According to Digitimes, Apple is planning to launch a thinner iPad this summer. Digitimes has received this information from Chinese newspaper Apple Daily who claims that Apple will launch a thinner 9.7-inch iPad this summer that will come with IGZO display. According to Apple Daily, Sharp will supply IGZO display panels for the thinner 9.7-inch iPad. IGZO stands for indium gallium zinc oxide. Apple will use IGZO display in the upcoming iPad to make it thinner and more power efficient. The thinner iPad with IGZO display will provide longer battery life than the new iPad.
Apple Daily has reported that Samsung supplies 60 to 70 percentage of display panels for the current generation iPad. But, Apple has ordered Sharp instead of Samsung to supply IGZO display panels for the upcoming iPad. As we know the new iPad is thicker than iPad 2 and it takes lots of time to get fully charged. Apple has increased the thickness and width of new iPad to include Retina display. Now Apple is planning to make a thinner iPad. Recently iLounge has claimed that iPhone 5 will be thinner than iPhone 4S. This indicates that Apple is planning to launch thinner iOS device in the future. According to Apple Daily and Digitimes, Apple will use IGZO technology of Sharp to make the upcoming iPad thinner. We have to consider it as a rumor until Apple officially announces the thinner iPad with IGZO display. As we know the new iPad was launched a few months back, so it is not expected that Apple will launch the thinner iPad this summer.
Currently you can purchase the new iPad, which is available in three models such as 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. 16GB iPad (WiFi) is available at a price of $499, 32GB iPad (WiFi) is available at a price of $599, 64GB iPad (WiFi) is available at a price of $699, 16GB iPad (WiFi+4G) is available at a price of $629, 32GB iPad (WiFi+4G) is available at a price of $729 and 64GB iPad (WiFi+4G) is available at a price of $829.