Why Apple had to make the iPad 4 this soon?

Six months after Apple announced the new iPad (or more commonly referred to as the iPad 3), they now announce its successor — the iPad 4. Six months is really too close to introduce a new model so we wonder why.

We looked at possible reasons why Apple would anger owners of the iPad 3 and found very few compelling reasons.

A new processor. Apple introduced the dual-core A6X chip with the iPad 4. This offered much better graphics performance to the tablet although we believe the quad-core graphics on the iPad 3 was enough to run hi-def games on its Retina Display.

A new connector. Just like the iPhone 5 and the new 5th-gen iPod Touch, the iPad 4 now uses a Lightning connector. It makes all three product lines more uniform. However, we don’t really see the point in rushing a new iPad just to adhere to the new connector port.

New LTE bands? The iPad 3 came out with LTE but a lot of global networks did not have support for it (we reckon the iPad 3 LTE may not be compatible with local networks). However, when we checked the LTE bands supported by the iPad 4, it still indicates Band 4 and Band 17. That’s 700MHz and 2100MHz which is still the same as the old one. That rules out LTE band support as the reason.

We’re really stumped and don’t know why Apple would release a new iPad six months after announcing one. If this is a trend, are we expecting the iPad 6 sometime in March or April of 2013? That’s too close right?

One other thing, Microsoft is set to announce Windows 8 and along with it, the Surface tablet. Is this Apple’s way of somehow stealing a little thunder from Microsoft’s biggest push in the tablet market? If so, then the iPad 4 makes sense.

What do you guys think?

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

58 Comments

Ghost Riley says:

12 years ago

Because they’re Apple.
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steelicon says:

12 years ago

Bottom line = MONEY.
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j0hn Smith says:

12 years ago

Looks like the apple folks to be left behind in “releasing” this month.
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j0hn smith says:

12 years ago

Looks like the apple folks didnt want to be left behind in “releasing” this month.

benchmark says:

12 years ago

maybe dahil medyo marami nang labanan sa patent wars, unahan lang sa pagpublic nang gadgets nila.

then again, I think wala na din silang maisip or mailagay sa kanilang gadgets, so it’s just speed na lang ang labanan.

Gawin na lang kaya nila ang ipad upgradable ang mga internal components…hehehe

just an idea… :)
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zgkent says:

12 years ago

Not worth buying, just another trick to divert attention from MS’s Win 8…

just noticed lately that apple’s products have’nt got new innovation or breakthroughs.. ^_^
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jonski22 says:

12 years ago

Apple’s magic is gone when Steve Jobs dies. They just want to make more money before Apple start crumbling again…
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chopotka says:

12 years ago

As usual, take this with a grain of salt. It’s a marketing ploy. Next thing we know, iPad 5 will be out this December. LOL
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simplynice93 says:

12 years ago

I agree! It’s a way to boost Apple income and hit their financial targets for this quarter. I feel sorry for the Apple fanatics since they need to spend more than usual.

ak47 says:

12 years ago

maganda din ang dulot ng bagong ipad dahil, mag dodrop ang price ng luma
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Dan says:

12 years ago

Correct!
Docalfred says:

12 years ago

Sorry, they’ve just phase-out the New ipad and retain ipad2 so no movement in price to be expected. Except sa black market.
bobby says:

12 years ago

Exactly not the case. Apple has stopped the production of iPad 3 to give way to iPad 4. So what’s available in Apple Store now are iPad Mini, iPad 2, and this new iPad (iPad 3 eliminated in the picture). So it’s alright for iPad 3 users to feel cheated.
Jay says:

12 years ago

Apple is the master at phasing out old and phasing in new products. A month before the announcement, my supplier has informed me they are already out of stock of some iPad variants. Lo, and behold, 1 month later, Apple announces iPad 4. Other manufacturers have to struggle with excess stocks of previous models, but not Apple.
chopotka says:

12 years ago

My officemate bought his iPad 3 two weeks ago, imagine the disappoint, LOL. He’s trying all the tricks in book bluffing the store (seller), as if the store is at fault.

On a another note, if Steve was still alive, this would not have happened. Definitely, a strategic blunder of stupendous proportions. Now, if he can only comeback from the dead.

AlainL says:

12 years ago

Nakaramdam sila ng takot. Wala nang confidence ang Apple para antayin ang normal cycle nila. LOL.
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phil says:

12 years ago

Agree! They said 7″inch tablet has no use. But after seeing the sales of Nexus 7 and Kindle, they release their own 7″version.

And that 3.5″ screen is the perfect size for smartphone and anything bigger than that is just a waste. But after seeing how the market adopt t bigger display, they followed.