Sharp Out as iPad 3 Display Supplier?

Even as some sources are claiming that iPad 3 production is underway with Sharp providing the displays for the device, Korea's Electronic Times reports (via Patently Apple) that Sharp has failed to meet Apple's requirements and is out as a display supplier. According to the report, Samsung and LG will be providing the displays for the iPad 3.

An industry source said on January 9, “LCD manufacturers started mass production and supply of LCD panels for the iPad3 late last year. Samsung Electronics’ LCD business unit was the first to start mass production, and LG Display has participated in mass production with full capacity, beginning this year.” [...]

Sharp has competed with Samsung Electronics and LG Display over the development of display panels for the iPad3, but reportedly failed to pass Apple’s approval process for mass production.

Apple is said to be requiring at least 65 million iPad 3 display panels for 2012, with an initial batch of 5 million being produced for launch.

ipad 2 oblique
A decision by Apple not to go with Sharp for the iPad 3 display could have consequences for the device's design, as the two companies have been reported by several sources to be working together on Sharp's indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) technology to achieve thinner, lower power displays.

If Apple does utilize more traditional low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) displays from Toshiba and LG, that decision could require a dual light bar system to support the higher resolution of the iPad 3, thus necessitating the slightly thicker profile that has been rumored for the device.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tags: ETNews, Sharp
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro's alleged design via Front Page Tech Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive a New Perk

Thursday March 20, 2025 12:01 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. The new perk is the ability to create invitations in the Apple Invites app for the iPhone, which launched in the App Store last month. In the Apple Invites app, iCloud+ subscribers can create invitations for any occasion, such as birthday parties, graduations, baby showers, and more. Anyone ...
iOS 18

Top 5 New Features Coming in iOS 18.4

Friday March 21, 2025 3:26 pm PDT by
We're not getting new Siri Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.4 as expected, but the upcoming update does have quite a few new additions that will be worth upgrading for. We've rounded up the five best features to look forward to, and if you're not running the beta, you can expect to get access to these in early April. Priority Notifications If you have an iPhone or iPad that supports...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock

iOS 19 Coming in June With These New Features

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:04 pm PDT by
While the first iOS 19 beta is still more than two months away, there are already plenty of rumors about the upcoming software update. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors so far. visionOS-Like Design In January, the YouTube channel Front Page Tech revealed a redesigned Camera app that is allegedly planned for iOS 19. According to Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser, the Camera app...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Seeds iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 Release Candidate With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music and More

Monday March 24, 2025 10:07 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the fourth betas. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. With iOS 18.4, Apple is adding the Priority Notifications...
airpods max 2024 colors

Don't Buy Into Apple's Hype About AirPods Max Gaining Lossless Audio

Monday March 24, 2025 4:24 pm PDT by
Apple today announced that AirPods Max with a USB-C port will be gaining support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio with a firmware update next month, alongside the release of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4. For context, audio files are typically compressed to keep file sizes smaller. There are lossy compression standards like MP3, and Apple's own Advanced Audio Codec...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Foldable iPhone Expected to Launch Next Year, Costing Around $2,000

Monday March 24, 2025 3:43 am PDT by
Apple will launch its long-rumored foldable iPhone next year with a ~$2,000 premium price tag attached, expects well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. Gurman's comments on Apple's launch plans for its first foldable device appeared in the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter. Earlier this month, the reporter said Apple's foldable iPhone could be arriving "as early as 2026,"...
iOS 19 Rounded UI Elements Light

iOS 19: What to Expect From Apple's Dramatic Design Overhaul?

Monday March 24, 2025 9:47 am PDT by
Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Apple is planning "one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company's history" – an update that aims to bring iOS, iPadOS, and macOS into closer visual alignment. The redesign is said to be "loosely based" on visionOS, the software behind Apple's Vision Pro headset, and will reportedly update the look of icons, menus, apps, windows, and...

Top Rated Comments

basesloaded190 Avatar
172 months ago
As long as we can get 10 hours battery with a full retina display, i don't care who makes the panel.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
andiwm2003 Avatar
172 months ago
i don't think the ipad needs to be thinner than the iPad1 to begin with. I saw no advantage in the iPad2 being thinner. I'd rather have them leave the iPad as thick as the iPad1 and use the extra space for a larger battery, the possibility to put in cheaper components, make manufacturing easier, reduce the bezel, be more flexible in adding fast GPU or CPU and overall lower the price. Of course not all of the above, but a few things should be possible.
This obsession of making the iPad thinner for the sake of making it thinner comes at a price without adding much value to the customers.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmwebs Avatar
172 months ago
Will probably end up getting the iPad 3 since the iPad 4 will be awhile like late 2012 probably before is released

I highly doubt you'll see an iPad 4 in 2012.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
swarmster Avatar
172 months ago
i don't think the ipad needs to be thinner than the iPad1 to begin with. I saw no advantage in the iPad2 being thinner. I'd rather have them leave the iPad as thick as the iPad1 and use the extra space for a larger battery, the possibility to put in cheaper components, make manufacturing easier, reduce the bezel, be more flexible in adding fast GPU or CPU and overall lower the price. Of course not all of the above, but a few things should be possible.
This obsession of making the iPad thinner for the sake of making it thinner comes at a price without adding much value to the customers.

People are always so short-sighted when it comes to criticizing Apple for their technical feats. I don't mean to pick on you specifically, but every revision of every product there's someone saying 'well I think it's a waste of time being [thinner/faster/lighter/detailed] for what is clearly no reason'.

Seemingly every other tech company would agree with you, of course. Status quo all the way (at least until Apple shows us the way, right?). But ever wonder why Apple is able to make the moves that change industries? Many reasons, of course, but one has to wonder if we'd ever have seen an iPad had Apple not spent years trimming millimeter after unnecessary millimeter off their PowerBooks and iPods. If they're not buying new machines for and introducing new manufacturing processes to the manufacturers, who is?

It's called advancing the state of the art, and it's a cumulative process. I hope Apple never loses that drive.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmwebs Avatar
172 months ago
i don't think the ipad needs to be thinner than the iPad1 to begin with. I saw no advantage in the iPad2 being thinner. I'd rather have them leave the iPad as thick as the iPad1 and use the extra space for a larger battery, the possibility to put in cheaper components, make manufacturing easier, reduce the bezel, be more flexible in adding fast GPU or CPU and overall lower the price. Of course not all of the above, but a few things should be possible.
This obsession of making the iPad thinner for the sake of making it thinner comes at a price without adding much value to the customers.

I agree. The only downside the thicker models would have is weight. The lighter the better IMO. You need to be able to hold it up for long periods of time without killing your upper arm muscles.

----------

With the resale value of apple products so strong I wil probably get one but my question is are there any iPad 4 rumors yet?

No....just...no.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JGowan Avatar
172 months ago
At LEAST 65M (!)

If iPad 3 prices (alone) averaged $665 (the price halfway between $499 and $829 [low end and high end])... that's almost 44 Billion Dollars! Just for an iPad 3... that's not taking into account iPad 2's that most certainly will continue to sell -- perhaps education only. Whatever. It stands to reason that Apple could make $60B or more just on iPads only in 2012.

Wow.

As far as will it consume more power for the reason of the screen or the new chip, I am confident that Apple will do what they can to get the specs on par with iPad 2 or better. They know that if they don't, the critics will focus soley on the lesser power issue, if that was the case. Apple knows that there's a target on their back and will do what it takes to keep attacks minimal.

----------

With the resale value of apple products so strong I wil probably get one but my question is are there any iPad 4 rumors yet?
You could just Google "iPad 4" and see for yourself. Or you could look the history of iPad announcements -- Apple historically has announced in January and shipped in March. It stands to reason that we'll hear about iPad 3 in the next couple of weeks.

----------

@thekeyring: I'd prepare yourself then, because it's looking highly likely that they are going to call it the iPad 2S. You just can't make something visually identical and call it the 3. Who knows though? They could, but it would be a bit strange.
On a side note --> Darlo770, Please use the quote button so we don't have to hunt down his original post. Fortunately for me, you guys were the first couple of posters so it was close to the top. The Quote button works. @username doesn't.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)