Apple quality-testing 2048-by-1536 iPad 3 displays from Samsung and LG

9to5 Staff | Jul 18 2011 - 5:43 am PT

Some new tidbits arrive this morning in a story The Korea Times which claims a next-generation iPad will feature a display with a pixel resolution going beyond full HD (1920-by-1080 pixels):

Apple’s upcoming iPad 3 will feature an improved display to support quad extended graphics (QXGA), a display resolution of 2048×1536 pixels with a 4:3 aspect ratio to provide full high definition (HD) viewing experience. The imminent deals would assure that Samsung and LG continue to be the biggest providers of flat screens to Apple for the foreseeable future. Samsung and LG are two of the few LCD makers that are at ease with highly-advanced LCD screens.

Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes and research firm IDC were among the first to assert back in January that a next-generation iPad is getting a very high-resolution display. The Korea Times report is based on “a source close to the talks” between Apple on one side and Samsung and LG on the other. The iPhone maker has allegedly begun quality testing LCDs from both Samsung and LG “at one of its laboratories in China”. The testing process is expected to be completed during the third quarter and both suppliers were required to produce screens with “better picture quality and density”. How?

Samsung and LG use advanced technology called low temperature polysilicon, said to meet Apple’s strict pixel density requirements which are believed to be north of 280 pixels-per-inch for the iPad 3 display. If this is true, it’ll be interesting to see whether Apple markets iPad 3 as being Retina-capable. Even though Apple at one point was rumored to have been interested in AMOLED display’s for its gadgets, the company allegedly has “no interest” in incorporating Samsung’s technology because OLEDs have “shorter life spans and are easily contaminated”, plus it cannot yet realize a full HD viewing experience.

The Korean Times story is the latest in a series of reports published by Asian media and attributed to industry sources from Apple’s supply chain. Recently a dock connector said to be designed for iPad 3 leaked onto the web. The Korean Times report is interesting due to Apple adding another supplier to the mix as it attempts to distance itself from frenemy Samsung with whom Apple’s embroiled in an ugly patent-related spat. Samsung’s weak second-quarter guidance suggests Apple may have already diverted some of its billions to other parts suppliers. Samsung supplies Apple with LCDs for computers and iPads, flash NAND memory chips and they build the Apple-designed A4/A5 processors for iOS gadgets.