Rumor: iPad 3 to get 2GHz dual-core Samsung CPU

By Trevor Mogg April 19, 2011

ipad-3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

With millions still waiting patiently for iPad 2 stocks to replenish (the Apple store is still showing a wait time of 2-3 weeks for the popular tablet), attention is already turning to the iPad 3, which of course doesn’t actually exist yet.

TouchReviews has picked up on a report on the South Korean web portal Daum, which quotes an unnamed “high-ranking official” at electronics giant Samsung as saying, “We are planning to release a 2Ghz dual-core CPU-equipped smartphone by next year. This product will have the data processing capacities of a regular PC.” That’s some serious horsepower for a mobile device.

Of course, it’s likely that Apple, who is one of Samsung’s main customers when it comes to parts for its mobile devices, will want a piece of the action. Apple’s A4 and A5 chips used in the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 are made by Samsung, so it’s likely that the folks at Cupertino will want to take a close look at any new chips coming out of the South Korean company’s headquarters.

The two companies are, however, currently involved in a game of litigation-tennis regarding various allegations, so who knows if that will have an effect on dealings between them.

Still, business is business so it’s more likely to be an honorable draw than game-set-and-match to one side regarding the latest set of legal spats. That’s right, more than likely they’ll find the time to get around a nice big shiny table and thrash out some kind of deal where no one loses face and everyone makes a lot of money.

A 2Ghz dual-core processor would significantly boost the current spec of the iPad 2, which operates with a 1Ghz dual-core processor. That’s already a big improvement over the original iPad, with many reviewers commenting on the improved speed performance of the latest tablet, so a processor twice the speed could be something pretty special, allowing for even more demanding apps to be developed.

No official announcements have been made regarding the release of the iPad 3, though recent reports suggest a release in 2012 at the earliest.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Computing

Best Apple Deals: MacBooks, AirPods, iPads, iMacs, AirTags and more

dell xps 15 vs macbook pro 16 apple ry 14 1200x9999

Pretty much all Apple products are some of the best-in-class for their respective type of tech. However, you do pay for the privilege with many devices like iPads or MacBooks costing a little more than non-Apple variants. That's why it's so useful to find great Apple deals like the ones below. We've picked out some of the best ways to save substantially on highly sought after Apple products from accessories to AirPods and more. Take a look below at some of our favorite Apple deals right now.
AirTags (4-pack) -- $89, was $99

If you worry about misplacing items, you need Apple AirTags. With a simple one-tap setup, your iPhone or iPad is instantly connected to an AirTag so that you can always use find items via the Find My app. That could be your car keys, your bag, or anything else that you can fit or slip an AirTag into. If you misplace something, you can simply put the AirTag into Lost Mode to be notified when it's detected in the Find My network helping you pin it down. You can also play a sound through the built-in speaker if you know it's nearby but you're not sure if it's worth moving the couch to find it.

Mobile

Best back-to-school iPad deals: Get an Apple tablet for $220

Someone using Final Cut Pro on an iPad.

If you need one of the best iPad deals for taking back to school, or simply for fun, we're here to help. With some great iPad deals going on right now, we've highlighted some of the best of the bunch. Below, we've picked out iPads covering various different budgets so there's something for everyone here from the basic iPad to the iPad Pro. Let's take a look at what's best for you.
Apple iPad (64GB, Wi-Fi, 7th Gen) -- $220, was $249

This Apple iPad 7th generation might not be very new anymore but thanks to Apple supporting its products for a while to come, it remains a good option for those wanting to keep costs down. This particular model is refurbished so it's had a previous owner but has since been restored to excellent quality, just like if you bought it new. It offers a 10.2-inch Retina display with a 2160 x 1620 resolution, Apple A10 Fusion chip, and a massive 128GB of storage space. It also has a 8MP camera although it's best suited for occasional snaps or video calls rather than pure photography. It's a great introduction to tablets if you want something iPadOS based without spending a lot.

Mobile

iPadOS 17 just made my favorite iPad feature even better

Stage Manager on iPad Pro with M1

With iPadOS 17, Apple promised a refined Stage Manager experience. So, as soon as the first public beta was released, I rushed to my iPad Pro to check whether Apple’s claims made at WWDC 2023 had any merit to them. Well, Apple delivered with Stage Manager on iPadOS 17 — and to a large extent.

One of my biggest gripes with Stage Manager was that it wasn’t flexible. Apple wanted to ape a core multitasking feature from macOS, but the implementation left a lot to be desired. Digital Trends Editor Joe Maring wrote an extensive (and lukewarm) take on how Stage Manager didn't live up to its promises.