iPad 3 Coming in Early 2012 As Apple Is Reported to Already Order Components

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Until recently, when Apple was said to have postponed the iPad 3 launch to 2012, we’ve seen plenty of rumors saying that a new tablet, possibly sporting a Retina Display touchscreen panel, may arrive at some point this fall, at the same time or after the iPhone 4S/5 launch.

Today the Wall Street Journal seems to further confirm claims that the next Apple tablet is only expected to arrive next year. According to the publication the new iPad may arrive at some point in early 2012. The original iPad was announced in January 2010 and started selling a few months later, in April, while the iPad 2 was only made official last March, and made available for the public a few weeks after that.

Will we see the iPad 3 hit stores at some point earlier than that March/April time frame? We still need confirmation from the Cupertino-based corporation, although Apple isn’t going to reveal such details yet. But it looks like Apple has already placed significant orders for iPad 3 parts:

One component supplier to Apple said the company has already placed orders for parts for about 1.5 million iPad 3s in the fourth quarter.

“Suppliers will ramp up production and try to improve the yield rate for the new iPad in the fourth quarter before its official launch in early 2012,” said a person at the supplier.

It makes plenty of sense to see Apple pile up resources for another important tablet launch especially considering that its direct competition is also working on future tablets. HP may have exited, for now, the smartphone and tablet business, since it wasn’t to put too much of a fight against iOS and Android devices but there are plenty of worthy rivals out there to consider, with Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola or RIM being just some of Apple’s competitors currently selling at least one iPad alternative and working on future iPad rivals.

What tablet did you purchase this year? Is anyone waiting for the new iPad 3?