iPad 3 to Carry Thinner and Lighter Battery?

Taiwan Economic News reports (via BGR) that Apple has contracted with suppliers Simplo and Dynapack for a thinner and lighter battery for the iPad 3, either opening the door for a thinner design or making room for a potentially thicker high-resolution Retina display.

ipad 2 battery1
iPad 2 battery (Source: iFixit)

According to the report, the new batteries will cost Apple 20-30% more than the current iPad batteries and are said to offer a greater service life and increased safety.

With the upcoming iPad 3 to feature a thinner, lighter battery module that is widely believed to be priced 20-30% higher than iPad 2’s, Simplo Technology Co. and Dynapack International Technology Corp., both Apple Inc.’s contract suppliers of iPad and Macbook battery packs, will hence secure a surefire profit drive for the near future.

Institutional investors pointed out that the battery pack for iPad 3, scheduled to be massively produced in the first quarter of next year, has been redesigned to be thinner and lighter with a longer service life than iPad 2 edition’s.

Initial deliveries of the new batteries are said to be set for the fourth quarter of this year, with mass production beginning in the first quarter of next year.

A number of rumors had suggested that Apple might be trying to release the iPad 3 before the end of this year, but recent reports have claimed that Apple and its partners are continuing to refine the Retina display rumored for inclusion in the device, pushing the iPad 3's launch to early next year.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Caution)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
maxresdefault

These 5 Features Will Make the iPhone 17 the Biggest Update in Years

Monday July 22, 2024 4:02 pm PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 16 models that we're expecting to see in September are going to be quite similar to the iPhone 15 models, but rumors suggest that Apple is making big changes in 2025. We've been hearing hints of an all-new device in the iPhone lineup, and it may be the most expensive iPhone Apple has offered to date. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. New 'Slim'...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 4

Tuesday July 23, 2024 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple released the fourth beta of iOS 18 today, introducing small changes to a number of features throughout the operating system. There are no big additions in this beta, but Apple is continuing to refine existing settings and design choices. Apple plans to continue updating iOS 18 over the next few months, with the update set to be released this fall. We've rounded up all of the changes...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Launch Early Next Year With OLED Display, 48MP Camera, and More

Monday July 22, 2024 7:22 am PDT by
The fourth-generation iPhone SE will offer a series of major upgrades over the current model, the leaker known as "Ice Universe" claims. The information was listed in a post on Weibo, which also detailed the specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup. As previously rumored, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a major upgrade from current and previous ...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...

Top Rated Comments

Mad Mac Maniac Avatar
168 months ago
You mean it won't be fatter and heavier?? :confused:

:p
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ryth Avatar
168 months ago
Ive said it before and I'll say it again.

It will be the iPad Pro and cost a couple hundred more than the 2.

The 2 will still be available and seeing as it has no real competition, there is no reason to phase it out.

I don't see any reason a new iPad with a more expensive "Retina" screen, and a more expensive battery would be the same price.

Realistically , Apple can charge whatever they want for this new product and everyone will still buy it. If they cant afford it ....get the iPad 2

Simple
Why didn't they then charge more for the iPhone 4 with the Retina display then and make it the iPhone 4 Pro and release a non-retina display iPhone 4? Because that would be ***** stupid.

They aren't going to make 2 models of the iPad (pro and nonpro_ and then have to make 3 versions of each (16,32,64) and then 3 more versions of each (wifi/3G).

There is no market for a Pro version of it. Period. End of story.

They are just going to make the iPad 3 and it's going to have the better screen.

It's
Called
Product
Evolution
and
Innovation

Apple has the #s to get those displays and batteries down to prices where they can charge the same basically as the current iPad. The last thing Apple is going to do is make a pro iPad and charge more. These aren't the laptops, they are the iOS devices.


Disagree. You could have made roughly the same argument before the iPad 2 was released. No competitor was comi g close, so why bother improving on the original? Things haven't changed that much. The iPad 2 is still selling like gangbusters, so why discontinue it?

Because Apple likes to push the competion even further behind, that's why. By early next year, MAYBE Samsung will be close to an iPad 2 competitor. But before they can get any traction with it, Apple will force them back to the drawing board with a thinner, lighter, faster, higher-res iPad 3. And Apple is the only tablet maker that can buy cutting-edge components in such bulk that they can still make a nice profit on each one. Everyone else has to wait for prices to come down, but by that time they aren't cutting-edge anymore.
Agreed. At least someone understands.

Hmm. Does this mean that the iPad 3 will cost 20% more? I hope not. But If it does get a retina display and the more expensive battery...Apple might just raise the base prices. They usually don't do that...but ya never know. This would be a pretty big step up from the ipad 2 with costlier parts.

Too soon to speculate. This thing won't be shipping until next spring or summer. That is a loooooooong time from now.
When was the last time Apple actually increased a product's price? The iPhone came down in price. The MBAir came down in price. Same with the iMac and so on.

There is NO WAY Apple is going to charge more for the iPad 3. Especially since competitors are finally starting to come into the area (they still cant compete but there is no way Apple will give them a way in with a price point).

NO
WAY
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DTphonehome Avatar
168 months ago
Ive said it before and I'll say it again.

It will be the iPad Pro and cost a couple hundred more than the 2.

The 2 will still be available and seeing as it has no real competition, there is no reason to phase it out.

I don't see any reason a new iPad with a more expensive "Retina" screen, and a more expensive battery would be the same price.

Realistically , Apple can charge whatever they want for this new product and everyone will still buy it. If they cant afford it ....get the iPad 2

Simple

Disagree. You could have made roughly the same argument before the iPad 2 was released. No competitor was comi g close, so why bother improving on the original? Things haven't changed that much. The iPad 2 is still selling like gangbusters, so why discontinue it?

Because Apple likes to push the competion even further behind, that's why. By early next year, MAYBE Samsung will be close to an iPad 2 competitor. But before they can get any traction with it, Apple will force them back to the drawing board with a thinner, lighter, faster, higher-res iPad 3. And Apple is the only tablet maker that can buy cutting-edge components in such bulk that they can still make a nice profit on each one. Everyone else has to wait for prices to come down, but by that time they aren't cutting-edge anymore.

This is one of the reasons the Touchpad, original Galaxy Tab, and Xoom failed so badly. They were competing with the iPad 1, but Apple had already moved on to the iPad 2.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
topmounter Avatar
168 months ago
You mean it won't be fatter and heavier?? :confused:

:p


Yeah, I thought the iPad2 was just a fluke and they would get back to making each successive generation bulkier and heavier.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
troop231 Avatar
168 months ago
Cool, hope the iPad stays on a yearly upgrade cycle.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DTphonehome Avatar
168 months ago


Disagree. You could have made roughly the same argument before the iPad 2 was released. No competitor was comi g close, so why bother improving on the original? Things haven't changed that much. The iPad 2 is still selling like gangbusters, so why discontinue it?

Because Apple likes to push the competion even further behind, that's why. By early next year, MAYBE Samsung will be close to an iPad 2 competitor. But before they can get any traction with it, Apple will force them back to the drawing board with a thinner, lighter, faster, higher-res iPad 3. And Apple is the only tablet maker that can buy cutting-edge components in such bulk that they can still make a nice profit on each one. Everyone else has to wait for prices to come down, but by that time they aren't cutting-edge anymore.

This is one of the reasons the Touchpad, original Galaxy Tab, and Xoom failed so badly. They were competing with the iPad 1, but Apple had already moved on the iPad 2.

Wrong on so many points but I have little patients so I will address the last one.

The reason those products never gained any traction is because they don't have the eco-system that iOS has.

If you're going to flatly reject my reply, at least have the decency to tell me why.

And unless you are a doctor, you do not have patients. Anyway, I have to run, because I DO have patients.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)