iPad 3 Display Shipments Nearing 3 Million Units with Assembly Set for January Start

Just yesterday, Digitimes noted that Apple had reduced its fourth-quarter orders for iPad 2 display components in order to accommodate production of iPad 3 parts. Apple's strategy has apparently involved boosting production of iPad 2 parts during the third quarter and stockpiling them as it begins the transition to the iPad 3 this quarter.

white ipad 2 oblique
Digitimes now expands upon that information in a new report claiming that Apple's iPad 3 display panel suppliers Samsung, LG, and Sharp will have delivered approximately three million units to Apple's manufacturing chain by the end of this month.

Samsung Electronics, LG Display and Sharp reportedly shipped a total of one million units of high-resolution flat panels for next-generation iPads to Apple in October and will ramp up shipments to two million units in November, according to industry sources.

The report notes that the touch module component that is comparable to the one found in the iPad 2 should begin shipping from TPK and Wintek imminently as Apple's iPad manufacturing partner Foxconn is apparently targeting a January 2012 start for assembly. That timeframe appears to be in line with rumors of an early 2012 launch for the iPad 3, potentially around March or April as with the past two generations.

The report also reiterates claims of display manufacturers having sampled 7.85-inch screens for Apple, but it is unclear how independent Digitimes' claim is from the earlier report.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

jhende7 Avatar
186 months ago
Retina display = instant sale

if not, Kindle Fire.
So the iPad has to use cutting edge technology, that today doesn't exist, or your going to buy a cheap product that isn't even in the same product category?

Tis like saying If the next Lamborghini has hovercraft abilities = instant buy

If not, Ford fiesta.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jhende7 Avatar
186 months ago
Most idiotic thing i have heard today. Basically sounds like you have to choose from awesome device like iPad 2 and crappy device like Kindle Fire and you are saying if Apple doesn't make A. B. C. and make uber awesome device you will settle for crappy device over already awersome device.

Idiotic.

On a related note:

Cash ready for iPad 3.

If Charlize Theron got a boob job= instant bang

If not, Sarah Jessica Parker
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
praetorian909 Avatar
186 months ago
So what res is it going to be?

I want to believe! :D

The truth is out there!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tiger8 Avatar
186 months ago
I want to believe! :D
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jerome Morrow Avatar
186 months ago
Retina display = instant sale

if not, Kindle Fire.
Most idiotic thing i have heard today. Basically sounds like you have to choose from awesome device like iPad 2 and crappy device like Kindle Fire and you are saying if Apple doesn't make A. B. C. and make uber awesome device you will settle for crappy device over already awersome device.

Idiotic.

On a related note:

Cash ready for iPad 3.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
douglaswilliams Avatar
186 months ago
How rumors get started...

iPad 3 with a resolution of: 2048 x 1536 = 3,145,728

PI ~= 3.141592 --> 3,141,592

3,145,728 - 3,141,592 = 4136

www.4136.com is a website owned by some company in Shanghai, China.

Therefore, I predict the display for the iPad 3 will be manufactured somewhere in Asia, most likely China.

On another note, it might be called the iPie and be round instead of rectangle!

Rumors, rumors...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)