Let’s just take a few minutes away from the stories surrounding Steve Jobs and Tim Cook and talk about the iPad 3. We know it’s not going to launch this year — I’d have put money on that from day one — but according to one report it could go into production as early as October… without Samsung on-board.
According to CENS.com, Samsung’s days as an iPad display supplier are quickly running out. Apple has reportedly finalized a deal with LG Display, which currently produces displays for the iPad 2, to supply LCD panels for the third-generation tablet. The company is also said to be lining up a deal with Sharp as a second supplier.
Foxconn will continue to deal with the device’s assembly, but a second assembler — Pegatron Corp. — will reportedly also pick up production of the iPad 3. This should mean a greater supply of iPads next time around.
As for Samsung, which currently supplies displays for the iPad 2, along with LG, there may not be an Apple deal this time. Following a string of legal spats between Apple and the Korean electronics giant, Apple is said to be increasingly distancing itself from the company and turning to other suppliers wherever possible.
[via AppAdvice]
