iPad 3 Release Date: Apple Plans 2012 Launch

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Friday, October 14, 2011

Apple is currently in preparation for the future launch of its new iPad 3, a device which the company plans to release in 2012, according to AllThingD.

The site spoke with Susquehanna Financial analyst Jeff Fidacaro who revealed that Apple is sending the iPad 3 into production this quarter.

Based on “supply chain checks” Fidacaro predicts that the tech giant will produce 600,000 to 1 million iPad 3 units by the end of this quarter.

Fidacaro has been accurate with his predictions in the past. He also told AllThingsD that Apple was supposed to produce between 11 million and 13 million iPads during the fourth quarter. Now, that number ranges from 12 million to 14 million.

He also feels that Apple will most likely launch the next generation iPad in early 2012 which coincides with Apple’s last plans.

The company unveiled the iPad 2 in March 2011.

The device is the current leader in the tablet computer market, an area Apple has dominated since the release of the original iPad.

There have been other analysts who feel Apple fans many not see the iPad 3 until 2013.

The Linley Group, which follows the mobile processor industry, stated that Apple plans to create the iPad 3 with an “A6” processor.

The “A6” will feature four cores instead of the dual-core A5 currently in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

Linley does not expect the “A6” to be available until June 2012, at the earliest, which means a device including this hardware will not be able to be made until well after that time.

Apple did release the iPhone 4S today, which the company sold over 1,000,000 pre-orders for last week.

This new smartphone features iPad 2’s A5 chip.

It is possible that “A6” will not only be included in the iPad 3, but also in the next iPhone.