The iPad 3 will be thinner and lighter, but it also could be pricier. According to an AppleInsider report, Apple has pegged two suppliers to provide its third-gen tablet with sleeker batteries.
Citing a report from frequent publisher of Apple rumors Taiwan Economic News, AppleInsider claims Simply Technology and Dynapack International Technology have been tapped as the device’s battery makers. Both of these manufacturers already make batteries for the iPad and MacBook.
Batteries supplied by these companies will be lighter, cheaper, and last longer, but they’ll be about 20 to 30 percent more expensive, AppleInsider says. It did not speculate on how the price of this component would affect the list price of the iPad 3, but it would presumably push the price up.
However, there has been talk in the past of a cheaper iPad 3.
The report alleges that the two companies will start making these batteries in the fourth quarter of 2011, which would put Apple on track to release the iPad 3 toward the beginning of 2012. That projected launch date is probably not far off, considering it’s around the time Apple has revealed the past two iPads.
AppleInsider also notes that last month Apple was already rumored to be in the “trial production” phase for the iPad.
The Wall Street Journal threw its hat in the iPad 3 rumor ring last month when it reported that the next iPad would launch in early 2012, featuring a retina display. The WSJ claimed that production on the iPad will start in October and that Apple had already ordered 1.5 million of the tablet.
Previously it had been predicted that Apple would release a third iPad this fall, but a separate report last month said those plans had been derailed due to problems with device’s alleged retina display.