We take a look at the reasons behind the mounting speculation and how the must-have gadget is likely to compare to its predecessor, the iPad 2.
History repeats itself
Anticipation surrounding the launch of iPad 3 is growing for a reason. Firstly, Apple tends to stick to the same cycle of production and product launches. The original iPad was released in late January 2010; the iPad 2 was launched a little over a year later in March 2011.
This pattern suggests the iPad 3 release date would put the new tablet in shops by April or May - but early signs suggest that it will land earlier than this, within the first quarter of the year.
Several reports, including one from Bloomberg, claim that Apple's manufacturing partners have in fact, already started production of the iPad 3 and will be working to full capacity in February for a March launch.
Other rumours suggest that the iPad 3 was actually being tested undercover at the Consumer Electronics Show, held in January in Las Vegas - but that even die-hard fans could walk past one unawares given the almost identical look of the tablet.
Keeping up
None of the iPad 3 technical specifications have been confirmed yet but industry trends can provide a good idea of what to expect.
If the iPad 3 is to improve on the iPad 2, we're likely to see a higher-resolution screen, a faster processor and the next level of mobile web connectivity - 4G.
Several tablet manufacturers showing off their newest rival models at the Consumer Electronics show (CES) had already leapfrogged the iPad 2 in terms of screen quality and processing power. It's safe to assume then, that Apple will have been working hard to stay ahead of its competitors.
Expected upgrades
The iPad 3 is also rumoured to house a quad-core processor. As the name suggests, this would double the processing power of the iPad 2 which uses the Apple A5 dual-core processor, and result in improved sound and graphics, less lag and smoother multi-tasking.
The screen upgrade from the iPad 2 to iPad 3 is also expected to mirror that of the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4. One of the newer model's selling points was the higher resolution 'Retina Display' screen. The transition between the iPad 2 and 3 could see a similar screen upgrade.
To get into the nitty-gritty of it, the iPad 3 screen resolution is rumoured to be 2048 x 1536 pixels, compared to the iPad 2's lower resolution of 1024 x 768.
One of the biggest tech trends of CES 2012 was 'Long Term Evolution' or LTE, which basically means if a device has the technology it is prepped for the eventual roll-out of 4G - the next level of faster mobile-web connectivity.
Several sources have also reported that the iPad 3 will have LTE support, giving users faster web connection when they're on the go. Whether or not that means the back of the 'Wi-Fi only' model remains to be seen.
Speculators can't seem to agree on whether the iPad 3 will be thicker or thinner than the iPad 2, but the general consensus is that the height and width of the device will be roughly the same.
The other expected addition is Siri, Apple's voice-activated personal assistant which debuted on the iPhone 4S. If the iPad 3 does indeed have an upgraded processor then it would undoubtedly be able to run the software.
Other more dubious rumours circulating the web have included transparent screens, glasses-free 3D displays, motion-sensing technology and even a long sought after SD card slot.
Expect the unexpected?
However, all specifications and even the launch date still remain to be seen. Despite Apple's history of rigid production and launch cycles, the King of technology has been known to deviate. The iPhone 4S, for example, should have launched in June last year, going by the usual product cycles, but it actually took until October.
This could mean that the iPad 3 is an extra couple of months away, but - at the same time - Apple fans should not be surprised if it starts sending out invites to one of its announcement events as early as mid-February.
If you can't wait until then you can compare iPad 2 prices on our shopping channel, as well as comparing Apple's tablet against others on the market.
All signs indicate that the iPad 2 could be in for a price drop in the coming weeks though, so keep your eyes peeled for a bargain.
Please note: Any rates or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing. Click on a highlighted product and apply direct.
Rate This Article
Click on a star to rate this article.
