Apple iPad 3: the biggest rumours all in one place

The Gadget Show  Thursday 23 February 2012

If rumour is to be believed, Apple is ready to unveil the next generation of iPad as early next month. In typical Apple fashion, the Cupertino-based company is giving nothing away. But that hasn’t stopped the gadget world speculating. To keep you in the know, here’s a roundup of just some of the the latest, best and most exciting Apple iPad 3 rumours doing the rounds.

From more powerful processors to meatier 8-megapixel cameras, we’ve got the lowdown on the iPad 3 grapevine. Check out the latest iPad 3 rumours below.

iPad 3 will have a quad-core processor

Of all the Apple iPad 3 rumours, talk of a quad-core processor appears to be the most common. Dual-core processors are so 2011 these days, and Apple needs to be seen to be pushing out the best, fastest customer-friendly tablet around. The iPad 3 will need to be quick if it is to continue as the leading tablet for gadget fans and tablet first-timers, especially if it is to cement its reputation as an alternative gaming device.

Siri voice integration

Siri voice integration made its debut on the Apple iPhone 4S. It’s still one of the flagship iPhone features that despite its critics will continue to be taken seriously by Apple. So don’t be surprised to see the feature included as part of the iPad 3’s repertoire, letting you set reminders and check the weather using the power of your vocal chords.

It will have a larger 8-megapixel sensor

Recently-leaked photos revealed what appears to be a larger camera sensor for the iPad 3, which would fit in nicely with word of an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. But does the iPad 3 need it?

An iPhone 4-like Retina Display

As rumour has it, the iPad 3 will feature a larger version of Apple’s much-heralded Retina Display. Looking at its rivals such as the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, with its IPS display and others, an improvement on the iPad 2 display looks a no-brainer. The bottom line is that games, photos, films and internet browsing will look as spectacular on iPad 3 as it does on the iPhone 4S.

It won’t look all that different to the iPad 2

Besides a few more tapered edges, a larger camera sensor and a slighter bulkier derrière, the iPad 3 will not look all that different from the current-gen iPads. As we’ve seen in the past, once Apple has a design, it tends to stick with it, only making few minor design tweaks. The iPad 2 and iPad 3 will look nearly identical.

Longer battery life

The (rumoured) extra bulk suggests that the iPad 3 may feature a longer battery life. Currently the iPad 2 sports a 10-hour battery life, so anything extra is a bonus. 12 hours, perhaps?

The iPad 3 will be out next month

Apple doesn’t always wait long between launching a product and having it arrive in stores. It is believed that the iPad 3 will hit the shops just weeks after Apple’s March 7 event. If you haven’t started saving up, now’s the time.

Heard any more Apple iPad 3 rumours? Let us know