Numerous rumors that the iPad 3 would launch before the end of 2011 have been called into doubt by Digitimes, who claim that Apple has canceled its supply schedule for this year and doesn’t plan on launching the new tablet until 2012.
Apple was originally set to launch its iPad 3 in the second half of 2011 with a supply volume of 1.5-2 million units in the third quarter and 5-6 million in the fourth quarter, but Apple’s supply chain partners have recently discovered that the related figures have all already been deleted, the sources pointed out.
Quoted sources have reported that the reason for the delay is an inability for component suppliers to produce sufficient quantities of the high-definition display planned for the iPad 3 – a 2,048 x 1,536 pixel retina panel.
Sources from panel players also pointed out that the 9.7-inch panel with high resolution requires a much larger backlight source and a single edge light bar is hardly able to reach satisfaction levels. Due to iPad 3’s requirements over the physical thinness, rich color support and toughness will all conflict with the panel’s technology restrictions; therefore, this could cause a delay in the launch.