The new iPad takes 9 hours to charge when fully drained, not seven. DisplayMate found out that Apple’s high-resolution tablet lies about its charging state, prompting users that it’s 100% charged two hours earlier than it actually is. While other smartphones and tablets do the same, we could all agree that a two-hour difference is too much. Dr. Raymond Soneira of DisplayMate Technologies discovered the new iPad’s inaccuracy after testing its display and tipped PC Mag about it.
In an email addressed to PC Mag, Soneira explains the new iPad’s battery level indicator – as shown on the screen – says it is charged 100%, 2 hours and 10 minutes before it actually reaches that capacity. In a follow-up email, he downplays it and says “Other tablets and smartphones also lie about their charging status.” Being the display analyst that he is, Soneira attributes the new iPad’s inaccurate battery-charge display algorithm as the root cause. If the new iPad had a larger battery, this wouldn’t be a problem.
The new iPad has a 2048 X 1536 pixel display – double the resolution of iPad 2. It has 7-watt backlights compared to the 2.8-watt backlights used in iPad 2. Ironically, the new iPad uses the same power adapter and has an identical internal charging circuitry to last year’s release. Soneira explains that this causes the new iPad’s inaccurate battery level indicator, giving it an actual charging time of 9 hours from a fully-drained state. This isn’t the first time Apple screwed up an indicator. The controversial antennagate of iPhone 4 kept showing high cell signals even though there was little or no signal. Apple admitted that and issued an update to fix it.
So there you have it folks. If you have a fully-drained new iPad, it takes 9 hours of charging. Don’t mind the indicator telling you it’s done charging 7 hours after plugging it in. Keep it plugged for two more hours if you want to enjoy its 12.8-hour battery life.
via PCMag
