Sam Oliver
The iPad mini is an instant smash hit, set to quickly eclipse the full-size iPad with sales as high as 12 million units in its first quarter, according to a new report.
Apple originally expected to sell 6 million iPad minis over the holidays, but has doubled its orders with display panel makers to more than 12 million, NPD DisplaySearch analyst David Hsieh said to CNet. Demand for the iPad mini is so strong that's selling better than the new fourth-generation iPad, he said.
"It seems people especially like the size," Hsieh said. He expects Apple will adjust its product portfolio next year to accommodate for strong demand for the iPad mini.
Currently, display panels for the 7.9-inch iPad are being built by AU Optronics and LG Display. But if sales reach 50 million units, Hsieh said Apple will need to find other panel suppliers to meet demand.
The comments from NPD corroborate what analyst Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee said earlier this week, when he indicated that sales of the iPad mini have been cannibalizing those of larger 9.7-inch iPad. Wu said that sales of the full-size iPad have been slower than expected, while iPad mini demand has been greater than Apple anticipated.
Overwhelming demand and reported production issues continue to be an issue for Apple with only a week and a half left until Christmas. Apple's online store advertises that iPad mini purchases are available to ship in one week, indicating that supply has not yet caught up with demand.
The company has not disclosed sales of the iPad mini specifically, but announced that total sales over the launch weekend for the mini and the fourth-generation iPad reached 3 million units.
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
239 Comments
Everyone stay out of the way while TS' head explodes.
[quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/155023/apples-ipad-mini-already-on-pace-to-outsell-retina-ipad#post_2246663"]Apple originally expected to sell 6 million iPad minis over the holidays[/quote] I think Apple hasn't yet uite grasped the fact how succesful they hav become. 6M? They ought to know it would be more than that. First iPad? The figured they'd sell1M (first batch? Can't recall) [quote]Demand for the iPad mini is so strong that's selling better than the new fourth-generation iPad, he said.[/quote] NSS (2nd S = Sherlock) Why is he surprised? That was a new plug and 1.2MP FT camera and GPU boost, no? Not a new FF. [quote]"It seems people especial like the size," Hsieh said.[/quote] I give up [quote]The comments from NPD corroborate what analyst Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee said earlier this week, when he indicated that sales of the iPad mini have been cannibalizing those of larger 9.7-inch iPad. Wu said that sales of the full-size iPad have been slower than expected, while iPad mini demand has been greater than Apple anticipated.[/quote] Yeah, so in total they are selling more than before the introduction of the smaller FF. Go figure. [quote name="jragosta" url="/t/155023/apples-ipad-mini-already-on-pace-to-outsell-retina-ipad#post_2246670"]Everyone stay out of the way while TS' head explodes.[/quote] Why would he? He likes Apple and I think he'll be glad to see Apple sell so many. Impossible to tell how this stacks up to the competition, as their Sales numbers are quite difficult to find. And if not found, don't expect any competing CEO to tell us.
I guess this sucks for the other tablet makers. There wasn't a tablet market until the iPad. There wasn't a 7" tablet market until the mini. Good luck with your razor thin margins, android makers. Meanwhile Apple stock drops because analysts likes manipulating the stock price.
So will they change the resolution and CPU next generation? Why pass on updating something this hot. But on the other hand how to update a problematic display size? Double it? Elements far too small. Any other increase? Now we have three sizes. Something about a rock and a hard place. ...not that every other manufacturer would kill for such "problems"!
HUH...
Perhaps a smaller iPad was the "perfect size" all along.