Rumor: iPad3 first batch may be stock limited, to ramp up Q2 2012.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Apple may not unable to ramp up the supply of its next-generation iPads (iPad 3), which are expected to be launched at a company event on March 7, due to insufficient supply of high resolution displays, according to industry sources in the supply chain.

The new iPad, which reportedly will come in 16GB and 32GB versions, will continue to be equipped with 9.7-inch panels but with a display resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels (264ppi) compared to the previous standard of 1024 by 769 pixels.

Although Apple has chosen Sharp to replace Chimei Innolux (CMI) as one of its three suppliers for the high resolution (QXGA) panels - in addition to LG Display and Samsung Electronics, the whole supply chain has failed to substantially ramp up the supply of QXGA panels.

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As a result, iPad 2 will remain the mainstream in shipments in the most part of the first quarter before shipments of iPad 3 start gaining momentum in the second quarter.

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