Apple's Suppliers Preparing for Fall Launch of iPhone 5 and iPad 3?

ipad 2 iphone 4DigiTimes reports that upstream suppliers in Apple's manufacturing chain have been given orders to begin preparing for production of next-generation iPhone and iPad models, with a debut expected in the September-October timeframe.

Taiwan-based companies included in the supply chain for iPhone 5 and iPad 3 have begun to prepare materials for the production of the two devices, which are likely to make their debuts in September and to hit the market in October, according to industry sources. ... The sources pointed out that Apple only plans to launch one model of the new iPhone, while iPad 3 has just recently been added to the production schedule with both set to be produced in small volumes in August and the volume will start picking up in September and October.

While Apple has been widely rumored to be preparing to launch its next-generation iPhone within that timeframe, a new iPad has been a controversial topic. A number of sources have reported that Apple may introduce an updated iPad just months after the release of the iPad 2 as the company seeks to maintain its stranglehold on the tablet market in the face of rapidly-increasing competition, but those claims have been met with skepticism by others expecting Apple to roughly stick to its usual annual update cycle.

According to today's report, the new iPad will likely be thinner and lighter than the current iPad 2 and will support a display resolution of approximately 250 dpi, which would be double that of the iPad and iPad 2.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Neutral)
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...

Top Rated Comments

HarryKeogh Avatar
188 months ago
Apple doesn't need to release an iPad 3 to maintain their stranglehold on the tablet market. They just need companies like HP to keep introducing tablets that are pieces of crap.
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AAPLaday Avatar
188 months ago
I thought they were supposed to be ramping up iPad 2 production? Now 3 is being reported to be released in a few months time? :rolleyes:
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
the8thark Avatar
188 months ago


Enough said.
I don't think there will be an iPad 3 this year.

Hmmm should I believe this rumour or the word of Jobs? Hmmmm hard question.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NebulaClash Avatar
188 months ago
2011 is the year of the iPad 2: And? So what? If they release iPad 3 in October, more iPad 2s will have sold in 2011 than any other model.

Apple can't ramp up production to do this: Yes, they can, and they are. Read the news. They are adding new iPad production lines. It would be just in time for an October release, if that is what they want to do.

Apple doesn't release products more than once a year: Huh? Of course they do! MacBooks in 2/08 and 10/08, and 5/09 and 10/09. Mac Minis in 3/09 and 10/09. iPod Shuffles in 2/08 and 9/08, and 3/09 and 9/09. iPod touch in 2/08 and 9/08. Macbook Air in 1/08 and 10/08. Macbook Pro in 2/08 and 10/08. iMac in 3/09 and 10/09. If Apple wants to reshuffle the iPad release schedule to be a Christmas release, you bet they will do 3/11 and 10/11.

Apple would piss customers off if they release a new iPad this soon: So? Nothing Apple does is considered right on this site, so why should Apple start catering to the whiners now? If the iPad 3 is ready, it will ship. If it isn't ready, it won't. When you bought your iPad 2 has nothing to do with it.

iPad 2 is selling too well, no need for iPad 3 yet: OMG, I hope you don't run a business with that sort of logic. Apple absolutely will replace a great selling model with a new model if they think it's the right thing to do. It's all those other me-too outfits who coast on success until the rug is suddenly pulled out from under them.

Does this mean there is an iPad 3 coming out in October? I dunno. I'm just saying all the reasons people have given in this thread against it are just wrong.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wellsn Avatar
188 months ago
Pos

Apple doesn't need to release an iPad 3 to maintain their stranglehold on the tablet market. They just need companies like HP to keep introducing tablets that are pieces of crap.

I second that emoticon
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwman Avatar
188 months ago
I just don't buy the iPad 3 rumor. The iPad 2 is selling too well and when has Apple ever released two updates in the same year of the same product. (No, I'm not counting Mac refreshes)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)