The iPad 2 is out, and the rumour factory has already moved on: it's predicting iPad 3 specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.
How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?
We've put together a video wishlist of the features we'd like to see in the next iPad
iPad 3 release date
Although numerous sources such asReutersreportedthat the new iPad 3 is due in the fourth quarter of 2011, the signs are it will be early in 2012. However, another rumour believes it could well be November.
On 1 July, Digitimes reported that Taiwanese-based component suppliers were gearing up for production of iPad 3 and iPhone 5.
However, during August, a rumour broke that Apple was set to delay the launch of the iPad 3, due to a shortage of retina displays from its suppliers LG and Samsung.
The exciting news is that it looks as though we will get our Retina Display iPad at last, with Apple reportedly testing suppliers' current shipments of 2048 x 1536 resolution 9.7-inch displays.
The iPad 3 UK release date is a mystery
With Apple unable to meet initial demand for iPad 2, we'd expect a staggered release date for the iPad 3 too: Apple will most likely follow the pattern it has with the previous two iPad launches and do it all in the new year.
The iPad 3 specs include a dual-core processor...
It's possible that the iPad 3 will have a brand spanking new processor, Apple's A6, but if the rumoured release date is correct then time is awfully tight: we'd certainly expect to see an A5, not an A6, in the iPhone 5 when it turns up.
Apple may well surprise us, of course, but we'd expect to see the same processor and graphics as the iPad 2 in the iPad 3: an A5 processor with PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics. This one comes down to the iPad 3 release date: if it's 2011, expect an A5. If it's 2012, see below.
...unless iPad 3 has a quad-core processor
If the A6 is the next stage in the line - and we don't see a new iPad until 2012 - we could also be looking at a quad-core chip from Apple. Quad-core designs will be coming from all ARM partners late this year.
Speaking on 26 August, an analyst said that an A6 couldn't appear in a future iPad until later in 2012.
Your comments (14) Click to add a new comment
aigoostore
September 27th
14. hi thanks for covering all the points but
i think you forgot the 4G LTE.
@tomrowly it can be done if they allowd only a specific formats such as (mp3.wav.avi....etc)
be cause in the iTunes at your pc, you can copy files to your apple device so no harm on making SD slot :)
Long Live iPad.
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maarten12340
September 7th
13. <a href="http://www.ipad3nieuws.nl/geruchten/ipad-3-krijgt-een-betere-en-dunnere-accu/">Sorry, here the link</a>
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maarten12340
September 7th
12. News from Taiwan Economic News, is this the new iPad 3 battery?
http://www.ipad3nieuws.nl/geruchten/ipad-3-krijgt-een-betere-en-dunnere-accu/
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tomrowly
August 8th
11. There is no chance that anything mobile by Apple will allow an SD card slot, because then we'd be able to put whatever files we like on it, and Steve Jobs wouldn't be able to control what we put on it.
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debrskinner
August 1st
10. I wouid like an ipad 3 that has a a place you could put games and Dvds & cds in your Ipad 3 with a cd or dvd burner connection just like a computer the I think of bying one.
Regards Deborah.
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taio101
July 7th
9. The iPad 3 UK release date is a mystery, so we have no idea when it will be released. The iPad 3 specs include a dual-core processor... ...unless iPad 3 has a quad-core processor of course. iPad 3 might come with a retina display... unless Rumours of an HD screen turn out to be true... or it could launch with a Samsung-made AMOLED screen. 128GB option for the iPad 3 isn't impossible - although that might depend on the current horrible situation in Asia, so really, we have no clue of the storage capabilities of the iPad3... what a pointless article; you could mind as well write about the iPad 8 or 9 or 12.
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earthen80
July 7th
8. I don't care, Apple is not getting my money. Their toys are too expensive
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michelle259
May 23rd
7. First it was iPhone 4S OR iPhone 5 and now it is the turn of iPad 3 to fall into the rumors. The rumors market is getting hotter day by day. If relying on these rumors, September will be a big month for Apple.
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wigwam_salesman
May 21st
6. @windymiller - that's a bit different because phones are considered disposable devices after 18 months to two years.
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rmb0037
March 28th
5. Steve jobs said very clearly in his keynote introducing iPad 2 that "2011 is the year of iPad 2." iPad 3 will wait til next year. BUT...they could do something with the itouch since it's new year rollout is September...
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windymiller
March 25th
4. "All I would add is that the iPad 1 will stand up for some years to come."
No it will not.
Support for the iphone 3g lasted a month over two and a half years.I'll be surprised if the ipad 1 makes it to two.
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backstroker
March 23rd
3. IF (and it's a very big if) this is anything like true and the unnamed source is right about the iPad 2 being a rush job, it's an interesting cast on the "everyone's following Apple" schtick.
While this might be true about pricing decisions (see the Samsung and Blackberry announcements), technical and development planning needs a bit more lead time. It's at least likely that the reverse is the case when it comes to getting stuff to market, brilliant though Apple has been in the past when it's been in control of its own destiny. There was no way of knowing that the Android brigade would be so relatively slow off the mark, and the early iPad 2 release with a possible 6 months life (and the real chance that some buyers will hold off for iPad 3 and be lost in the interim) could be interpreted as a risky grab for market share in the face of anticipated competition.
The next 6 months are going to be really interesting.
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theengineroom
March 23rd
2. Apple is great at evolutionary products so I'm not sure what the fuss is about. So what if it's release date is September!
All I would add is that the iPad 1 will stand up for some years to come. You can't say that about any other 1st gen tablets.
Dan from www.theengineroom.co.uk
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chisy
March 23rd
1. rubbish...what about the issue of Jobs saying "2011 - year of iPad 2" or did I just daydream this quote?
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