Apple iPad 2 vs Apple iPad (3rd generation)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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iPad 2 compared with iPad (3rd generation)

	AppleiPad 2	AppleiPad (3rd generation)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2011	March 2012
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	9.7″
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	2048 × 1536 (better)
Sharpness
Sharpness	132 pixels per inch	264 pixels per inch (better)
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Display type
Display type	LED-backlit glossy Multi-Touch display with IPS technology	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD
Pixel density
Pixel density	132 ppi	264 ppi
Display features
Display features	Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating	Oleophobic coating; Multi-Touch
Performance
Chip
Chip	A5	A5X
Memory
Memory	512 MB	1 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB
CPU
CPU	1 GHz dual-core Apple A5; 512 MB RAM confirmed by iFixit	Dual-core Apple A5X; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit
GPU
GPU	PowerVR SGX543MP2 (Notebookcheck)	Quad-core graphics
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	0.7 MP	5 MP (better)
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	0.3 MP	0.3 MP
Rear camera
Rear camera	0.7MP (PhoneArena); still camera with 5x digital zoom; Apple does not publish megapixels	iSight; autofocus; tap to focus; face detection; backside illumination
Front camera
Front camera	0.3MP VGA (PhoneArena); VGA-quality still camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth	VGA FaceTime camera; 0.3MP (PhoneArena)
Video recording
Video recording	Rear camera records 720p video at up to 30 fps; front camera records VGA video at up to 30 fps; tap to control exposure; photo and video geotagging over Wi-Fi	Rear 1080p at up to 30 fps with stabilisation; front VGA at up to 30 fps; geotagging
Battery and connections
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	25 Wh	42.5 Wh (better)
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Not supported	Not supported
Keyboard made for it
Keyboard made for it	Yes	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 10 hours surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video or listening to music; up to nine hours surfing the web on 3G	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing, video or music; nine hours browsing over cellular
Charging
Charging	10W USB Power Adapter included; charging through the dock connector	10W USB Power Adapter included
USB-C
USB-C	30-pin dock connector; 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack; video mirroring up to 1080p through Apple Digital AV Adapter or VGA Adapter, sold separately	30-pin dock; 3.5 mm headphone jack; 1080p video output through optional Digital AV or VGA adapter; AirPlay mirroring at 720p
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR	Bluetooth 4.0
Mobile network
Mobile network	Wi-Fi + 3G model supports UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA and GSM/EDGE data; micro-SIM; assisted GPS; weighs 613 g; US Verizon CDMA EV-DO version weighs 607 g	UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA and GSM/EDGE; micro-SIM; cellular model weighs 662 g; LTE only supported on specified US and Canadian networks
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	No Apple Pencil support
Keyboards
Keyboards	Apple Wireless Keyboard over Bluetooth, sold separately; earlier iPad Keyboard Dock also works (Notebookcheck)	Apple keyboard dock supported (Notebookcheck)
Design
Weight
Weight	601 g (better)	652 g
Thickness
Thickness	8.8 mm (better)	9.4 mm
Height × width
Height × width	241.2 × 185.7 mm	241.2 × 185.7 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iOS
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker	Built-in speaker
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Built-in microphone
Sensors
Sensors	Accelerometer; ambient light sensor; gyroscope; digital compass; assisted GPS on Wi-Fi + 3G model	Accelerometer; ambient light; gyroscope; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure	Aluminium and glass enclosure (iFixit)
Colours
Colours	Black or White front with aluminium back	Black or White front
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 4.3	iOS 5.1
In the box
In the box	iPad, Dock Connector to USB Cable, 10W USB Power Adapter	iPad; Dock Connector to USB Cable; 10W USB Power Adapter; documentation