Apple may launch cheaper iPad 3 this year according to report

By on Jul 26, 2011 at 10:00 PM
Tablets July 26, 2011

Apple has inked deals with numerous additional parts suppliers for its upcoming iPad refresh according to a new report from DigiTimes, further supporting the notion that the tech giant plans to unveil a new version of its market-leading tablet later this year. Citing industry sources, the report claims Taiwan-based component manufacturers including Novatek Microelectronics, Richtek Technology, Capella Microsystems and Integrated Memory Logic have been awarded contracts to supply integrated circuits for the iPad 3. Contrary to previous speculation that Apple’s next iPad would be a high-end “Pro” model, DigiTimes states that Apple is seeking to utilize lower cost parts from Taiwanese suppliers in order to “compete with an array of tablet PCs to be launched by rivals in the second half of 2011.” A more likely scenario, however, is that Apple may simply be looking to offset the added expense of the upcoming iPad’s Retina Display with cheaper circuits. Such a move could allow the Cupertino-based company to launch its next-generation iPad at the iPad 2′s current price points. Apple is expected to unveil its new iPad this fall alongside the iPhone 5.

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  • http://www.apexcarpentryinc.com/blog/ Craig

    I can’t see them offering less hardware. What could they take off of the ipad to make it cheaper? They can’t remove a usb port, flash, or a memory card slot.

    • sirpaul

      Assuming they can’t reduce screen size (would wreck the 4:1 iphone to ipad ratio) you’re right – iPad doesn’t have much hardware-wise to brag about.

      • TooMuchNoise

        Even less memory, shiny plastic case, lower resolution, slower A5′s (the leftover ones that couldn’t muster up the full speed without choking to death).

      • Anonymous

        You tell ‘em!

      • sirpaul

        Less memory? It needs what it has (assuming you are talking about RAM). As for making a 4GB model – memory is fairly cheap these days. The markup for more memory is large, but actual cost saving would not save Apple a whole lot. As for lower res, it isn’t happening because the screen isn’t yet a retina display – hard to go lower these days. As for slower processor – it needs the one it has! Apple is all about show – i they make something cheap, they still make it work perfectly! They don’t want discontent customers because the product is lagging.

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  • Cvckdb

    A new IPAD 3 already!? geez that was fast. they just released #2, if the plans are to release a new one so fast it must be a cheaper model or something or a 7 inch.

  • Anonymous

    As BGR’s newly hired CdB, chief douche bag, it is my duty to inform everyone who visits this site that I constanly use the same lame ass tAmpon or maxiPad joke over and over. BTW I have a tiny penis.

    Yours Truely,
    PAPINYC,
    CdB,
    (chief douche bag)

    • Reverepats09

      That’s seriously was retarded…..

      • sirpaul

        So is writing “that’s seriously” ;)

    • Anonymous

      I wish the real PAPL would spend as much time on here as you do. He’s actually funny.

  • http://twitter.com/juvus juvus

    The Amazon effect. Apple is outselling android tablets 24 to 1 they don’t need to come out with cheaper tablet. they don’t need to come out with an Ipad 3 6 months after Ipad 2. But they are feeling the heat of an anticipated Amazon tablet so they are taking no chances.

    • Shanghai Dan

      Actually, per the latest stats, the iPad is outselling Android tablets 2:1, and if the growth path is anything like happened with Smartphones – will trail Android sometime around the end of the year.

      • Anonymous

        It’s 2:1 because you don’t understand the numbers. Apple’s numbers are basically sales to consumers, what other manufacturers tell you are the numbers shipped to stores, not sold!

      • Shanghai Dan

        Huh – do you know how “sales to stores” works?  The manufacturer sells product to stores, who sell it to you.  Those tablets were sold…  Of course, that makes iFans rather upset that the iPad is losing market share…

      • bigbudha

        Does that includ 40% return on android.

      • Shanghai Dan

        Source, please?

      • warrentotheg

        Uh, sorry bro. Sellthrough is what matters. That’s what the “consumer” actually purchases and that is where revenue is generated, as many companies ship back product or sell it as a loss, when it is not sold to end-users. Your arrogance and ignorance is uncanny, Android user or not.

      • Anonymous

        No, according to Google’s own numbers based on operating system activations, only 1.2 million 3.0 Honeycomb tablets have been activated.  Thats about 30 to 1.

      • sirpaul

        Not all tablets are honeycomb.

      • Anonymous

        Andy Rubin says those shouldn’t be considered Android tablets. I’ll take him at his word.

      • Shanghai Dan

        I guess my 7″ Android tablet running Android 2.2 isn’t a tablet, then?  

      • Anonymous

        It’s not running a tablet OS according to Andy Rubin, so no, it isn’t a tablet. Problems with that? Tell Andy about it.

      • Anonymous

        Dan, check your sources again. One inaccurate report doesn’t replace many accurate reports.

      • Shanghai Dan

        Really?  What was inaccurate about it?

      • Anonymous

        Yeah, so sales to stores counts towards market share? How come the Android manufacturers never announce their numbers? I’ll give you a hint, it doesn’t look too good. 

        They are all just like Samsung, sell through is “quite smooth” lol 

        When they start announcing the millions they sell quarter after quarter(not stuff the channel one quarter, and ship nothing next quarter) then we can talk, but till then enjoy your 2:1 ration fantasy. 

      • Shanghai Dan

        Yes, in fact, they do.  You see, when Asus wants to sell a tablet, it sells it to a Best Buy, or someone else.  Then Best Buy sells it to the consumer.  The tablet was a sale from the manufacturer – Asus – once Best Buy picked it up.  Asus got the money for the sale.

        It’s only in some weird, twisted, delusional land called AppleFanDom that sales again to the end consumer “count”; sales before that are irrelevant.

  • Technowiz

    Apple is starting to lose marketshare.. that’s why they are gonna offer cheaper to try and stay ahead!… Can’t be #1 forever… Samsung and others will surprise them. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LEJEYCGMWQYKTH56I732XBN5QY paul

    iPhone 4.5, iPhone 5, iPhone lite, iPad 2 Plus, iPad 3, iPad 3 lite…. Please pick a rumor mill and stick to it, BGR.

    • TooMuchNoise

      BGR is trying to sell the idea to Apple that one size doesn’t fit all? Hoping that they can create a buzz that strong enough that Steve Jobs would take a break from getting his joy from listening and sniffing his own farts all day?

  • http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

    The iPad is already CHEAP. The front facing camera is not even 1 mp and the rear camera has no flash. My XOOM 4G LTE has amazing cameras for those times when shooting pics with your tablet out at parties is essential.

    • Anonymous

      Lol

    • http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

      Yeah, 1 mexapixel is a little low. Unfortunately, the quality of a picture has almost nothing to do with the number of pixels.  You can have a 1 MP camera take a picture that is way better than a 12 MP camera.  The only thing adding more megapixels does is physically make your pictures bigger.  Not increase quality of a standard 4×6 photo.  pixel size is generally always the same.  Having more pixel means you made the picture bigger.  Generally if you have a really high MP camera, you will have a lot more “noise” in the photos, and they won’t look as sharp (unless you’re a professional, and know what settings to use).

      More important than the MP is lens, and the processor (defines the colors, lighting, and settings to use).

  • Anonymous

    That would be lights out for competitors.

  • zviera

    Even if is it for free, I won’t  get this useless piece of sh.. gimmick.

  • Shanghai Dan

    Not a surprise at all…  They dropped from 94% marketshare last year to 61% this year, and will probably end up sometime next year once-again trailing Android for tablet OS control.

    The only thing Apple can fight back with is lower costs; in nearly every technical aspec their offerings are behind the other products on the market.  A single company cannot win against multiple, bigger companies.  Just doesn’t happen.

    • Anonymous

      Breakdown by Google of Android devices in use by screen size. “Xlarge” is defined as any screen 7 inches or larger. By Google’s count, only 0.9% of activated in-use devices are tablets. Multiply that by the 135 million total Android “devices” that Larry Page announced last week during Google’s quarterly analyst call, and you get 1.21 million tablets. Compare that to the 28.73 million iPads Apple sold through the end of June.

    • Anonymous

      Not according to Google’s activation numbers.  Only 1.2 million Honeycomb tablets have been activated as of last week.  Channel stuffing doesn’t count.

    • Anonymous

      Can we please stop reporting on this BLATANTLY INACCURATE report that uses “shipped” tablets istead of “sold” tablets?

  • Anonymous

    As Apple’s newly hired CtO, Chief tAmpon Officer, I can confirm that, in an effort to reduce production overhead, the next iPad iteration will be made if corrugated cardboard and will be assembled with Elmer’s Glue. We wil also be introducing a new waterproof iPad cover made by Ziploc; we will call it the iBaggy.

    We look forward to your continued patronage and remember, as always, liquid damage voids your Warranty.

    iTruly Yours,

    PAPINYC,
    CtO (Chief tAmpon Officer)

    • Anonymous

      As BGR’s newly hired CdB, chief douche bag, it is my duty to inform everyone who visits this site that I constanly use the same lame ass tAmpon or maxiPad joke over and over. BTW I have a tiny penis.

      Yours Truely,
      PAPINYC,
      CdB,
      (chief douche bag)

    • Anonymous

      You may want to consider using Gorilla Glue for cardboard, elmers doesn’t work so well down here in the R&D department.

  • Anonymous

    Do you really believe another iPad will be released this year? it hasn’t even been 5 months!

    There will be no iPad this fall, it will come next year.

    Think about it– why would they unveil it next to the iPhone? they are completely different products and each of them can easily fill its own keynote…if both were releasing on the same day even I would get sick of hearing jobs speak.

  • Anonymous

    Amazing the gullible people on this blog. Hey everyone General Mills is coming out with a tablet this year to. And Chef Boyardee is coming out with a smartphone this year as well. Morons believe any shit.

  • Creed

    I love BGR’s dedication to uncensored comments. It really makes it fun to read, not only the comments but also the articles!

  • http://twitter.com/shinx2ran roland adi nugraha

    I am planning to get ipad 2 next month, but.. hey another ipad 3? retina display? really? sh*t, you got me there.. and now I am confused

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