Apple iPad HD Launch: The Latest Rumors and TabletPCReview Prediction

Update: The new Apple iPad is here! Read all about it: The 'New Apple iPad' Official

Also, check out our Apple iPad 2 vs 'New' Apple iPad comparison.

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Here’s what we know for sure: Apple is holding an event on March 7 in San Francisco. The invitation Apple sent to reporters features an iPad, along with the lines, “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

After absorbing all of the iPad 3/iPad HD rumors and leaks these past months leading up to the announcement, here is what the team at TabletPCReview expects from the event: 

• Apple will announce the next-generation iPad. It will likely be called the iPad HD in reference to its 2048 x 1536 resolution display, which is up from the 1024 x 768 display found on the iPad 2. It will not be called the iPad 3.
• The iPad HD will have a dual-core Apple A5X processor, which will essentially be an optimized A5 system-on-a-chip. It will not have a quad-core Apple A6 SoC as previously rumored.
• The iPad HD will have more RAM in order to better handle the display.
• The iPad HD will support LTE 4G from both Verizon and AT&T in addition to the carriers’ 3G networks.
• The iPad HD will be slightly thicker than the iPad 2 by less than 1mm. Otherwise, it will look very similar to the iPad 2, and it will have a home button. The Apple iPad HD will support  Apple iPad 2 Smart Covers.
• The iPad HD will come in six configurations, with 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of onboard storage, split into Wi-Fi and 3G/4G units.
• The iPad HD will match the iPad 2 launch prices, which begin at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi unit. There will be no 4G premium.
• The iPad HD will be available for purchase on Friday, March 16.
• Apple will announce an 8GB iPad 2. It will cost $299 at launch, and be available on March 7.

So there you have it. The Apple event kicks off at 10AM local time (2PM Eastern). Check back for the latest updates regarding the iPad as they happen from San Francisco, and see how well our predictions panned out.