Apple is going to get to work on producing the iPad 3, starting October. The company whose CEO resigned yesterday has now finalized the list of part suppliers for its third generation iPad. Read on for information about some of the companies that are supplying components for the iPad.
Regarding the display panels of the iPad 3, it had come to our knowledge that LG and Sharp are the two companies which will be preparing display panels for the new iPad, where LG is going to be the largest supplier. Samsung which was the second largest supplier has now been turned down and Sharp has stepped in to take its place. Samsung was under the threat of being discontinued as the supplier provided that Sharp proved to be a worthy replacement, which apparently it did.
Foxconn Technology Group which is a Chinese, multinational group anchored by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. will be responsible for the assembly of the iPad 3. Foxconn is the world's largest maker of electronic components and has assembled iOS devices for Apple in the past as well. Taiwan's Radiant Opto-Electronics Corp has been certified by Apple as a back light module producer and will be taking part in the supply along with panel makers. TPK Holdings Co and Wintek Corporation, from the factory of which we saw leaked iPhone 5 front panels, has also made it to the list of component suppliers for the third generation iPad.
Apple has also made some other partners as well. This past May, there had been an explosion in Foxconn's plant where the iPads were being assembled. Due to that explosion, Apple faced a shortage of 500,000 iPad 2 units. Maybe it is for that reason that Apple has decided to not rely completely on Foxconn and has decided to become partners with Pegatron Corporation who will act as a second assembler of the iPad 3. It is wise of Apple to already have a backup plan in place, because even if things such as explosions hopefully don't happen again, there's a huge demand supply gap whenever the company launches its anticipated products. Two manufacturers will mean that Apple will have twice the supply for the ever increasing demands of consumers worldwide.
As far as the iPad 3 release is concerned, we already know that trial production of the iPad 3 will start in October and Apple is very likely to release it in early 2012, possibly in March because that's when a whole year would have gone by since Apple released its second generation iPad, its current flagship tablet. It is highly likely that iPad 3 will come with LTE 4G support and the iPad 3 price will be similar to that of the iPad 2.