According to Craig Berger, an FBR Capital Markets analyst, the iPad 3 might be on its way to consumers as soon as early 2012, which casts doubts on previous rumors suggesting an iPad 3 release later this year.
Berger pointed to conversations with supply chain contacts in Taiwan in reporting that Apple has already been evaluating a variety of touchscreen displays for the iPad 3. He acknowledged speculation that the device might come later this year, but counters it with the claim that his sources sugest that, based on Apple’s current progress on that project, a release this year would be unlikely – he doesn’t even expect a working prototype until early 2012.
The analyst rightly points out that, considering the still-constrained supply of the iPad 2, which is currently the most popular tablet on the market, and still in very strong demand, Apple would be foolish to release an updated model so soon.
