Apple iPad 3 Launch Set for February 2012: Top 5 Features to Expect [PHOTOS]

By Wendy Li | December 10 2011 11:14 AM

Photo: Reuters/Jo Yong hak

iPad 3 Launch Set For Feb 2012: Top 5 Features to Expect

1. Retina Display and Dual LED Backlight iPad 3 will have retina display, which doubles the display resolution of Apple's current generation tablet, the iPad 2, Gardner predicted in his note. The screen resolution enhancement, which has also been applied on iPhone 4 and 4S, would improve the iPad's graphics to super sharp and ultra clear levels. iPad 2 has a screen resolution of 1024x768 pixel and iPad 3 is expected to boast of Retina Display (2048 x 1536 pixel) screen. However, Retina Display will necessitate a backlight solution to guarantee the existing brightness of iPad 2. According to DigiTimes, this may be possible if Apple integrates two different LED backlights - each one on each face of the screen of iPad 3.

Photo: Apple

iPad 3 Launch Set For Feb 2012: Top 5 Features to Expect

2. Quad-core Processor iPad 2's dual-core A5 chip makes it "do twice the work at once," guaranteeing high performance and power efficiency. "Everything on iPad 2 is even more fluid and realistic from gameplay to scrolling through your photo library," Apple said. However, iPad 3 might be powered by a quad-core processor, the same chip which, according to German Apple blog Macerkopf.de, might power iPhone 5. A quad-core chip would make the new iPad incredibly powerful and open up opportunities for developers to create even more intensive and impressive games and applications.

Photo: IBTIMES

iPad 3 Launch Set For Feb 2012: Top 5 Features to Expect

3. Siri Siri, the intelligent, personal voice assistant from Apple, has turned out to be one of the most popular features of iPhone 4S and has been instrumental in its record debut sales. Without doubt, Siri will also be featured on iPad 3.

Photo: Reuters

iPad 3 Launch Set For Feb 2012: Top 5 Features to Expect

4. Better Camera Apple fans might expect both front- and rear-facing cameras on the new iPad, just as iPad 2 has, but better. In iPad 2, the front-facing VGA camera's designed for FaceTime video calling while the rear-facing camera's HD, which means it can take both still shots (with 5x digital zoom) as well as video shots (up to 30 frames per second) at 720p. However, iPad fans are hoping that iPad 3 will boast of better cameras - perhaps 2MP for front-facing camera and at least 5MP for the rear one. Actually, the Blackberry PlayBook already sports similar specs. Even the Motorola XOOM tablet has 2MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear-facing camera.

Photo: Reuters

iPad 3 Launch Set For Feb 2012: Top 5 Features to Expect

5. 4G LTE Compatibility 4G LTE is set to come to next generation iPhone (dubbed iPhone 5), thanks to Qualcomm's next generation mobile device modem (MDM) chips. Earlier this year, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said LTE wasn't a good fit for the iPhone as "LTE would force design compromises we're not willing to make." The other issue was battery life. However, Qualcomm's second generation MDM9x00 series chips could resolve both the issues as the MDM improvements not only provide Apple with the integrated solution the company wants but also they offer much better power efficiency than current LTE solutions. And, as the latest chips are slated for first quarter 2012 availability, it means iPad 3 could well be incorporating it.

Apple Inc.'s next-generation tablet -- dubbed iPad 3 -- will reportedly launch next February, according to a Citi analyst. Among several new features, it will boast a Retina display and Siri.

The iPad 3 will launch in February with a Retina display double the resolution of Apple's most recent model, the iPad 2, Citi analyst Richard Gardner said in a research note, CNet reported.

Based on information from several sources, Gardner also said there do not appear to be any significant technical hurdles remaining to delay iPad 3 launch beyond February.

Apple fans also think the technology giant has planned to launch iPad 3 in February to coincide with the birthday of its late co-founder Steve Jobs. If the legendary tech genius was alive today, he would be 57 years old on Feb. 24, 2012.

Will Gardner's prediction come true? Or will it end up as just another rumor? We have to wait till February to find that out. But here's food for thought -- what new features do you think the iPad 3 will bring? Better battery? Bigger screen? Start the slideshow to find out the top five new features we expect Apple's next tablet will boast.

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