HTC Quattro vs Apple iPad 3: Stage Set for 2012 War of the Tablets

With quad-core rumour mills continuing to churn out fresh gossip, new reports emerged today suggesting HTC is set to release a new iPad-killer just about the same time Apple is expected to releases its new iPad 3.

The Quattro

Fresh speculation regarding a new quad-core HTC-built tablet emerged Friday via tech site Pocketnow. The site reported that HTC CEO Peter Chou had not only revealed the mysterious new tablet's existence, but also its exact tech spec.

According to Pocketnow, the "Quattro" super-tablet will house the same Nvidia AP30 Tegra 3 as the HTC Edge. Additionally the device will reportedly be bigger than Apple's current iPad 2, housing an impressive 10.1-inch, 1,280 x 768 screen.

Not stopping there, Pocketnow reported Chou as confirming that the device would boast 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage -- upgradable via its very own microSD card slot -- and a 2-megapixel rear camera backed up by an even less impressive 1.3-megapixel front facing snapper. Gilding the Lily,Pocketnow reported that all this would be contained in an uber-slim 9mm thick case.

The rumour followed an earlier report from Reuters that also alleged Chou had confirmed to it HTC was in the process of building a new tablet. Reuters went on to report that HTC planned to launch the tablet in 2012.

The iPad 3

If the rumours are true -- which they probably aren't -- the HTC new tablet's release could correspond with that of Apple's fabled iPad 3.

As is the case with any Apple product, a lack of formal word from the company hasn't stopped tech sites across the world reporting on the device.

Most recently reports have emerged suggesting Apple plans to launch an upgraded version of its current iPad 2 in March 2012, with a truly next-generation iPad 3 device following later in 2012's third quarter.

The report initially stemmed from the Digitimes, which claimed Apple's tweaked iPad 2.5 will enter mass production "soon," to allow for a March 2012 release.

Again citing a series of mysterious unnamed sources, the Digitimes went on to allege that Apple would follow the upgraded iPad 2 with a truly next-generation "real iPad 3" in Q3 2012.

The Digitimes offered no solid information on what upgrades would be made to make the new iPad 3 a true upgrade to Apple's current iPad 2.

The only information offered on either -- currently unconfirmed -- device, was that the iPad 2.5 would be thinner and have a longer battery life than Apple's current iPad 2 -- Apple are yet to confirm any of this.

For a full look at what changes we'd like to see in Apple's next iPad check out the IBTimes' prediction page here.