Wall Street Journal Confirms Early 2012 iPad 3 with Retina Display

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In case you still had doubts, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is indeed working on its next generation iPad for early 2012. The newspaper also seems to confirm the 2048x1536 Retina display that has been long rumored.

The next generation iPad is expected to feature a high resolution display - 2048 by 1536 compared with 1024 by 768 in the iPad 2 - and Apple's suppliers have already shipped small quantities of components for the sampling of the iPad 3. Suppliers said Apple has placed orders for a 9.7-inch screen device.

According to "people familiar with the situation", Apple is aiming to launch the iPad 3 in early 2012.

The Wall Street Journal's sources also indicate that a trial run will begin in October and that Apple has already started placing orders for many of the key components for the next iPad.

While the report doesn't seem to add much new information, it does add a more credible voice to the rumors coming out of China about Apple's iPad 3.

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Top Rated Comments

miles01110 Avatar
189 months ago
At this point I don't know why anyone would expect there to not be a retina display.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmpnop Avatar
189 months ago
New iPad featuring a higher-res screen in early 2012? Thats obvious...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
189 months ago
and I was thinking of purchasing an iPad 2 this weekend...

You should buy one. I doubt the iPad3 is going to come out this year. I'm almost certain the iPad3 will be out next year in February or March. If I'm right, that means you'll have to wait six or seven months. And anyway, when the new iPad comes out, you can just sell the iPad2 you'd already have :)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
189 months ago
Hardly a great leap of faith by WSJ to believe that. iPad 2 was out in March this year so 9-12 months later is perfectly fine for the next iteration.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mabaker Avatar
189 months ago
I also predict iPhone 5 this fall.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
189 months ago

I'd expect the low-end Retina iPad 3 (16GB without 3G) to cost at least as much as the high-end iPad 2 (64GB with 3G). I mean, I'd love to see the Retina version to replace the current product line at the same price level, but let's be realistic here: That's just not possible.

Then you don't follow Apple very much. They normally keep prices the same, and introduce new features. Technology gets cheaper as time passes. How were they able to make the iPad 2 at the same price as the iPad, when they included 2 cameras, a much faster A5 processor, and made it 33% thinner? Same price as the older one. Magic, or simply the price of everything getting cheaper?

You seriously expect the base 16GB iPad 3 to be MORE THAN $829? Not being rude, but are you new to computers?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)