iPad (3rd generation)

The milestone Retina display transition on tablet featuring 3.1 million pixels, Apple A5X quad-core graphics, 4G LTE, and a 5MP iSight camera.

Generation delta

What changed?

Retina display on iPad
9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display with 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 ppi (3.1 million pixels, 4x pixel density of iPad 2) with 44% improved color saturation.
Display
Apple A5X SoC with quad-core graphics
Custom Apple silicon pairing a dual-core CPU with a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 GPU, engineered specifically to render 3.1 million Retina pixels smoothly.
Display
4G LTE cellular data
First Apple mobile device supporting 4G LTE data networks (separate carrier bands for AT&T and Verizon in North America), including personal hotspot functionality.
Connectivity
5-megapixel iSight camera
Upgraded rear camera featuring backside illumination, five-element f/2.4 lens, hybrid infrared filter, autofocus, and 1080p HD video recording with video stabilization.
Camera
Voice dictation input
Integrated microphone key on the software keyboard enabling speech-to-text transcription.
Input
Bluetooth 4.0
Upgraded from Bluetooth 2.1 to Bluetooth 4.0 low-energy standard.
Connectivity

Chassis thickness and weight increase
Thickness increased by 0.6 mm from 8.8 mm to 9.4 mm; weight rose from 601 g to 652 g (Wi-Fi) to accommodate a massive 42.5 watt-hour battery (+70% capacity) needed for the Retina display and LTE modem.
Display

30-pin dock connector
Final flagship iPad to ship with the legacy 30-pin dock connector before Apple transitioned to Lightning.
Ports

Technology DNA

High-density display branding introduced on iPhone 4 and later expanded across product families.

Canonical predecessor