iPad 3 due by Thanksgiving; Pegatron wins contract

Device manufacturer Pegatron has landed the exclusive contract to build Apple’s upcoming iPad 3, beating out former Apple favorite Foxconn, Taiwan Economic News reports.

And it looks like we won’t have to wait too long for the new tablet either: Apple is gearing up to release the iPad 3 just in time for Thanksgiving, according to China Times.

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The information falls in line with previous rumors that Apple would deliver another new iPad model later this year. We’ve sent a note to Apple to see if we can get any of this confirmed and will update when we hear back (don’t hold your breath).

If the reports are true, it would mean that Pegatron’s campaign to oust Foxconn as Apple’s mobile device manufacturer is succeeding. Pegatron reportedly landed a contract to build 15 million iPhone 5s earlier this month. Foxconn gained notoriety over the past few years due to reports of brutal work conditions that led to a number of suicides. An explosion at Foxconn’s Chengdu factory earlier this year likely led Apple to look elsewhere for manufacturing help.

The iPad 3, or whatever it ends up being called, will likely sport a higher resolution display than previous iPads, according to past rumors.

The manufacturer switch will remain mostly invisible to consumers, though it will allow Apple to keep up with consumer demand for the iPad and iPhone. Apple mentioned last week during its quarterly earnings calls that iPad sales are “absolutely a frenzy.” The company said it sold every iPad it could make — so the addition of another manufacturer churning out iPads will likely end up paying off big for Apple.

Via Boy Genius Report 1, 2