is the iphone4 a more powerful device than the ipad?

[ecschwarz]

Is that why pages reload every time I open more than 1 safari tab? That's a *great* design choice. Also, less ram needed on Mac/iOS vs Windows is pure BS. I don't know why I bother posting here, everyone is already brainwashed that Apple is perfect

I agree with the reloading being frustrated - that even happens on my 512MB RAM-equipped iPhone, so it has nothing to do with the RAM. Maybe a later software update will change that?

As for the less RAM argument - iOS and Mac OS X are different beasts, so it really would be a three-way comparison between those two and Windows. In fact, iOS should be compared more with things like Windows Mobile and Android, which also have lower RAM requirements.

 

[Carlanga]

My iPad feels much faster than my iPhone4 (both are jailbroken using star). the latter only has 512mb of ram because of HD video recording/editing. Otherwise, the iPad seems to do everything faster. Don't buy in to the crap argument that somehow the new iPhone makes the iPad obsolete because it has more ram. Simply not true.

You need to fix your thinking.... just having iOS 4.X installed will cut your available RAM in your iPad by around half, compare that w/ your actual iPhone OS 3.X free RAM, then remember to add to that multitasking, which eats a lot of ram too... Now, tell me how is it that the iPad is actually more powerful after just those two simple things are considered... Talk to me in November w/ iOS 4.2 installed on your iPad... The iPad came before the iPhone 4, so in the powerful department your iPad is now second best, deal w/ it as you seem fit....

 

[iPhonePhreak]

I don't know about their specs but I do know that iPhone is more useful than iPad

 

[aneftp]

I don't know about their specs but I do know that iPhone is more useful than iPad

Good point for the vast majority of people.

I own both iPad and iPhone 4. Obviously the iPhone 4 is more portable and can do more things on the go.

However the iPad has the major advantage of the iPad is it's raw speed and screen size and overall battery life.

We all know iPad runs full 1GZ, and although it's got 256MB ram, it still loads webpages much faster than the iPhone 4 with 512mb Ram, which Apple probably underclocked to 700-800 mhz to conserve on battery life.

I use both devices. I much prefer to surf the web and browse my iPad magazine over the iPhone 4.

I am always an early adopter. I purchased iPhone 2007 knowing full well Apple crippled it with no 3G and no GPS and paying $600 for it.

Same thing with iPad 3G. Apple purposely left features out like less RAM, no camera and no true file utility program. They purposely left these features to judge the market. If iPad sales had tanked, they would have just discontinued the project (see Newton, see first generation Apple TV, and probably see MacBook Air). Since iPad has been an big success, apple can add these features in the 2nd generation and pull even more profits without wasting a lot in terms of research and development.

 

[Paulywauly]

The OP's question, while valid, is a little vague. Both devices have advantages over the other, its just a case of figuring out which ones are important to you. I have both and they're both awesome

 

[chembox]

256MB RAM on a tablet is really based on a profit motive to sell a 512MB RAM iPad in 2011. Anyone who doesn't see this is short sighted, because I'm sure when the 3rd generation iPad software comes out, the first-gen won't be fully supported.

 

[Glideslope]

Wait till iOS4 hits iPad, then you'll be thinking otherwise.

+1

 

[r0k]

I own an iPhone 4 and an iPad. I find the iPad to be more powerful for every day use because of its larger display (though only slightly higher resolution). If I have to choose browsing on my iPhone vs iPad, I take iPad. I find iPhone 4 to be a lot faster. In Aircoster XL, I can ride a track that only does 30 fps on iPad (and 8 fps on iPod Touch) but that same track will run 50 fps on iPhone 4. Still, if I'm designing a track, I would want more screen real estate so I'd use the iPad despite the lower framerates. I never give a moment's thought to the state of charge of my iPad. If I pick it up and it says "20%" I say darn, only 4 or 5 hours. I don't panic if I skip a night or three of charging. I must obsess over the state of charge of my iPhone. There is no such thing as skipping a night charging my iPhone 4.

I have an Amazon Kindle ( my wife's $139 model), an iPad and an iPhone 4. I like that my reading stays in sync on all the Kindle devices I happen to use, desktops included. I also have iBooks loaded on the iPad and iPhone, but I don't buy books in iBooks just yet. I prefer Kindle format because I can read on hand held devices as well as Windows and OS X desktops. Whatever software I use, I prefer the iPad screen for reading. While I thoroughly enjoy the crisp retina display on my iPhone 4, I would never set it such that I could get as many words on the screen as I set on my iPad.

So the final answer depends on what is important to you. If you want pure performance and don't care about screen size, the iPhone 4 is better at this time. If you want a larger screen, insanely long battery life and the ability to do more (Pages, Numbers, etc) then the iPad is "more powerful" in terms of what it allows you to do, RAM notwithstanding.

BTW, I do wish the iPad had more memory. More memory is almost always better (except perhaps for battery life).

 

[tesilential]

My girlfriend's brother and father have iPads.

I have an iPhone 4. (so do my parents and sister)


Side by side, the iPad opened apps faster, by a noticeable, but not huge margin.


As everyone said they are running two different operating systems and I don't know if the iPad will retain all its speed with the added features like folders, icon shadows, multitasking, etc.

I know the iPad can run backgrounder no problem, so its shouldn't slow too much.


Personally I'm waiting for the next iPad as it will certainly have facetime and hopefully a higher resolution screen and more memory.




EDIT: Might as well ask this here, is it possible to overclock an iPhone? I don't need that extra battery life....

 

[Carlanga]

My girlfriend's brother and father have iPads.
I have an iPhone 4. (so do my parents and sister)
Side by side, the iPad opened apps faster, by a noticeable, but not huge margin.
As everyone said they are running two different operating systems and I don't know if the iPad will retain all its speed with the added features like folders, icon shadows, multitasking, etc.
I know the iPad can run backgrounder no problem, so its shouldn't slow too much.
Personally I'm waiting for the next iPad as it will certainly have facetime and hopefully a higher resolution screen and more memory.
EDIT: Might as well ask this here, is it possible to overclock an iPhone? I don't need that extra battery life....

JB backgrounder app is different than 's, you can run it fine in iPhone 3G but 's multitasking consumes more due to smart memory reallocation and other stuff...

No it's not possible to overclock an iPhone w/ just software, the limiter is hard wired... you can free more ram or expand w/ 'fake ram' (virtual memory hack) which will decrease your iPhone's life and consume more battery, but would make it appear 'faster' due to the extra allocation memory...