The new iPad has gone on sale in the UK with hundreds queuing and thousands ordering online as Apple fans looked to embrace Apple's new tablet.

The model, dubbed the "new iPad", adds a new high-res screen, faster processor and, for American customers, 4G connectivity.

From the early Apple iPad reviews, Pocket-lint's included, the new iPad has been well received by the gadget industry with many pleased with the devices performance. 

"Look, you either want an iPad or you don’t. There’s no pressure to buy one. But the Retina Display makes this so far and away the best release yet, this is a great time to climb on board the iPad train. It certainly gets more right than wrong," said David Phelan, in our Apple iPad (3rd generation) review. "The dedicated apps now number 200,000, way higher than rivals. The hardware remains gloriously well designed and works with great efficiency. And an iPad is a gadget which quickly becomes essential, even though it stays luxurious.Seriously, what are you waiting for?"

 

There has been concern in the UK about the confusion over the device still being labelled 4G even though the UK doesn't have a 4G network and the new iPad won't work on the UK's 4G network when it does arrive, possibly later this year.

To confirm, the new iPad won't work with the UK 4G network, but how fast will it surf the web in the UK? You can check out the theoretical speeds in our feature looking at the different networks in the UK. 

That news didn't stop Ali and Zohaib waiting outside the Regent Street store since Sunday, nor others in the UK and around the world.

The clamour to be one of the first to get the new iPad meant that some were happy to pay what many will see as over the odds just to be in the queue for the new tablet.

Stephen Parkes was paid more than £600 by the founder of an odd jobs website in Sydney to wait in line for four days.

But the very first customer in the world to buy the new device was 34-year-old construction manager David Tarasenko, who grabbed one at midnight at a Telstra store in Melbourne, Australia.

Yep we aren't sure why do people queue for an iPad either?

And if you are wondering what's inside, repair site iFixit has you covered on that one too. According to the site, which has already taken it apart, the new iPad is mostly battery, with Apple doing as much as it can to ensure that even with the new tech the iPad lasts as long as the iPad 2.

"Next to the logic board is a gigantic battery, which takes most of the space inside the iPad. While the iPad 2 housed a formidable 25 watt-hour Li-ion battery, the iPad 3 has upped the ante to the tune of 42.5 watt-hours. The additional capacity was accomplished by increasing the physical size, not with new battery technology," Kyle Wiens told Pocket-lint.

For those that like specs the new iPad has the following says iFixit:

- Dual-core Apple A5X processor with integrated quad-core graphics

- 9.7 inch LED backlit in-plane switching LCD with 2048×1536 pixel "Retina Display." Our unit is made by Samsung; we hear that Sharp and LG may be supplying panels at a later date.

- 16, 32 or 64 GB Toshiba NAND flash memory

- 5 MP HD rear-facing camera

- 1 GB DRAM comprised of two 4Gb Elpida LP DDR2 parts

- Broadcom BCM4330 802.11a/b/g/n Baseband/Radio with Integrated Bluetooth 4.0+HS

- Qualcomm MDM9600 3G and 4G wireless modem (not the expected 2nd generation MDM9615)

- Qualcomm RTR8600 multi-band/mode RF transceiver for LTE bands

But it's not just the specs that have been upgraded. Many of your favourite apps have had a boost in capabilities too, with apps like Amazon's Kindle app, Evernote, Tweetbot and others getting an increase in graphics quality to benefit from the new display.

Here are our suggestions for the Best new iPad apps to show off the Retina Display.

The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white with prices starting from £399 for the 16GB model, £479 for the 32GB model and £559 for the 64GB model.

iPad Wi-Fi + 4G will be available for a suggested retail price of £499 for the 16GB model, £579 for the 32GB model and £659 for the 64GB model.

iPad will be sold in the UK through the Apple Store, the major phone operators in the UK, and other places such as John Lewis.

iPad will also be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland and the US Virgin Islands on Friday, March 16. 

In a move that is likely to confuse, the current iPad - the iPad 2 - is getting a price drop. It now costs £329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and £429 for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model. There will not be 32GB or 64GB versions.

Network operator Three has revealed the prices it will be offering for the new iPad. And the up front cost of the latest Apple tablet starts at £99.

For a 16GB Wi-Fi + 4G version of the Retina Display-touting new iPad (formerly known as iPad 3) will set you back £99 plus £29 per month on a 24 month contract. Alternatively, if you sign for a £25 per month, 24 month contract, it will cost £159.

A 32GB Wi-Fi + 4G version will cost £169 up front on a £29pm, 24 month contract, £229 at £25pm. While the 64GB version will be £249 up front, £29pm for two years, £299 up front, £25pm.

All of the contracts have 15GB monthly allowances.

Vodafone is offering a 24 month contract with 2GB 3G + 1GB BT Openzone for £27 a month if you play £199 up front for the 16GB model, £275 for the 32GB model and £345 for the 64GB model.