As Apple has selected Sharp, LG Display and Sharp as the suppliers of 9.7-inch QXGA (2,048 x 1,536) panels for use in a new version of the iPad, shipments of such high-resolution panels began in the fourth quarter of 2011 and will exceed those of XGA panels used in iPad 2 in the second quarter of 2012, DigiTimes reports citing Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

With fewer than one million panels shipped in the fourth quarter of 2011, Apple will keep increasing the shipment volume of panels for use in the new version of iPad to 6.0-7.0 million panels in the first quarter and 10.0 million units in the third quarter of 2012, the sources pointed out.

In the meantime, Apple has downwardly adjusted shipments of iPad 2 panels from the peak of 16.0 million panels in the third quarter to 10.0 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011 and further to 7.0-8.0 million units in the first quarter of 2012, the sources indicated. Thus, the shipment volume of panels for use in the new version of iPad will surpass that of iPad 2 panels in the second quarter of 2012, the sources noted.

The shipment volume of iPad 2 panels will decrease from 48.0 million units in 2011 to an estimated 25.0 million units in 2012, while an estimated 40.0 million panels for use in the new version of iPad will be supplied in 2012, the sources pointed out.

Meanwhile, Apple Insider reminds that Apple and Sharp are believed to have formed a close partnership over a next-generation LCD display technology called IGZO will reportedly make its way into future mobile devices from the company. It has been suggested that the technology could arrive as early as this spring with the next iPad.

Recent rumors have put forth March as the expected launch month for the iPad 3. According to a report from Bloomberg last week, the new iPad could feature support for 4G LTE and a quad-core processor.