iPad 2,4: moves to 32nm, improves battery life

[timko] · 5 May 2012 at 09:50

That's right, it's a revision of the iPad 2 and Apple are using a 32nm based A5 whereas previous models were 45nm.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5789/the-ipad-24-review-32nm-a5-tested/

For those out to hunt down one of these new 32nm based iPad 2 units, there's no way to tell from the box that you'll be getting one on the new process. The only way to tell is to fire up Geekbench, Battery Life Pro, etc and look at the model number listed in there.

With plenty of 45nm stock around everywhere I'd say it would take a few months before there's better chance of getting a 32nm one.

Elim · 5 May 2012 at 16:29

interesting ive just ordered an ipad recently, hoping its this new model

has anyone else brought one recently?

regulus · 5 May 2012 at 17:13

Bought the new Ipad recently. Battery life seems fine. Only complaint I have is that it takes FOREVER to charge. Bought my gf the iPad 2 last year and hers seems to charge 50% faster than mine. Anyway, I just leave it charging through the night so don't really have to wait for the charge then.

Minstadave · 5 May 2012 at 17:19

The capacity of the ipad 3 battery is almost double that of the ipad 2 to compensate for the faster GPU needed so it takes twice as long to charge.

kona786 · 5 May 2012 at 21:59

Minstadave said:
The capacity of the ipad 3 battery is almost double that of the ipad 2 to compensate for the faster GPU needed so it takes twice as long to charge.

moreso to compensate for the screen.

Minstadave · 5 May 2012 at 22:02

kona786 said:
moreso to compensate for the screen.

Screen won't use anymore energy than the previous one will it? Pretty sure it's the gpu having to push all the pixels that kills the battery life.

FreeStream · 5 May 2012 at 22:18

Minstadave said:
Screen won't use anymore energy than the previous one will it? Pretty sure it's the gpu having to push all the pixels that kills the battery life.

Denser pixels need higher lux from the backlight.

So brighter backlight + gpu = same battery life as iPad 2.

kona786 · 5 May 2012 at 22:20

Yup - backlight was beefed up to keep up the brightness.