What are the download speed capabilities of iPad 3?

[caverman]

I'm trying to decide if I want to spend the extra money on an iPad 4 vs a refurbished iPad 3. Besides the faster processor on the iPad 4 one to the advantages is supposed to be a better WiFi capability. I'm curious if there would really be a need though. They say iPad 4 can get up to 150 mbps but I have the highest FIOS right now and it's 75 mbps so I'll never get to those max speeds for a while.

Anyone know what the maximum speed the iPad 3 can download at?

 

[Skull One]

That question is unanswerable because of how many variables that are involved. To illustrate:

1) Encryption protocol used.
2) Frequency used.
3) Channel used.
4) Distance between devices.
5) EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) present.
6) Antenna used (2 dBi, 5 dBi, 9 dBi) and is there a booster.

Hopefully you get the idea. Now can I give you a decent answer? No. Can I give you insight? Hopefully.

Do this electronics stuff for a living. And I have never been able to get my iPad 3 above 35 mbits sustained on my Fios setup (tests at 85/37 on a hard line). The iPad 3 and 4 only need about 5 mbits top to play back HD video content. And since apps download in background, at 25mbit sustained connection would allow you to download 1 gigabytes in less than 6 minutes.

So while it is very possible that the iPad 4 can be faster, I don't see much of a reason for it other than as marketing fodder.

 

[caverman]

Actually that was what I was looking for and thought as well. Basically just because the iPad 4 can make faster connections doesn't mean it will. I also figured that like you mentioned, even if it was connected at a lower speed it's still going to be plenty fast enough to do what we need.

Now I'm just in a toss up of iPad 3 for $400 or the new Nexus 10 for $400.