iPad 3: Seven Key Points to Consider Before You Upgrade

Millions across the world are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Apple's iPad 3 which is looking at an early March release, according to reports.

As the rumors surrounding the tablet are gradually gaining substance, most tech enthusiasts won't think twice about getting the device. However, a dilemma awaits those who already own an iPad as they are yet to decide if they should upgrade to the upcoming one. If you're one of those people, here are a couple of points as stated by eWeek that you can consider before settling down on getting the third generation tablet.

Better battery support The iPad 2 has a battery life of up to 10 hours, just as its predecessor. According to a MacWorld report, The 3G-equipped models promise nine hours of Web surfing over a data network. For the iPad 3, leaked reports suggest a larger battery, but a higher pixel count as expected in the device could drain the battery life much quicker.

An SD card slot might be included in the iPad 3 It was a major disapointment when the iPad 2 didn't show up with the SD card slot. The iPad 2 comes in the 16/32/64GB storage models and the same options are said to be included for the iPad 3. Adding an SD card slot would boost the memory upto 128 GB, which is quite unlikely. The storage options mentioned are pretty standard and if you go for the higher model, there's still enough space left to work with, even if you're a heavy tablet user.

The new Retina DisplayThe new display is a noteworthy point mentioned by the website. Apple's iPad 3 is almost guaranteed to arrive with a high 2048x1536 resolution Retina Display. That's exactly twice the resolution of iPad 2 which is at 1024x768.

If the reports are to be trusted, the new screen will provide users a great viewing experience, with a higher quality of image detail and fluidity while streaming or watching videos. The device is also expected to be great for action packed games, considering the HD screen and smoother fluidity in controls that the display is said to provide.

iPad 2, on the other hand, is good just for viewing basic images and videos, but is slowly losing competition to some recent rival tablets which boast a higher resolution.

An 8-megapixel camera Latest reports indicate that iPad 3 will sport an 8 megapixel camera. In comparison, iPad 2 has a poor quality 0.7 megapixel camera with 720p video recording capabilities, whereas the first iPad didn't even have one. Upgrading towards a higher end camera is your call depending on your requirements.

Higher-speed processor Unconfirmed reports suggest that the tablet will be powered by a quad-core A6 processor which runs on the new iOS 5 platform. This would mean a significant boost in performance while also helping in seamless system navigation and running powerful applications in addition to a fantastic gaming experience.

4G LTE technology Most people wonder why LTE is gaining importance when WiFi does most of the work in terms of connecting to the Internet. The usual answer to that is the lag time that the new technology can improve upon. Additionally, users can also make instantaneous downloads with the help of 4G LTE.

According to a report on MacWorld: The iPad sure could use the speed of the LTE network. 'Apple needs to solve the bandwidth issue if they're going to roll out 1080p video. Their new wireless sync feature is great, but it is way too slow, ' Kyle Wiens of iFixit said in a statement.

The ethical issues Apple has been accused of Apple has been in hot water lately for news about the horrible working conditions at China's Foxconn factories, where many Apple computers, smartphones and tablets are built. eWeek has noted that Samsung provides its Korean manufacturers better working conditions, whereas Motorola's Xoom has its own workshops.

Other features such as Siri that the tablet is rumored to include might appeal to users who truly enjoy and frequently make use of Apple's helpful voice assistant.

Assuming the features are all true, iPad3 might certainly be worth buying. You can also consider some other rival tablets out there, which go beyond the capabilities of what the new tablet is expected to offer. Else you can always stick to your trusty old iPad 2 until the day comes when you're sure of an upgrade.