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Next iPad rumoured for March launch

To be followed by "real" iPad 3 in Q3

By MARK JONES

Published: 4 November, 2011

READ MORE: US | Apple | Handset | iOS

There's been plenty of speculation lately about Apple's plans to release a smaller and cheaper iPad and now DigiTimes claims to have some more info on the iPhone maker's upcoming tablets. First off it says that the next iPad will soon go into production with a launch window set for March 2012. This won't be the iPad 3 however but more likely a slightly updated version of the iPad 2 which it is said will offer a thinner form factor and better battery life.

The more interesting part of the report indicates that this will be followed by a proper iPad 3 in Q3 next year. This at the earliest though and it has recently been said that Apple has encountered manufacturing issues which could delay its launch. When it arrives it may come loaded with a faster A6 processor and a retina display.

As well as the upgraded iPad 2 a cheaper version of the tablet is also rumoured to be arriving early next year. This is mainly based on speculation that Apple will retaliate against Amazon with a similarly priced device to the Kindle Fire. Some sources have said it's going to be cheaper, others that it will have a smaller form factor. If true then it could mean the entry-level iPad and the update of the iPad 2 launching at the same time.

One rumour claimed that Apple has already received samples of a 7.8" display. This latter point seems less likely given the company's stance on 7" slates in the past. The more likely scenario would be that as with the launch of the iPhone 4S Apple would just lower the price of its previous generation device.

DigiTimes has had an uneven track record in the past with its iPad rumours but this latest nugget does seem to align with other recent talk surrounding the device so it's worth taking the news with a pinch of salt.

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