iPad 3 with 8MP Camera Reportedly Launching January 26, 2012

Two separate versions of Apple’s next-generation iPad will be unveiled at the Macworld|iWorld expo scheduled for January 26, 2012, according to a report citing industry sources in Taiwan.

Apple has withdrawn its presence from trade shows like Macworld since 2009, making it very unlikely that the company has booked stage time at the forthcoming event to unveil its third-generation of tablet computers.

The Cupertino, California-based computer giant uses its own venues to showcase new products, and heavily relies on its iconic retail stores to reach the masses. However, Apple might host a special event on or around January 26, 2012.

The report in question cites sources at Apple’s supply chain partners as saying that the new models will join the iPad 2, which will sell at a lower price starting next year to compete with the Amazon Kindle Fire.

As for the newer iPad 3, it will not boast the previously rumored 7.85-inch display, the sources say. Instead, it will feature the exact same screen size as the current model (9.7-inch), but with a higher pixel density.

The resolution on these new displays will reportedly be of the QXGA level - 1,536x2,048 pixels.

Samsung is said to have scored a trio of orders with Apple for the next-generation iPad. The Korea-based electronics giant will be supplying a portion of the displays, 5-megapixel camera sensors (for a lower-end version of the tablet), and the quad-core A6 CPU powering the tablets.

Sony will reportedly supply 8-megapixel imaging sensors for a higher-specced iPad 3.

Finally, Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology have been tapped by Apple to supply batteries with capacities as high as 14,000 milliampere-hour (mAh). The current generation of iPads offers 10 hours of battery life.

Posted in: Hardware, News, Preview