Two is way better than one! I guess our long wait for iPad 3 is finally paying off. We will be getting our hands on not one, but two different versions of iPad 3 next month, says Digitimes.

According to website’s sources in Apple’s supply chain partners, the launch of the two gadgets is set for 26th January at the iWorld event.

Here are some of the exclusive details provided by the sources of Digitimes:

Display Screen and Resolution:

It seems Apple has dropped its plans of launching a 7- inch iPad mini  in January. Both versions of iPad 3 will flaunt a 9.7 inch display screen and will have a resolution of 1536×2048 pixels loaded with Quantum Extended Graphics Array (as we reported earlier ), says Digitimes. In order to enhance the brightness of panels, Dual-LED light bars have been incorporated in both the iPads.

Samsung Electronics, Sharp and LG Display will be major producers of iPad 3 parts, with Sharp being contracted to manufacture panels. A company named Minebea is reported to produce back light units for new iPad 3 units for Sharp.

Processor:

Both iPads will be powered by A6 processor rather than A5 processor (like in iPad 2). Samsung is responsible for the production of A6 processors for the next generation iPads, says Digitimes.

Camera:

One of the new versions of iPad 3 will come loaded with a 5 megapixel camera (for mid-range unit) and the other will incorporate an 8 megapixel camera (for high-end unit). Samsung and Sony will be manufacturing CMOS image sensors for 5MP lens and 8MP lens respectively.

Battery:

Suppliers Simplo Technology and Dynapack currently supply 6579 mAH batteries for Apple. Digitimes says that Apple will be contracting these two manufacturers for the production of iPad 3 batteries too. However, this time, power units will have a monstrous capacity of 1400 mAH (Yes! Double!).

Apple will not stop the production of iPad 2, and will, in fact, lower down its prices in order to compete with the “extremely popular” Amazon Kindle Fire. So, iPad 2 will target on the “price sensitive” segment of the market, while the two new versions of iPad 3 will get hold of the “mid-range” and “high-end” segments of the market.

I think this all makes sense. We already have heard about the use of dual light bars in the next generation iPad, and that it will have a bigger battery (which will make iPad thicker ). Besides, frequency of leaks has increased lately, which of course happens when the launch date draws near. Rumors about iPad 3 Home Button parts floating around in China also came a few days back. So, may be iPad 3, or better say, the two versions of iPad 3, have slipped into the production phase.

However, a contradiction arises as Apple withdrew from iWorld Conference in 2008 (December) officially, saying that trade shows were no more a part of its overall marketing strategy. Since two years, Apple has been organizing launch events, all by itself (of course with one week’s notice). Things seem a little unlikely here!