Many Apple Store Customers Can’t Tell The New iPad Apart From The iPad 2...

[theluggage]

If you are viewing text in a small font size, the only way to miss the tremendous difference is if your seeing-eye dog is looking the other way.

Approximately recreating the experiment & looking at my iPad 1 and iPad 3 side-by-side, showing the home screen with a fairly plain background, held at (about) my waist level while standing up, I can only just see the difference, and possibly wouldn't if I didn't know what to look for.

Change back to my normal background - a woodland photo with lots of detail - and its night & day between the two.

So, yes, the test was a set-up.

However, what is also true is that, with the screen off, anybody who can tell the difference between a 2 and a 3 must be a graduate of the Zen-Nippon School of Chicken Sexing.

I know the idea of adding go-faster stripes would make Steve's angel weep, but maybe they should have included some sort of visual cue...

 

[iosuser]

If you don't see a night and day difference in reading text, at normal viewing distance for a tablet ~15", then save your money on the iPad 3 and perhaps have an eye exam. On the iPad 3 I can comfortably browse the typical blogs and forums in portrait mode. On the iPad 2 it's too fuzzy without zooming in, even in landscape mode, readable yes but not pretty.

I'm marketing's worst nightmare - I simply don't buy into hypes. I decide for myself before I spend my money. Steve Jobs himself couldn't convince me to upgrade if it weren't for this new screen.

The difference is night & day only if you have the new iPad inches from your face but who realistically looks at a 10" screen that close?

When current iPad owners that are of sound mind with no agenda think about upgrading an iPad, they look to Steve on the appropriate viewing distance to hold an iPad, in which the differences between the new iPad and older iPad's are minute.

I challange anyone to use Steve's viewing distance as the benchmark to compare all versions of the iPad's and honestly say there is a HUGH difference.

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[urkel]

If you don't buy apple products you get made fun of. If you do buy apple products you get made fun of. People nowadays are just plain mean to everyone I guess.

 

[boxster99t]

For the setup: I ordered two new iPads (Verizon and At&T). And I own an iPad 2.

I'm in the over 50 crowd (meaning presbiotic--e.g., use reading glass when reading paper books, but not when reading ebooks on the iPad). I actually had all three iPads sitting side by side, and print in the ebooks I have are about the same precisely because I zoom in so I don't have to use my reading glasses; colors and hi-rez photos are more detailed and the color saturation is evident; fine details in dark scenes in movies are discernible but again, not dramatic to my eyes. If I stop looking for details and just read or watch video--there is not enough difference either way. The iPhone 4 was an entirely different experience.

The transition (for me) from my iPhone 1st Generation to the iPhone 4--the original retina display--was dramatic and still is for any side by side comparison. iPad 2 to new iPad, is subtle at best.

I love all of my Apple products (and I have a house load full)--so I'm not a basher.

I'm simply not WOW'd. I expected to be WOW'd based on all the press, but not the case when seen through my eyes.

If I didn't have an iPad 2, the new iPad is easily the choice vs. saving $100 for the 16GB iPad 2.

Just calling them like I see them. I think both of the new iPads I have will end up being returned for a refund.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I challange anyone to use Steve's viewing distance as the benchmark to compare all versions of the iPad's and honestly say there is a HUGH difference.

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You'd lose that challenge miserably. The Retina isn't just higher resolution, which itself is clearly obvious at that distance (the iPad 2 looks downright blurry in comparison) but it also has far better color saturation, better contrast and a significantly wider viewing angle, all of which are easily detectable at that distance.

 

[richardmu]

I agree totally with boxter99t.

That's why I returned my 3 and decided to stay with the 2. The 2 is brilliant and the 3 not that much of an improvement for ME.

I didn't like the additional weight and thickness either although a lot of people on here profess not to notice. Good for them, but my wife and I certainly did!

 

[Surf Monkey]

I'm genuinely surprised that anyone can detect a major difference in weight and thickness. Almost as surprised that anyone thinks the Retina isn't a huge upgrade from the old screen.

 

[iosuser]

I'm genuinely surprised that anyone can detect a major difference in weight and thickness. Almost as surprised that anyone thinks the Retina isn't a huge upgrade from the old screen.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Mortalias]

Anyone with an agenda against Apple is obviously going to feature 15 people who chose the iPad 2, when 75 could have correctly chosen the new one.

Nothing to see here.

 

[jeffg819]

It all depends on ones definition of "hugh"....

For me, the way I normally use an iPad, I go from seeing a fuze around the text to seeing it razor sharp. After having used personal computers for over 30 years, to finally have a device that looks like print to my eyes is absolutely hugh! Can't speak for you and your eyes and would never attempt to do so.

 

[iosuser]

I actually had all three iPads sitting side by side, and print in the ebooks I have are about the same precisely because I zoom in so I don't have to use my reading glasses; colors and hi-rez photos are more detailed and the color saturation is evident; fine details in dark scenes in movies are discernible but again, not dramatic to my eyes. If I stop looking for details and just read or watch video--there is not enough difference either way. The iPhone 4 was an entirely different experience.

The transition (for me) from my iPhone 1st Generation to the iPhone 4--the original retina display--was dramatic and still is for any side by side comparison. iPad 2 to new iPad, is subtle at best.

Watching a video or viewing photos, the difference will not be as obvious as when reading small text. In fact, watching Netflix and playing most games that have not been updated to 2048x1536 right now are fuzzier than on ipad 2 because everything is upscaled to fill the screen. My main use for the ipad is browsing, and I like to view at the default size for maximum screen real estate. If you like to read zoomed in then yes the benefits of the doubled resolution may be negligible.

Going from the iphone 3GS to the 4 was the exact same "wow" for me going from ipad 2 to 3 as far as the screen goes.

 

[deeddawg]

Watching a video or viewing photos, the difference will not be as obvious as when reading small text. [...] My main use for the ipad is browsing, and I like to view at the default size for maximum screen real estate.

Same here. Fuzziness of small text when browsing or in emails or whatnot in portrait on iPad2 was always there. I was used to it, because it was the best available for iPads, but always noticed.

With the 3rd gen, this text is crisp as anything and is a joy to read. It may be a subtle difference to others who use their iPads differently, but for my usage it is a stark difference.

 

[noteple]

Same here. Fuzziness of text when browsing or in emails or whatnot in portrait on iPad2 was always there. I was used to it, because it was the best available for iPads, but always noticed.

With the 3rd gen, this text is crisp as anything and is a joy to read. It may be a subtle difference to others who use their iPads differently, but for my usage it is a stark difference.

Absolutely.
Picking up an iPad2 by accident (it was the same color and same case) I wondered what had gone wrong with the display.

 

[Smacky]

Rubbish example. The didn't open a webpage, play a HD video or show a PDF file.

Its like comparing a Ferrari and a Miata without turning the key.

That's a terrible example
An iPad 2 and 3 look the same
A Ferrari and Miata don't

 

[avalys]

Seriously, if you can't tell the difference between the two screens holding the iPad like Steve Jobs was in that photo, you need an eye exam. I mean that literally.

The difference is like night and day, especially for any kind of text.

From the moment I took my iPad 1 out of the box, on launch day two years ago, I was disappointed by the screen resolution. It was always my biggest pet peeve about the device, and doubly so once the iPhone 4 came out.

With the Retina display, the iPad 3 is now perfect for what I use it for.

 

[silversun]

The difference is not that huge...beside crisper texts (for casual users)
Just dont forget that the screen is only 254ppi, while that of iPhone 4/4s has 326ppi. I wasn't impress much when I see the new screen 'cause I'm used to seeing iPhone's screen, 254ppi and 326ppi is a huge difference.

 

[Wagsd]

I personally feel that there is a remarkable difference between the iPad 2 and new iPad. The screen display alone is an incredible upgrade. From web pages to epub to magazine to photos, all fantastic and much improved over iPad 2. I am a huge fan of the iPad 2 and only gave it up due to the fact that my wife really loved it also. My new iPad is functioning wonderfully and i cant understand all the naysayers on this site. I am either very fortunate or the small percentage of the 3 million plus sold already have some slight faults. My 2 cents...

 

[joegleur]

i've got to admit that while the retina screen was clearer (if you look properly), at first glance, i wasnt amazed.

that was a few days ago.

had a quick glance at the iPad 2 now and man can i tell u, once ur eyes go retina, there's no turning back. it's a more gradual "WOW" process with the iPad because i believe 1) some of us are already accustomed to the iPhone 4/4S, 2) the iPad since generation 1 already had pretty good screens unlike the leap from iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4, and finally 3) give it a few days of frequent use and u'll never turn back.

true story.

 

[linkgx1]

The problem is that the iPad 2 screen is not bad to begin with. Yes, I notice the difference, but casual users may not. You need to have some good, practical examples, like an ebook or some pictures that can be compared side by side.

I was going to say this. Most people complained about 2s screen but IMO it was nice.

 

[elmz]

I wasn't impress much when I see the new screen 'cause I'm used to seeing iPhone's screen, 254ppi and 326ppi is a huge difference.

My thoughts exactly. I was a bit disappointed at first, I guess I was expecting something like my 4. But I would be lying if I said I didn't love my new iPad compared to my previous one. I only wished it had the same pixel density...

 

[Roy G Biv]

A double-blind test should be performed with two people blindfolded. I'd be shocked if they could tell which is which.