A new rumor has began to circulate that Apple is currently producing a high-resolution 2048×1536 display for their next-generation iPad, commonly referred to as the iPad 3. Quite the leap in screen resolution, especially when you consider the iPad 2 is only 1024×768.

In an interview with CNET, Richard Shim, analyst at DisplaySearch stated:

“It’s happening–QXGA, 2048×1536. Panel production has started [for the next-generation iPad]. There’s three suppliers … Samsung, Sharp, and LGD.”

The reason Apple is using three suppliers just highlights to issue of producing a 10-inch QXGA screen in high volume. “I would imagine there would be concerns about [adequate] supply given the resolution of the display but you’ve got three different suppliers at this point. They should have enough to launch the product,” Shim said

According to MacRumors, Apple has been working on this resolution for some time, as they’ve seen evidence of background images of exactly 2048×1536 being found in early builds of iOS 5.

The iPad 3 is expected to release sometime during the first half of 2012.