Samsung and LG have reportedly beaten out Sharp for the contract to supply iPad 3 LCD panels, according to a source who spoke with Korea IT News. Sharp competed as a supplier, but the source said it failed to pass Apple’s approval process.
According to the source, mass production of LCD panels for the next-generation iPad started late last year, with Samsung producing them first and LG coming online earlier in January. The source also said that iPad 3 will sport a 2048 x 1536 resolution screen, up from the 1024 x 768 found on the current-generation model.
Finally, Korea IT News reported that Apple is looking for at least 65 million LCD panels this year, with a minimum of five million needed when iPad 3 goes on sale. Given the company’s track record of iPad announcements, current speculation says the new one will be unveiled between now and March.