Do You Seriously Think The New iPad's Battery Isn't Good Enough?
When it comes to new iPad battery life, how long is long enough? Gasps of surprise as Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the third-gen tablet would last as long as its predecessor – despite the Retina Display, quadcore graphics chip and LTE connectivity – have given way to sniping and frustration over whether the tablet gets warm during charging, whether it lives up to the predicted times, and whether the battery is really as full as it ever claims to be. It's not clear, though, whether owners have legitimate concerns or if they're simply complaining for the sake of it.
The latest consternation about the new iPad is the time it takes to recharge. Calculations on the rate at which it rejuices have indicated that, even when the battery gage says 100-percent, there could be as much as an hour longer of recharging time to pump more power in.
That comes after the heat concerns – the rear of the tablet getting toasty when hooked up to the mains – and questions about the sheer length of time the extra-large battery takes to recharge. Here's the rub, though: Apple might like you to think the company is magical, but at the end of the day they're engineers, and software developers, and managers, and marketers. Not a real wizard, witch or warlock among them. A pixel-dense, bright screen and 4G demands a big battery, and that takes a longer time to charge.
[polldaddy poll=6077758]
Even better, you have a choice: you can still have a fast-charging, cooler-running tablet running iOS (and even save money) as the iPad 2 is still on sale. Yes, you'll have to compromise on speed and screen quality, and you won't get LTE, but without a huge step forward in core battery technology, that compromise is inescapable. If anything's magical, it's that both options – iPad 2 or new iPad – still get you to that amazing 10hr runtime, or more if our review is anything to go by.
It's easy to get demanding about Apple products – or, indeed, about any well-polished gadget. Mercedes-Benz buyers probably worry about whether the wood trim on their dashboard is quite as even, and lines-up quite as well, as on other people's cars. At some point, though, you have to take a step back and accept it: either go crazy obsessing with no end in sight, or sit back and enjoy your new toy.