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iFixit Takes a Closer Look at the 'iPad 3 Retina Display'

Thursday February 23, 2012 9:14 am PST by Eric Slivka
Last week, we reported that we had been able to obtain a 9.7-inch display claimed to be for the iPad 3, confirming through microscopic analysis that the display offers twice the linear resolution and four times the total number of pixels as the iPad 2.


iFixit's comparison of iPad 2 and iPad 3 display pixels

We've since shared the display with our friends at iFixit to see if they could power the screen and otherwise take a closer look at it. Unfortunately, with the different connector on the new display, iFixit was unable to directly hook the display up to the guts of an iPad 2. Meanwhile, efforts to map the pins of the two displays in an attempt to jury-rig the iPad 3 display were believed to be too substantial to undertake with the limited time and no guarantees of success. iFixit was, however, able to confirm our findings of an ultra-high resolution display that quadruples the number of pixels over the previous-generation iPads.


In this new video overview of the iPad 3 display, iFixit confirms the higher (2048x1536) resolution, the modified connector, and tweaked retaining clips as compared to the iPad 2 display.


Display connectors from iPad 2 (left) and iPad 3 (right)

Apple is expected to introduce the iPad 3 with a media event on March 7. Beyond the display, photos of a number of claimed parts for the device, including the logic board and front glass/digitizer, have leaked in recent weeks, offering some reasonable evidence of what can be expected in the updated models.
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cambookpro
16 months ago
, Apple!
Rating: 30 Positives
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arcite
16 months ago


:D:apple: This never gets old.
Rating: 27 Positives
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URFloorMatt
16 months ago
Is it really jury rigged? Always thought it was jerry rigged.
Rating: 16 Positives
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Icaras
16 months ago
Her "quoting" the "iPad 3 display" got old and annoying "real fast".

"Facepalm".
Rating: 15 Positives
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Chupa Chupa
16 months ago
Here's what I take away from the video:

1. New screen is lighter + presumed larger, heavier battery = overall same weight as iPad 2.

2. Apple/iPad h8trs are going to mitch and boan that Apple is changing the definition of "Retina" for marketing purposes...even though the whole Retina name is only a marketing moniker and not a technical term. Realistically, HD is HD so who cares if it's 240 or 300. It reminds me of the nitpicking "audiophiles" do when your stereo can't reproduce frequencies a dog can dance to.

3. My belief is reconfirmed that if there were more adorkable "geek girls" instead of plastic look-at-me Kim Kardashian types the world be a better place to live in.
Rating: 13 Positives
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Peace
16 months ago
Couldn't iFixIt just buy the connector from the same place arn got the display ?
Rating: 12 Positives
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myrtlebee
16 months ago
Wish they could have figured out some way to connect it!
Rating: 11 Positives
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ForzaJuve
16 months ago
Come on frigging iFixit amaterus, hire a serious electronic engineer and power it up already!
Rating: 11 Positives
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WhoDaKat
16 months ago



I've been with iphone since day one but every year for the past couple years around this "eminent announcement" drama time period I start to consider my Android options. I mean SERIOUSLY consider them (can you say Samsung Note!). The whole veil of secrecy thing with Apple was kinda cool at first. Now it's just starting to piss me off. The 4S was the first time I didn't upgrade. And I have a feeling there are legions like me who didn't upgrade either. Don't care how much money they're making, the faithful are becoming a bit weary and less tolerant of these half-step upgrades. iPad 3 and iPhone 6 (or "5" or "Pro" or whatever the hell they wanna call it) better REVOLUTIONIZE because the evolutionary thing has gotten lame!!!


So the new iPhone needs to revolutionize smart phones? Or you'll go to an Android.. are they revolutionizing smart phones? Why do you demand so much from one company but not the others? You clearly aren't one of the "faithful", and as honesty doesn't go hand in hand with anonymity on the net you can spare me the rebuttal but I'd hazard to guess your first iPhone was also your first Apple product. Secrecy isn't new for Apple. Its always been that way.

When you crank out plastic pieces of #%@$, then it doesn't really matter if you release info early, cause no one wants to copy your plastic piece of #$%@.

Thats also why you get a iPhone 3G, and then the 3GS, or the 4 and then the 4S, cause you can't reinvent the wheel every 6 months, nor would I want them to try! Good design doesn't come at Quickie Mart, it takes time and patience. Thats why Ives builds my devices and you whine that the 2nd best selling cell phone of all time looks like the best selling phone of all time.

Finally, legions of people didn't upgrade from the 4 to the 4S? lulz So who did? Cause they are selling quite a few of them last time I checked. Do us a favor, buy yourself a Samsung Whatever, get your giant screen, get your stylus.
Rating: 11 Positives
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Michael Scrip
16 months ago

I wish people would stop diluting the "retina" term. Retina requires a density of 300 or higher, per the great Steve himself. I don't care if the distance is greater for the iPad. Guess what, my viewing distance to my TV is about 6 feet and I can't see those individual pixels from that distance. Does that make it a "retina" display?


It’s not just PPI….. it’s PPI + viewing distance.

Here’s how Steve explained it at the keynote:



I’m assuming Apple thinks phones should be held 10-12 inches from your face… and tablets 15-18 inches from your face.

But whether the new iPad is labeled “Retina” or not… 2048×1536 will look amazing. It will be a much appreciated improvement.
Rating: 10 Positives

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