ipad 2 boxThe Wall Street Journal briefly reports on a research note from Hong Kong-based analyst firm CLSA claiming that checks with Apple's suppliers indicate that the next-generation iPad will debut before the end of this year, in time for the holiday shopping rush. According to the report, the updated iPad will include improvements to the display and LTE compatibility for cellular data use.

While most vendors appear fixated on matching the specs and features of iPad2, our checks suggest Apple will release iPad3 in time for the holiday season, sporting a better display and LTE capabilities.

Rumors surfacing right around the time of the iPad 2's debut earlier this year had indicated that Apple could be planning to release yet another update to the device around the September timeframe. Excitement around those rumors has since been tempered amid reports that the next-generation iPad is unlikely to debut this year. Recent reports have claimed that Apple is just now beginning the certification process for components to be used in the next-generation iPad, with a timetable putting the device's launch into 2012.

CLSA does not have a significant track record of supply chain rumors regarding Apple's products, and thus it is not entirely clear why The Wall Street Journal has chosen to highlight the firm's report. In addition, claims of LTE compatibility for an iPad to be released before the end of the year appear to conflict with Qualcomm's development timeline for Apple-suitable LTE chips that will not begin sampling until late this year and will not appear in devices until 2012. Consequently, we are primarily pointing to CLSA's report for interest and discussion.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tag: CLSA
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

newbreed23 Avatar
183 months ago
No.

I'm going to say NO.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neko girl Avatar
183 months ago
Analysts.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mtkoren Avatar
183 months ago
Possibly frustrated but appreciative

My feelings about apple changing the ipad again is not the same as the other commentators here. And yeah I recently purchased a 3G iPad2.

To me this is a rapidly evolving technology and if indeed apple does refresh them after only 6-9months after the intro, i think I'm actually more glad than annoyed. Like other people commenting here I really love having the latest and greatest. Yeah, when the ipad2 came out, I bought an ipad1 at a reduced price (remember how apple reduced them in the first week?) and after having it for a week, decided I really wanted the 2nd edition and returned it (full refund) and got the other at full price.

So it has been maybe 3 months now of great experience. But just like the limitations of the 1st edition prevented some of the new programs like imovie and some others from being a polished app ready for that machine, I can already see how the ipad2 limitations is holding back innovation in the app market. And frankly I am enthusiastic about Apple's leadership here getting this type of device so rapidly in our faces without clear evidence it would succeed. And also am aghast at the copycat attempts to catch up thinking that it is the hardware that they need to make better while pushing incomplete and buggy software out.

So yeah I'm cheering Apple for having gotten me hooked on this great device and if they can speed up the product development timeline due to the competition out there - in other words they are aggressively responding (a far cry from being stymied by behind trapped into AT&T exclusivity and threatening market share erosion by Android which had a field day on CDMA networks) - then I say this is the price we pay for this level of sped up R&D that in the end we'll all benefit from.

Besides, who says you have to update every single refresh cycle. Sit and gloat, knowing you'll pass up on the next one and instead wait for the one after that, passing up those who got that next one. how's that?!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
skellener Avatar
183 months ago
They can't keep up with demand as it is. Most markets don't even have LTE yet. I wouldn't count on any updates until 2012.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
commander.data Avatar
183 months ago
If they do release an LTE iPad, hopefully it'll replace the existing GSM and CDMA iPads. The last thing we need is separate WiFi, GSM, CDMA, LTE models each in 2 colors and 3 capacities.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jackhdev Avatar
183 months ago
Didn't Steve Jobs say that 2011 is the YEAR of the iPad 2?

Didn't Steve Jobs say that 2011 is the YEAR of the iPad 2? Additionally, many people would be greatly angered if their $850 product along with the smart covers and accessories were out of date literally 1/3 of a year later.
Score: -1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

iPhone Driver's Licenses: These 17 U.S. States Offer Them or Will Later

Thursday June 19, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states and Puerto...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Monday June 16, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Three Months With These 12 New Features

Saturday June 14, 2025 5:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of June 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a...
ios 26 call holding

iOS 26 Beta is Hiding a New Ringtone — Here's What It Sounds Like

Thursday June 19, 2025 7:25 pm PDT by
Apple is hiding a new ringtone within iOS 26. The new ringtone is an alternative version of the existing Reflection ringtone, which has been the default ringtone since the iPhone X was released in 2017. It was discovered within the code for the first developer beta of iOS 26, but it remains hidden, so you will not find it in the list of ringtones available in the Settings app for now. It...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:24 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a few days after Apple provided the betas to developers. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. When the...
new iphone lockscreen ios 26

iOS 26: Five Changes Coming to Your iPhone Lock Screen

Tuesday June 17, 2025 8:46 am PDT by
With iOS 26, Apple has made some additions to the iPhone Lock Screen that aim to make it more customizable than ever. Of course, things can always change before the software makes its way to the general iPhone-owning public, but here are five new things iOS 26 can do on the Lock Screen as of the current developer beta. Widgets Top or Bottom In iOS 18, the row of widgets on your Lock...
General Spotify Feature

Spotify Preparing to Launch Long-Awaited Lossless Audio Tier on iPhone

Thursday June 19, 2025 1:46 pm PDT by
Spotify appears to be gearing up to launch its long-awaited lossless music tier. Chris Messina (via TechCrunch) and Spicetify (via The Verge) spotted new lossless references within the code for Spotify's desktop app and web player. With assistance from Aaron Perris, MacRumors has confirmed that the latest beta of the Spotify app for the iPhone also contains new lossless-related code....
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Apple Says iOS 26 Won't Be Available on These iPhone Models

Tuesday June 10, 2025 6:58 am PDT by
Apple this week revealed that iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer. That means that iOS 18 is the end of the road for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, which were all released in 2018. However, those devices will continue to receive security updates for at least a few more years. iOS 26 is compatible with the following iPhone models: iPhone 16e iPhone...
Craig Federighi No

John Gruber Reacts to Apple Declining His Interview After His Criticism

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:10 pm PDT by
Every year between 2015 and 2024, at least one Apple executive agreed to be interviewed by Daring Fireball's John Gruber for a special WWDC episode of his podcast, The Talk Show. Last year, for example, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi, marketing chief Greg Joswiak, and top AI researcher John Giannandrea joined Gruber on stage at the California Theatre in San Jose to discuss...