You'd think Apple is now on a panic mode as reports mount that the Retina-toting iPad Mini 2 release date, originally pegged for late November 2013, will suffer a major pushback?

New reports have suggested over the weekend that Apple is facing a blank wall on when exactly volume production of the Mini 2 will reach ideal levels as its key Retina producer Sharp Display was bogged down LCD burn-in issues.

Sharp handles some 40 per cent of the Retina display panel requirements for the Mini 2, indicating that any glitch on its production efforts will lead to considerable setbacks on the small iOS 7 tablet's global rollout for Q4 2013.

Now with the second iPad Mini possibly in short stock come the 2013 holiday season and the Black Friday fever, is Apple CEO Tim Cook losing some sleep?

Maybe, but maybe not. The Mini 2 not in abundant supply could actually become a blessing in disguise for the tech giant, CNET's Brooke Crothers said in a report.

"Limited availability of the iPad Mini with Retina Display means Apple can nudge consumers to buy the potentially less-popular iPad Air," Mr Crothers wrote.

The report further hinted that while Apple could be moving heaven and earth to ship out reasonable units of the Mini 2 for the holidays, the feared shortfalls could somehow become a welcome development, specifically for the company's original iPad make.

Mr Cook, the report said, was very realistic in declaring that "it's unclear whether we'll have enough for the quarter or not," as he addressed concerns if sufficient Mini 2s will be out on time for the holiday shoppers.

But in effect, the Apple chief is presented with "more than just a convenient reason for Apple to stagger the release of the iPad Air and iPad Mini Retina," Mr Crothers offered.

How exactly will the tech giant profit in the event a serious case of Mini 2 stock outs occur immediately after its supposed late November 2013 release date, if it will be released at all?

The report argued that with only a few million iPad Mini 2s up for grabs, Apple will at least meet some of the demands for the product. For those unable to secure a unit, the company can convince them to take a second look on the iPad Air.

It has been slimmed down and most of the heft from the previous builds were gone. The iPad Air is downright sexy, packs more power and definitely has Retina crawling out of the box. In short, the device is merely the bigger iPad Mini and costs only $100 more.

And the best part, the iPad Air is readily available, meaning buyers do not need to wait to play with the new toy. Plus a big bonus: They get more than they bargained for.

No, Apple is not trying to kill the Mini 2. It merely aims to prop up the original iPad, which finally met the iPad killer when the original iPad Mini was unleashed in late 2012.

There is no arguing that once the iPad Mini 2 with Retina has attained normal shipment levels, it will surely make a killing in the immediate aftermath of its release date, which analyst said will happen on Nov 22 or week before the 2013 Black Friday deals galore.