Photo: 彭家杰 / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
iPad (3rd generation)
The first iPad with a Retina display and LTE.
Overview
Apple dropped the number from the name and called this model just the new iPad. Its headline feature was a Retina display with four times as many pixels as before, a screen sharp enough that individual pixels vanished at normal reading distance.
Driving that many pixels took a bigger chip, the A5X, with a quad-core graphics engine and a full gigabyte of memory. The battery grew to roughly 42.5 Wh to feed it, which made the body thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 even though runtime stayed at about ten hours.
The rear camera finally got a proper 5-megapixel sensor with 1080p video, and cellular versions added 4G LTE for North American carriers. Voice dictation arrived, though Siri did not. Its life was short: Apple replaced it after only seven months.
Why it mattered
It brought the Retina display to tablets, but it was also Apple's shortest-lived iPad, superseded by the iPad 4 after just seven months.
At a glance
- Announced
- March 7, 2012
- Released
- March 16, 2012
- Discontinued
- October 23, 2012
- Launch price
- $499
- Chip
- Apple A5X, 1 GHz dual-core
- Display
- 9.7"
- Storage
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- First Retina display on an iPad (2048 x 1536)
- A5X chip with quad-core graphics and 1 GB RAM
- 5-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video
- Optional 4G LTE and voice dictation
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 9.7-inch
- Type
- Retina LED-backlit IPS multi-touch
- Resolution
- 2048 x 1536 (264 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A5X, 1 GHz dual-core
- Graphics
- Quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4
Memory
- RAM
- 1 GB
- Storage options
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Camera
- Rear camera
- 5 MP iSight, 1080p video at 30 fps
- Front camera
- VGA, FaceTime calls
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours (9 hours on cellular data)
- Capacity
- About 42.5 Wh
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11a/b/g/n
- Cellular
- Optional 4G LTE and HSPA+ model (North America)
- Connector
- 30-pin dock connector
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.0
Accessories
- Apple Pencil
- Not supported
- Keyboard
- iPad Keyboard Dock or Bluetooth keyboards
Design
- Dimensions
- 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 mm
- Weight
- 652 g (Wi-Fi), 662 g (cellular)
Security
- Authentication
- Passcode lock
Software
- Launch OS
- iOS 5.1
- Latest supported OS
- iOS 9.3.5 (Wi-Fi), 9.3.6 (cellular)
How it compares
More in the iPad family
iPad (1st generation)
The slate that defined the modern tablet category.
iPad 2
Thinner, faster, and finally equipped with cameras.
iPad (4th generation)
A surprise refresh that doubled the speed and introduced Lightning.
iPad (5th generation)
The budget iPad returns at a much lower entry price.
iPad (6th generation)
The first non-Pro iPad that works with Apple Pencil.
iPad (7th generation)
A slightly larger 10.2-inch screen and the Smart Connector for $329.
iPad (8th generation)
The $329 iPad picks up an A12 Bionic and a Neural Engine.
iPad (9th generation)
The last classic iPad, with Center Stage and True Tone.
iPad (10th generation)
The standard iPad finally goes all-screen, in four bold colors.
iPad (A16)
The everyday iPad, now with 128 GB and a quicker A16 chip.