IPad 3 Will Connect to 4G LTE Networks

The Wall Street Journal has confirmed that AT&T and Verizon will both sell versions of the iPad 3 that will connect to 4G LTE networks. The report did not confirm whether non-LTE carriers Sprint and T-Mobile will sell versions of the iPad 3.

Most analysts suspect that iPad 3 will be unveiled on March 7. The new model is expected to be slightly thicker than the iPad 2 because of the new guts required for a better screen resolution and for 4G technology. However, the tablet should only be slightly thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 and will be virtually indistinguishable from the outside.

Rumors are also circulating that the new iPad’s processor, the A6, will be a quad-core processor that will allow for lightning fast downloads, better graphics and higher overall performance. FaceTime may get an HD upgrade; in fact, all video may be available in HD on the iPad 3. Many upcoming Android models will be capable of playing HD video, so Apple needs the technology to remain competitive.

Some have reported that the iPad 3 will have Apple’s patented Retina display. Others have stated that while the iPad display won’t match the Retina screen on the iPhone 4S, it will feature major improvements over previous models. However, Japanese blog Macotakara leaked a photo of Sharp’s Retina display from a third-party manufacturer called iLabs Display.

Apple may not immediately retire the iPad 2. Sources say that Apple may retail the older model for around $399 so that they can have a bargain offering that will be more competitive with the $199 Kindle Fire and the $249 NOOK tablet from Barnes & Noble. Also, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is testing a model with a seven-inch screen. Former CEO Steve Jobs had said repeatedly that a smaller screen would decrease the tablet’s functionality.

The New York Times speculated that the new tablet may not even be called iPad 3. Apple may name the new pad in a similar fashion to the iPhone 4S because the upgrades are not hugely distinctive from iPad 2. However, no one will know the full story until March 7, and even that date isn’t etched in stone.