If there’s one feature we’re all anticipating for the iPad 3, it’s a Retina display. We’ve become accustomed to high-resolution displays on our mobile devices since Apple first introduced the Retina display to the iPhone and the iPod touch, and we all want one on the iPad 3.
According to one report, the third-generation device will indeed boast a 2048 x 1536 resolution display, but LG and Samsung are struggling to produce enough of them to meet Apple’s demands.
Sources for CNET claim that Apple certainly has plans to introduce a better display to its iPad 3 — with a PPI of 264; double that of the iPad 2 — but the struggle will be getting manufacturers to make them in the huge volumes that Apple demands.
“They have production plans for 2,048×1,536 displays. Starting in November. But those are only plans at this point,” said the source, referring to LG and Samsung.
“It’s not a question of making just one. That, of course, can be done. The challenge is making lots of them,” the source said. “This is a quantum leap in pixel density. This hasn’t been done before.”
What’s interesting is that CNET’s source indicates Apple does have a backup option: a 1600 x 1200 resolution display. It’s not quite a Retina display, but it does boast a higher resolution that that currently features in Apple’s iPad 2, and could be built into the iPad 3 if LG and Samsung cannot make enough 2048 x 1536 resolution displays.
However, using this fallback display may be out of question for Apple, as MacRumors notes:
Such a move would seem to run counter to Apple’s strategy for increasing display resolution, as it would not be a clean multiple of the current 1024 x 768 display and would thus cause issues for developers who have already produced apps for the current iPad models.
Of course, Apple’s other plan may be to delay the Retina display until the fourth-generation device and use the same display it currently uses in the iPad 2 in the iPad 3. Though this will undoubtedly make for some unhappy customers.
