A report this evening from DigiTimes said the next iPad will have a monster battery that will more than double the current  6579 mAH to a whopping 14,000mAH.  Apple currently uses battery suppliers Simplo Technology and Dynapack who both denied to comment on the report.

Furthermore, Apple is set to unveil two versions of its next-iPad, “One for the high-end segment and one for the mid-range segment” according to another DigiTimes report.  Strangely, the report said the new iPads will be released at Macworld/iWorld in late January, a show that Apple has no plans to attend right now and bowed out of completely two years ago.

This is extremely unlikely; however, perhaps, a same-time but separate release could happen.  More details that are interesting were reported, as well….

The 7.85-inch display iPad that DigiTimes had originally rumored is no longer in the plans (or likely never was).

We had heard about the dual LED light bars earlier that may be the cause of the bigger battery and contribute to the thicker iPad.  Additionally, a report from what became the Verge said an iPad HD was in the works that would run a new Touch version of Final Cut Pro.

Sharp will be the major display provider with Samsung and LG also providing displays, as well.  Samsung will manufacture the new A6 processor in Texas that will at least power the high-end version. Additionally, the report said serious cameras are on deck for the new iPads that would boast 5-to 8-megapixel cameras from Samsung and Sony.

We have heard earlier reports that the next iPad would be significantly thicker and this might be a reason.  We have had additional parts, including assembly and buttons, that seem to indicate iPads are currently in production.

In a third report, Digitimes says that Apple has already begun phasing out iPad 2.

Update: As you might expect, Jim Darlymple doesn’t see iPad 3 or an AppleTV coming at iWorld or CES for that matter.

  • Citi: Next-gen iPad to launch in February with Retina display (9to5mac.com)
  • DigiTimes: Samsung, Sharp already shipping iPad 3 panels (9to5mac.com)
  • Digitimes: Apple to begin producing 7.85-inch iPads in Q2 2012 (9to5mac.com)