Sam Oliver
Sources in Apple's supply chain told DigiTimes that orders for the iPad 2 are gradually dropping ahead of an anticipated third-generation iPad. While iPad 2 orders are being reduced, orders for the next iPad, reportedly set to launch in March of 2012, remain steady.
Various reports have suggested that Apple will continue to sell the iPad 2 at a discounted price after it launches a third-generation iPad. Apple already employs that strategy in offering the iPhone 3GS, first released in 2009, as an entry-level handset, in addition to the iPhone 4, released in 2010, and iPhone 4S, which just launched in October.
DigiTimes, which has a hit-and-miss track record with Apple-related rumors, also believes that the iPad 2 will remain available at a discounted price in order to take on Amazon's $199 Kindle Fire.
With the reduction in iPad 2 orders, sources reportedly told the publication it is "still too early to tell" whether Apple plans to phase out the iPad 2, or keep it around following the launch of a third-generation iPad. "More observations need to be done in 2012 before the picture becomes clearer," the report said.
Apple has found great success in continuing to sell older iPhone models at discounted prices. As of August, the iPhone 3GS was still the No. 2 selling smartphone in America, and Apple is rumored to still be producing 2 million per quarter of the two-year-old handset, which continues to often outsell newer Android handsets.
Numerous rumors have suggested Apple plans to expand its iPad lineup in 2012, offering more models with different features at a number of price points, much like it already does with its MacBooks. The next iPad is expected to feature a high-resolution Retina Display like is already found on the iPhone and iPod touch.
Wesley Hilliard
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31 Comments
Apple ostensibly (I think there's more to the story than what Cook said) messed this up last year, leading to lower iPad sales overall in 2011Q1. Interesting to see how they deal with it this time.
I would not be surprised if the quad-res iPad becomes the iPad HD (at a higher price premium) and the regular iPad remains.
I would not be surprised if the quad-res iPad becomes the iPad HD (at a higher price premium) and the regular iPad remains.
There would be ONE new model of iPad. The "regular" remaining would be the one model of iPad 2 that is kept at a lower price point. No way is Apple going to make TWO iPad 3's, one with 1024x768 and the other with? whatever the resolution is. In every other story I just copy and paste from the article, since they seem to love to print it so much.
Wait a second. Sources told Digitimes that it was launching on Steve's birthday in Feb. oh wait no sources told Digitimes that it was launching at Macworld/iworld in January.
So which source talking to Digitimes are we to believe
There would be ONE new model of iPad. The "regular" remaining would be the one model of iPad 2 that is kept at a lower price point. No way is Apple going to make TWO iPad 3's, one with 1024x768 and the other with? whatever the resolution is. In every other story I just copy and paste from the article, since they seem to love to print it so much.
Don't get hung up on terminology. Your statement reminds me of the the complaints from the ones who said the iPhone 4S wasn't a real upgrade because it kept the iPhone 4 nomenclature.
IF there is an iPad with quad resolution screen (which I'm not convinced will happen this year), it wouldn't surprise me to see something like an iPad 2S which would have most of what the iPad 3 has (faster processor and more RAM, for example), but keeps the iPad 2 configuration otherwise. It could easily be similar to the current iPhone situation:
iPad 3 (whatever it's called) - quad resolution, faster processor, etc
iPad 2S or iPad 3 low res - same as iPad 3 but with current screen specs
iPad 2 - current model
Similar to the iPhone, there would be only one option in the lowest model (probably 16 GB). Maybe one or two configurations in the mid-range.