Chinese sources revealed earlier this week that Apple’s third-generation iPad is now in production and scheduled for a launch in early March. It was reported that the device would sport a long-awaited Retina display supplied by Sharp.
However, that may not be the case. According to a new report from Korea’s Electronic Times, Apple turned down Sharp’s displays after they failed to pass the company’s approval process, and decided to use panels from Samsung and LG Display instead.
Apple will order a staggering 65 million iPad 3s during 2012, according to the report, but none of them will ship with a Sharp display:
Sharp has competed with Samsung electronics and LGD Display over the development of display panels for the iPad 3, but reportedly failed to pass Apple’s approval process for mass production. Sharp has worked on developing high resolution panels on the basis of oxide semiconductor TFTs.
The rumor contradicts yesterday’s report from the Japanese blog Macotakara, which cited Chinese sources claiming the iPad 3 is now being assembled by Foxconn and Pegatron, with a 2048 x 1536 display from Sharp. Both reports do agree on the display’s resolution, however.
[via Patently Apple]