Apple's next-gen iPad 3 has been delayed until 2012 due to issues with manufacturing the Retina-based display. DigiTimes is reporting that two Apple supply partners for the screen are unable to reach a good yield. Apple's high-resolution 9.7-inch panel is reported to be cranking out an impressive 2048 x 1536 resolution. Because the screen has a high-resolution, it requires a much larger backlight source to properly illuminate the screen.

Surprisingly, the supply partners who are having issues are competitors to Apple, Samsung and LG. They've both been unable to reach a suitable manufacturing yield on the high-res display. Sharp is Apple's primary provider and were not mentioned with having issues with the screen. It seems Apple want to guarantee a certain minimum level of product supply which is probably why they're holding out on Samsung and LG to get their yields up.

DigiTimes says:

Apple was originally set to launch its iPad 3 in the second half of 2011 with a supply volume of 1.5-2 million units in the third quarter and 5-6 million in the fourth quarter, but Apple's supply chain partners have recently discovered that the related figures have all already been deleted.