense through 2012,” he said, noting that Android 4.0 and the upcoming Windows 8 could test Apple's market dominance.