Apple iPad 3 Release: New Evidence Confirms Retina Display with 2048×1536 Resolution

With the rumored March release date for the next generation Apple iPad approaching, speculations on the device's specs and features are reaching new heights.

Adding more fuel to the rumor mill, MacRumors claimed Friday that the upcoming iPad 3 will feature Retina Display with a resolution of 2048x1536.They made the conclusion after examining a purported iPad 3 display module, which they obtained through unreported sources.

In order to figure out whether the leaked display, apparently of the same size as the original iPad and iPad 2 display at 9.7-inch, is actually an ultra-high resolution Retina display, it was taken through under a microscope.

When the leaked display was compared to one from an iPad 2 under a microscope, it was found that iPad 3 display's pixels was one-quarter the size of those on the iPad 2.

Here is a comparison between both the displays given by MacRumors:

New Evidence Confirms Retina Display with 2048×1536 Resolution on the iPad 3. Photo: MacRumors

Since we only had a raw iPad 3 display with no method to power it, taking high quality photos of the pixels was difficult. Still, even with the relatively poor lighting, you can easily make out the pixels on each display (made up of red, green and blue elements). We highlighted a cluster of 4 pixels (2x2) from the iPad 2 to compare it to the same area on the iPad 3. On the iPad 3, the same cluster was occupied by 16 pixels (4x4) -- exactly twice the resolution in each direction.

According to the site, the 9.7-inch retina display on the iPad would have full resolution of 2048x1536, which is twice the linear resolution of the original iPad and iPad 2 (1024x768).

Such a screen should be able to display much sharper images as compared to the previous generation iPads, the site added.

The high resolution screens would be a major selling point for upcoming Apple devices, according to another report by TechCrunch.

It's clear that this will be a major selling point going forward, and I look forward to some of the slip-ups in the Mountain Lion developer preview that hint at how Apple will be adapting its OS to this resolution bonanza, the report said.

Apple is expected to release the third generation iPad in a media event March 7. The device is rumored to incorporate a number of key features, such as a powerful A6 processor, 4G LTE support, enhanced cameras and of course, high resolution display.

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