iPad 3 Release Date

The buzz is getting louder as we approach the iPad 3 release date. But still we are not sure of iPad 3’s final configuration and Apple, as always, is playing it’s cards close to the chest. Earlier we reported about the possible debut of an A6 quad-core process in iPad 3 and the related evidence found in iOS 5.1 beta update. It seems there is a twist in the tale.

A photo on the Chinese site WeiPhone claims to show iPad 3’s logic board featuring an A5X SOC (system on a chip). A4 processor initially appeared on the original iPad and iPhone 4. It was followed by the dual-core A5 processor chip in iPad 2. A6 seemed to be the logical continuation. But A5X would also fit in with Apple’s strategy of incrementally upgrading a product. iPhone 3G to 3GS and iPhone 4 to iPhone 4S are the previous precedents.

As some analysts believe that A5X is a revamped dual-core processor, there is a also a rumor doing the rounds that Apple might be working on both dual and quad-core chips for the coming iPad 3. Apple might be testing both the chips before zeroing on the best one. It is possible that Apple might use the A5X chip for the 8-inch iPad mini and A6 quad-core chip for the full-fledged iPad 3. Do you think Apple wants to give two tiers of processors and thus more choice to users in finalizing their iPad 3? We have to wait till March 7^th to get the final word on this.

As we predicted earlier, 2012 seems to be the year of the debut for the A6 processor and as expected with it’s in an iPad 3. The original iPad featured an A4 processor and iPad2 came with the upgraded dual-core A5 chip. 9to5Mac found evidence of Apple’s work on a quad-core A6 processor. They have sifted through the code of latest iOS 5.1 beta update and found references to “/cores/core.3” in the updated core management software.

Conventionally, references start with zero (0) in software terminology and dual cores are referenced as core.0 and core.1. In this light there is enough evidence to deduce that ‘core.3’ refers to the quad-core A6 processor that is in the pipeline. A quad-core processor is the logical extension for Apple considering their dual-core A5 chip in the iPad 2. Moreover ASUS’s Eee Pad Transformer tablet features NVidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor is heating up the quad-core market. We cannot expect Apple to lag behind these developments.  For them to be at the forefront of tablet computing power the iPad 3 HAS to come with a quad core processor.

The implications of a quad-core processor are immense. It will help power up the high-resolution displays such as the retina display everyone is talking about. The A6 processor will add extra horsepower to gaming experiences and improve the overall OS navigation ease.  Also the possibility for new apps and what they will be capable of is very exciting indeed.

If the following rumours turn out to be true im sure we could see even bigger riots than what we have seen over the last few weeks here in London. Sources (which are mostly unreliable) report that the iPad 3 & iPhone 5 wont be available until 2012. Personally i dont see this too much of a surprise as i pointed out in a few previous articles my thoughts on the unlikelyhood of a 2011 release.

While most of the rumours you will read on the net are merely fabricated out of thin air, there is one report that does hold some ground. Taiwan Economic News have reported the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co who manufacture the forthcoming A6 processors (which will power the iPad 3) are only currently in testing phase and wont be completed until early 2012. It is more than likely the iPad 3 will run on the A6 processors and if so it means we wont see the iPad 3 until at least Q2 2012.

A few other, less reliable, rumours claim Apple will release all of its forthcoming next-gen devices in March 2012. It appears that the date set for an iPhone 5 release this September has now changed slightly and will instead be a new affordable iPhone which analysts believe is an attempt at Apple trying to tap into the mid range mobile device market.

This is a clever move by Apple, they are well aware of their huge loyal following of fanboys & girls that will buy new Apple products all year round. Offering a cheaper iPhone this Christmas will allow the people on a budget to become part of the Apple family.

These are all just rumours that dont have much factual backing to them, however an iPad 3 release in 2011 would never have been a good move in Apple’s eye’s. The iPad 2 is still selling well and it would have certainly p**sed a few customers off having just bought the iPad 2 only to see it being outdated a few months after purchase.

With the recent injunction awarded to Apple to prohibit the sale of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the EU which is the iPad 2′s biggest competition to be released to date, there doesnt seem to be much pressure on Apple to release the iPad 3 this year.

An iPad 3 release date doesn’t seem likely in 2011, only Steve Jobs knows the answer…