iPad 3 with More Tapered Edge and an 8 Megapixel Back Camera?

NextMedia / Apple Daily claims to have received the following photos and information through "special channels". The photo below shows what is claimed to be an overview shot of the new iPad 3 back enclosure (top of image) as well as a comparison shot between the original iPad, the iPad 2 and the New iPad (inset). (via Apple.pro)
MN04 024
The shell should look familiar as it seems to be the same part we previously published. The lighting, however, is much better in this shot, and reveals the more subtle changes. There are notably no markings on the back of the case besides the Apple logo, itself.

The iPad 3 enclosure seems to have a more gradual taper to the edges than the iPad 2. The taper is seen better on the top overview photograph. As a result of this longer taper, the iPad 3's camera rests on the taper itself. We saw this before but due to the dark lighting of that image, the taper seemed more exaggerated.

The absolute positioning of the camera doesn't seem that far off from the iPad 2, but the lens does appear larger. According to NextMedia, the new iPad 3 camera will see a significant upgrade to 8 megapixels. The current iPad 2 back camera is 1 megapixel in resolution. The site also summarizes many of the other expectations for the iPad 3, such as an improved display, quad-core CPU, and a March 7th announcement date.

We've seen a rumor from the site only once before. They predicted new MacBooks, MacBook Pros and MacBook Air models back in April 5, 2010. The MacBook Pros (alone) did launch 8 days after that report, though some of the details (hard drive sizes) didn't match up to the report. Overall, the images here seem to match up to other parts that have been floating around China. Apple Daily is described, however, as a "tabloid-style" newspaper, but the Hong Kong edition is said to be quite popular as the second best selling publication.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Caution)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...

Top Rated Comments

pewra Avatar
182 months ago
It would be good to take photos on an iPad that aren't quite so grainy.

That said, I did enjoy the flat sides on the iPad 1.

I'll speak for everyone here, shut up and take our money.

Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
182 months ago
Don't see how they can do a quad-core, retina display, bigger battery and an 8MP camera and still keep the price points the same. I'll believe it when I see it.

Everybody was certain an Apple tablet would start at $1000...

:D
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayhawk11 Avatar
182 months ago
Don't see how they can do a quad-core, retina display, bigger battery and an 8MP camera and still keep the price points the same. I'll believe it when I see it.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
182 months ago
Still, that Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 looks pretty freakin' sweet.

What else does this thing have ?

The screen alone is not a deal closer

- A vibrant app ecosystem
- Silky smooth operation
- Accessories
- Cases

All the stuff that makes an iPad great... now better™
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rickdollar Avatar
182 months ago

I really am interested in seeing what resolution the FRONT camera is. If they've managed to sneak in a HD camera like in the new MBPs and iMacs then this will be a great video conferencing machine - especially with a multi-user version of FaceTime.

Me too. I use the iPad for FaceTime a couple times a week. The rear camera? I used it once in the last year just to see if it worked. I would rather they put more work into the front facing camera.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
leukotriene Avatar
182 months ago
Theory on why an 8MP camera might be useful

Somebody mentioned that an 8MP camera might be intended for scanning documents. I think he may be onto something. Here's the resolution you get when you shoot something at 8 MP:

300dpi 11.5" (29.3cm) 7.7" (19.5cm) hi-res print

Notice how that is almost perfect for capturing an 8.5x11 sheet of paper at retina display resolution? In other words, you "scan" a sheet of paper into the iPad, and it looks like a perfect reproduction on the retina display of the iPad.

If Apple is pushing for schools to move to electronic textbooks, imagine the iPad 3 also offering the ability for schools (and businesses) to go paperless as well. And on the home screen is a new app called "Scanner", where you hold the iPad above a sheet of paper, and when the app detects a stabilized image of a paper in front of it, it automatically captures the paper, crops it, and begins uploading to iCloud. Boom!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)