Apple Ramping up iPad Mini Production for a September Release?
As we get closer to Apple’s rumored September 12 product release event, sources from high up on the supply chain are reporting that the 7.85-inch iPad supply is estimated to hit 4 million units per month starting in September.
The same sources have also said that the supply chain already started producing a small volume of the iPad mini starting in June, with a monthly estimated volume production of several hundred thousand units.
Rumors have been circulating that the new iPad mini is set to launch in October with a $299 price tag, with estimated sales predictions of 10 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012 due to year-end holiday demand. These latest rumors regarding supply back up those numbers, indicating that Apple intends the iPad mini to become a major new competitor in the budget tablet market.
Google and Amazon’s 7-inch tablet PCs are priced significantly lower at $199, but the iPad mini reportedly will have a thinner screen frame to allow for a larger display than their competitors and should also feature a better resolution, similar to the iPad 2. These improved features, along with Apple’s massive fan base and popular App Store, is still expected to make a large impact on the market for the smaller tablets despite the higher price.
[via Digitimes]
