The features of the new tablet
The screen diagonal remains the same as that of the iPad 2.
The thickness of the device has increased slightly from 8,8 mm to 9,4 mm. The same goes for the weight, from 590 grams to 640.
The dual-core A5 processor is being replaced by the quad-core A5X
The new screen reaches the density of the iPhone Retina screens: It offers a resolution of 2.048 × 1.536 pixels, or 264 pixels per inch.
The combination of the screen and the processor makes the tablet ideal for gaming, says Apple.
The rear camera has been upgraded to take advantage of the new screen. It now offers 5 Mpixel resolution and is recorded in high resolution 1080p.
The new tablet also supports fourth generation LTE networks. In the US, it will be available in two different versions for AT&T and Verizon networks.
The battery has the same duration, about ten hours, but drops to about nine hours on 4G networks.
The new iPad can now serve as a personal hotspot for wireless networks.
Prices for the third-generation iPad remain at the same level as the previous model, from $ 499 to $ 829 in the US, depending on memory and networking capabilities.
The iPad 2 remains on the market but at reduced prices, from $ 399.
The new tablet will go on sale on March 16 in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Japan.
At Apple's presentation in San Francisco, CEO Tim Cook emphasized the iPad-only apps, not the "more than 100 other tablets" introduced last year.
Cook also showed a Samsung Android tablet, commenting that it looks like an "enlarged smartphone".
The Apple boss also unveiled the upgraded Apple TV, a wireless peripheral that connects the company's devices to the TV.
Apple TV now offers high resolution at 1080p and supports online services such as YouTube, Netflix, Vimeo and Flickr.
The price remains the same at $ 99.
Cook also announced that iOS 5.1 for the iPad, iPhone and iPod will be available immediately.
The new version offers, among other things, the voice command and Siri search function in Japanese.