Apple Customers Have Hard Time Discerning Between iPad 2 and the New iPad

[Anthony Bouchard]

The new iPad, holding the packed pixel density of a retina display, is apparently still hard to discern from the iPad 2, which doesn’t have a retina display. The Next Web held an interesting test outside of their local Apple Store, asking random Apple Store window shoppers and customers which iPad they thought was the new one after being held side by side.

Obviously, either the retina display or the larger circumference of the five-megapixel camera on the rear of the new iPad would be the two easiest ways to discern the new iPad from the older iPad 2 from a quick glance. In this test, the guinea pigs were not exposed to the rear of the new iPad and therefore could not see the new camera. Instead, they were only exposed to the retina display and were asked to tell which screen appeared sharper to them.

In a surprising turn of events, many people pointed out the iPad 2 instead of the new iPad. It’s an interesting set of results, as putting an iPhone 4 and an iPhone 3GS side by side, you can see the screen difference immediately. Perhaps the big difference had to do with the distance from the two tablets to the guinea pigs’ eyes, which would have made seeing pixels in both screens hard to see whether it was a retina display or not. Only a few brave people got really close to the screens to see the difference.

Both screens on the two tablets had exactly the same appearance setup, meaning it was a fair comparison. Why couldn’t people tell between the two? There could be many reasons like, they have not seen the new iPad online to know what’s new about it, or they might not have good enough eyesight to see the difference. Your guess is as good as mine on this one.

Sources: The Next Web

[hogcia]

They do that in my neighborhood and those iPads would get Jacked!

[Simon]

Apparently a lot of people have crappy eyesight lol

[kadarrius]

They do that in my neighborhood and those iPads would get Jacked!

mod edit: do not insult others or use derogatory terms

[sziklassy]

They do that in my neighborhood and those iPads would get Jacked!

Maybe you should move out of the slums.

[zinjen]

Apparently a lot of people have crappy eyesight lol

Not at all actually, I have perfect 20/20 vision and have both the iPad 2 & the new Ipad.... there is hardly a difference visually, mainly the differences in performance and my "New iPad" gets warm very quickly.

To be honest, I'm actually thinking about sticking with my iPad 2

[frankdogg]

I don't own the new ipad but from what I've seen, wouldn't you need to show an actual webpage with text and pictures loaded to utilize the new retina display? I mean i feel like just showing the homescreen won't put the retina display to it's intended use. I could be wrong though

[Simon]

Not at all actually, I have perfect 20/20 vision and have both the iPad 2 & the new Ipad.... there is hardly a difference visually, mainly the differences in performance and my "New iPad" gets warm very quickly.

To be honest, I'm actually thinking about sticking with my iPad 2

Really? I'm gonna have to compare the two side by side when I get home (just got my new iPad today). I could definitely tell a difference when I first saw the new one (or maybe its all in my head lol).

[cpotoso]

I have 20/15 vision, and can't really see the pixels in the ipad2 unless I make an effort. Hence, what's the point of the retina display? (answer: marketing)

[trek-life]

Maybe you should move out of the slums.

Why? He didn't say he hated it, he just said what would happen.

[recognition]

I have 20/15 vision, and can't really see the pixels in the ipad2 unless I make an effort. Hence, what's the point of the retina display? (answer: marketing)

You might as well ask yourself whats the point of 1080p tv when I can't see pixels at 720p...

[BhadKarma]

... Oh

Edit: I was being blind to that mod edit

[Simon]

That's called real life. Not detogatory.
My hood would track star that stuff

His post was edited, that isnt what he originally posted.

[MiSTRFiNGA]

You might as well ask yourself whats the point of 1080p tv when I can't see pixels at 720p...

You ever stop to think maybe it's because the home screen your showing has not had any changes to the graphics to make it obvious? Kinda like playing a DVD on your brand new 1080p 3D TV, wont show off the new TV's power untill you put in a Bluray 3D movie created for the TV...

[golf4life80]

You ever stop to think maybe it's because the home screen your showing has not had any changes to the graphics to make it obvious? Kinda like playing a DVD on your brand new 1080p 3D TV, wont show off the new TV's power untill you put in a Bluray 3D movie created for the TV...

This is my thought. What are they showing on the screen for the two? If its the same source and not optimized for the new iPad, of course you won't notice a difference.

[JesseDegenerate]

Not at all actually, I have perfect 20/20 vision and have both the iPad 2 & the new Ipad.... there is hardly a difference visually, mainly the differences in performance and my "New iPad" gets warm very quickly.

To be honest, I'm actually thinking about sticking with my iPad 2

i have both too, and the difference is so large that i have a real hard time with this article and your claims. Maybe you think you have 20/20 vision? I know i thought my vision was a lot better than it was before i had lasik.

[Aumz]

Well that is easy to understand considering 99% of Apple users are computer idiots.

[PanicAttack]

This test is just stupid, of course people are not going to be able to tell the difference between the iPad2 and new iPad home screen. Like someone said before you need to create a better test, use a picture downloaded of the net then get them to chose.

[zinjen]

i have both too, and the difference is so large that i have a real hard time with this article and your claims. Maybe you think you have 20/20 vision? I know i thought my vision was a lot better than it was before i had lasik.

Well I'm not alone But to be clear, there is a difference but IMO it's miniscule and not worth upgrading from an iPad 2 if "Retina Display" is your #1 feat. From an iPad 1, definetely but so far the performance is the only thing keeping me on it... it feels like more of a "nice to have" than a "must have".

This test is just stupid, of course people are not going to be able to tell the difference between the iPad2 and new iPad home screen. Like someone said before you need to create a better test, use a picture downloaded of the net then get them to chose.

The on-board graphic files have been optimized to meet the new display, there is no need to open a browser. Hence why on the iPhone 4+, all image files have been modified to have an @2x.png to meet the resolution.

[snake666]

When i used my friends ipad 2 a while ago the 1st thing i noticed was the pixels, thats why i woudnt get an ipad 2.. Retina is a must have