Apple unveils new iPad with super-sharp display

New features include Retina display, faster chip and 4G connection

Apple has unveiled its latest, most powerful iPad, which boasts a display that is even sharper than high definition TV.

The new iPad, the third to be released in as many years, features an A5X chip that Apple says has double the graphics performance of the A5 chip used on the iPad 2 and iPhone 4s, a super-sharp Retina display, high-speed 4G wireless connectivity, the latest update to Apple's operating system – iOS 5.1 – and a 5 megapixel camera.

The new iPad is slightly thicker than its predecessor at 9.4mm, with the weight of the Wi-Fi only model also increasing slightly from 600g to 650g.

"The new iPad redefines the category Apple created less than two years ago, delivering the most amazing experience people have ever had with technology," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

The new iPad will ship in the UK on 16 March, with prices ranging from £399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only version to £659 for the 64GB 4G-enabled device.