Despite a rumored delay to the launch of the third-generation iPad, Apple is continuing to piece together its iPad 3 supply chain, which is now said to include three primary LCD makers that will supply the device’s much-anticipated Retina display.
According to a DigiTimes report citing “industry sources,” Apple has lined up three display makers including LG Display, Samsung, and Sharp, with LG being the biggest supplier — despite the recent issues Apple has had with the company’s iPad 2 displays.
Samsung is said to be the second-largest supplier, with Sharp supplying the least of all three manufacturers. Though there’s a chance Sharp could overtake Samsung if it proves it can provide a stable supply of quality panels, according to the sources, a move which would distance Apple even further from the Galaxy Tab maker.
The Retina display, which we’re all looking forward to in Apple’s next iPad, is said to be one of the reasons why the iPad 3 won’t launch this year as originally planned. It was reported that a 9.7-inch display, with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536, couldn’t produce adequate yield rates and therefore forced Apple to delay the device’s launch.
The iPad 3 is now expected to appear in early 2012 — possibly around the 12-month anniversary of the iPad 2.
[via AppleInsider]
