Skip Nexus 7, Forget Nexus 10 2 as Retina iPad Mini Supplies Are Aplenty Starting January 2014 – Report
A bit more of waiting and tablet shoppers can forget about the Nexus 7 and stop wondering if the Nexus 10 2 will ever be released. The second iPad Mini, now with Retina, would be in abundance come Q1 2014, a new report said.
Tablet users looking to settle for the Nexus 7 or other Android tabs can hold out a little more and their patience would be rewarded by getting hold of the stronger and faster 2nd-gen iPad Mini very soon.
Same goes for those still hoping that Google will come around into releasing the long-delayed Nexus 10 2. There is a likelihood it may happen as reports hinted that the device could be previewed via the 2014 CES that begins on January 7.
However, those who were able to wait out that long may wish to look beyond the Nexus tablet variants or any other Android-powered slates and go for the Retina iPad Mini instead. If DigiTimes, a Taiwanese publication, is to be believed the Mini 2 would soon boast of higher inventory, starting the first quarter of 2014.
"In the first quarter of 2014, the device's shipments are expected to reach 5 to 6 million units," the same report said.
Likely, the development will soon stop the shortage crisis that marred the iPad Mini 2 release date late this year. While Apple has released the gadget prior to the onset of the holiday season, getting it practically become a hunting mission with many buyers ending up frustrated.
The tech giant has admitted that the Mini 2 supply levels for the November-December rush may not be able to meet the heavy demands and true enough, the device was scarcely available on global retail channels in the past weeks.
DigiTimes explained that the limited supply was caused by production issues involving the Retina display that was introduced to the new iPad Mini build. But now, LG Display has reportedly resolved its production woes plus Sharp and Samsung should be able to deliver on Retina panel orders in time for Q1 2014 delivery commitments of Apple.
So for the millions of Mini fans who have been planning to upgrade, the second version should be more widely available by the start of 2014 as up to six million freshly-minted iPad Mini 2s will flood the global markets in the first three months of the year.
This will come as Apple is buoyed by the fact that the iPad Air toppled the competition as the 9.7-inch became the top-selling tab during the pre-holidays sales events of 2013 - the Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
It is expected that Apple will close out 2013 with record sales of the iPad Air, which has been subjected to a radical makeover - leaving it lighter and slimmer but packing more power and capabilities.
As for the Retina iPad Mini, its 2014 thrust should be boosted by rising demands especially in Asia, DigiTimes said, adding that the spike will be mostly due to the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays being observed in China and other communities around the world with strong Chinese presence.