Apple iPad 3 LED display rumours resurface

Leaked information from the chain of tech companies which will supply Apple with components for the iPad 3 suggests that a very different type of screen will be present on the firm’s next tablet.

The original iPad and then the iPad 2 used the same 9.7 inch LED backlit screen with IPS technology and twin LED bars, in order to bring the display’s content to life. The resolution of 1024×768 was suitable back in 2010, but for 2012 it is thought that Apple will be significantly increasing the pixel count on the screen, enabling full HD 1080p content to be showcased without compression or letterboxing.

Now the Digitimes is reporting that Japanese manufacturer Sharp is going to be responsible for the iPad 3 displays, using IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) panels, rather than the current IPS technology, which is found on the first two iPads.

Towards the end of 2011 it was suggested that Apple would be completely altering the way in which it uses LED backlighting on the iPad 3 display, because a higher resolution necessarily requires that the backlighting can achieve higher levels of brightness in order to retain the quality of the user experience.

Apple will also want to make sure that the battery life of the iPad 3 is at least as good as, if not better than, that of its predecessors, so using energy-efficient LED systems will certainly help it to achieve this goal in conjunction with an increase in the battery’s capacity and output.

Interestingly, the IGZO panels produced by Sharp and other Asian firms are said to be in relatively short supply at the moment, which could have an impact on the availability of the iPad 3 upon its launch, if Apple’s interest does not lead to an increase in output levels.