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New iPad Shows Up in App Analytics Running A6-Based Chip

Friday October 5, 2012 2:05 pm PDT by Eric Slivka
MacRumors has received word from a developer who has seen evidence of a previously unknown "iPad3,6" device showing up in his app analytics. Most interestingly, the device's processor targets the new ARMv7s architecture that supports the custom A6 system-on-a-chip found in the iPhone 5. This new iPad thus appears to be running either an A6 chip itself or a variation on Apple's custom A6 design.

It is unclear exactly what this new iPad device represents, as an "iPad3,6" designation would seem to imply a derivative of the current-generation iPad, which is designated "iPad3,1", "iPad3,2", and "iPad3,3" for the various Wi-Fi and cellular models. There have been rumors that Apple is planning to release a tweaked version of the third-generation iPad in the coming weeks in order to incorporate a Lightning connector and other internal changes, but it seems difficult to believe that such a release would also include an upgrade to the new A6 chip.

Alternatively, this new iPad3,6 could represent Apple's 2013 iPad model, which is expected to run some flavor of the A6 chip. We would, however, have expected that device to carry an "iPad4,x" designation.

This new iPad3,6 does not appear to represent the "iPad mini" reportedly scheduled for launch later this month, as that device is said to be a derivative of the iPad 2 running Apple's cheaper A5 chip and seems to have already been seen in logs carrying "iPad2,5" and "iPad2,6" designations. Our source who saw the iPad3,6 reference has also seen this iPad2,6 device running an A5 chip.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tag: A6 chip
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
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Lancer
92 months ago
Didn't we have a similar thing happen for the iMac but still no new iMac has been released!
Rating: 20 Votes
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trip1ex
92 months ago

My 10" iPad 3 is still good enough for me. I don't really see much Apple can do with it besides a processor update.


So the one you got less than six months ago still does the job? Good to hear.
Rating: 15 Votes
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OrangeSVTguy
92 months ago
My 10" iPad 3 is still good enough for me. I don't really see much Apple can do with it besides a processor update.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Disposition
92 months ago
Introducing "The New iPad S"

:D:p
Rating: 7 Votes
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Frankied22
92 months ago
If this event is actually happening this month it should be interesting.
Rating: 5 Votes
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voyagerd
92 months ago
Tim's personal iPad.
Rating: 4 Votes
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PDFierro
92 months ago
Would be amazing if this was powering the iPad Mini. Would also make sense for it to use the iPhone 5's power-efficient A6/LTE chip.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Sora
92 months ago

I don't care is it's the Mini. But if they re-release the 3 half way through it's cycle with better specs I'm going to be pissed. I know technology gets better and better but if they update the current iPad with better specs so quickly I'll seriously be disappointed.


It sucks - but thats the nature of commerce. A good mindset to have is the understanding that the moment of purchase of any electronic device it's essential on the downward trend. It's replacement is essentially in the works.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Nickraphael
92 months ago
What they want to do is shift the new ipad reveal to October every year after the iPhone to dominate the holiday marketing season. The Mac line does the marketing in the spring summer when Intel's CPUs come out. Kids are more prone to buy the iOS line during the holidays because they're youth centric and more financially attainable... Perfect Christmas presents.
Rating: 3 Votes
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ecbpro
92 months ago
Yep

My iPad 3 will be sad if this comes true. :(


This is why it is called "new iPad" instead of iPad 3, so that from now on they can do "silent" upgrades much more frequently. Since then there is no version number to be tracked.
Rating: 2 Votes

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