New iPad - India Prices & FAQ

NEW DELHI, INDIA: As Apple announces iPad launch date and pricing for India, here are some of the iPad questions landing up with me over the past few weeks…

When is the new iPad coming to India?

On April 27, 2012 (same month as last year — the iPad 2 came in on April 3, 2011, when I bought mine.

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What’s new about the new iPad?

Stunning new retina display, 4G, much better rear camera (5 Mpxl, same as the old iPhone 4)

What does it cost?

The prices are higher than the iPad 2 used to be before its prices were dropped last month, thanks to a higher exchange rate. The cheapest new model is Rs 30.5k (versus Rs 29.5k earlier), and the most expensive model is Rs 50.9k (versus 46.9k earlier).

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Will the iPad 2 still be available?

When the new iPad comes in, the iPad 2 gets discontinued in all its models but for the two base versions, the 16GB wi-fi and 3G models. For now, you can still buy the iPad 2, though not all models are available everywhere.

Which iPad should I buy, the iPad 2 or the new iPad?

The iPad 2 remains an excellent device for most users; it now has very good value at Rs 24.5k for the base wi-fi version; the 3G version is the better choice, even if you don’t want to immediately use 3G service. The new iPad would make sense if you were looking for serious photo or video editing, or if you really wanted to use the iPad’s camera for photos (unlikely). When newer apps come out that use the higher power and display, this response could change.

How much storage/memory do I need?

32 GB is a safe bet for most users, but you can make do with 16 GB too, given that you would store most of your files on external storage. Even if you want to watch movies on the iPad, you could keep 5- 6 movies on your 16 GB model and cycle new ones in. If, however, you want to really carry a lot of photos and videos on your iPad itself, then the 32 GB or even the 64 GB is a good idea.

When should I buy?

Right now, if you want the iPad 2. It won’t be around post April, barring the 16 GB base versions. After April 27, if you want the new iPad. Other than that, anytime. Waiting for longer will not get you better prices, going by Apple’s history.

I’ve heard the new iPad heats up…?

The new iPad runs much warmer than the iPad2, thanks to its higher power dual-core processor, quad-core graphics chip, and super-res Retina display that has more powered pixels and brighter backlighting. This does not really affect performance or usability, though we need to see how this works out in warmer Indian summers. However, all this does reflect higher power use, which is compensated for by a really heavy-duty battery that’s 75 per cent higher capacity than on the iPad2, to keep performance at the same 8-10 hour level of the iPad2. Sort of like Alice and having to run really fast to stay where you are.

Will the new iPad work on our 4G networks in India?

4G isn’t really around yet, barring the early launch in Kolkata, so we haven’t tried this out. Airtel says it should work with the new iPad. However, on average, don’t expect dramatic speed increase unless the telcos really provision heavy duty bandwidth at the back end — for the same reason that even 3G is not good enough most of the time to really watch videos, especially in crowded metros like Gurgaon. The other spoiler will be high prices or low data caps. Watch this space.

(The author is President and Chief Editor at CyberMedia’s ICT Group)