Though the iPad has been a solid category of products, the 3rd-generation iPad truly stands out for its short lifespan.
The 3rd-Generation iPad Introduced the Retina display on a Tablet, But it had too Many Issues
Apple had to rethink its silicon when it launched the 3rd-generation iPad back in March of 2012. Since it had a Retina display, Apple decided to give it a brand-new chip called the A5X.
What made this chip different from everything else Apple was quad-core graphics. And it made sense too, because this iPad had way too many pixels to drive on the display. The regular chip from the iPhone wasn’t going to cut it one bit.
The tablet had a 30-pin connector at the bottom for charging and transferring data. And it was obvious why Apple took that decision too, because the iPhone 4s at the time had the same port. So, one cable to charge all of your Apple ecosystem.
In September 2012, Apple announced the iPhone 5, and with that, the Lightning port. It has a huge leap forward because Lightning was faster and way more durable than the 30-pin connector.
It was safe to assume that future Apple devices would transition to the new port, too.
However, right after the iPhone, Apple held another event in October of 2012. This time, it surprised everyone with the announcement of the 4th-generation iPad.
That’s right, folks, the 3rd-generation had a total life of 7 months, and Apple replaced it with a newer model.
The thing that made the new iPad stand out was the Lightning port and a brand-new chip called the A6X. Obviously, the chip was faster and better.
The 3rd-generation iPad was packed with issues, a little too many for an iOS device. Ask any former owner right now, and they’ll tell you the tablet was a mess. This was one of those iPads that got really, really hot after a few minutes of usage.
My experience with the 3rd-generation iPad was so bad that I sold the device and never bought another iPad until the iPad Air came out. I waited for reviews to confirm that the Air was indeed the iPad I was hoping it would be. Thankfully, it was.
Whenever I look back at the iPad 3, it fascinates me that an Apple product could be so good and yet so bad at the same time.
