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Component Suppliers Say Apple Has Ordered Parts for 10 Million 'iPad Minis' in 4Q 2012

Monday October 8, 2012 6:40 am PDT by Eric Slivka
While some sources have indicated that production challenges with components for Apple's forthcoming "iPad mini" will limit launch supplies of the device, The Wall Street Journal now reports that many component suppliers are moving ahead to meet Apple's plans to build more than 10 million units of the device during the fourth quarter.
Some component suppliers to Apple in Asia say they have received orders to make more than 10 million units of the smaller tablets in the fourth quarter. That is roughly double the order that were placed for Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets in the same quarter, these suppliers say.

The figure indicates that Apple believes demand for the product will be strong, despite stiff competition in the market.

Mockup of 7.85-inch "iPad mini" (courtesy of CiccareseDesign)

Just last week, the publication reported that mass production of the iPad mini had begun ahead of an introduction said to be coming at a media event sometime this month. One recent rumor has claimed that invitations for the media event will be going out this Wednesday, with the event presumably following approximately one week later.

Related Roundup: iPad mini 5
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
[ 273 comments ]


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sammich
89 months ago
You guys are getting heaps of usage out of those mockups, aren't you?
Rating: 19 Votes
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Lordskelic
89 months ago
I am SO curious what the price of one of these bad boys will be.
Rating: 13 Votes
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samcraig
89 months ago
Price will be everything.

If not priced competitively - even if a better device, they won't sell as "hot" as a full sized iPad.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Technarchy
89 months ago
Maybe this is real afterall
Rating: 9 Votes
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MyMacintosh
89 months ago
iSkeptical
Rating: 7 Votes
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3N16MA
89 months ago
1. iPad mini rumors

2. Some MR members claim "it will never happen."

3. More and more evidence builds that it will.

4. Same people say "it will never happen."

5. Apple sends out invite for keynote.

6. Apple unveils new smaller iPad.

7. People who said it will never happen now say "Apple is doomed."

8. iPad mini sells million in the first week and is a success.

9. Those same people keep quiet.
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
World Citizen
89 months ago
No no no


This will be the remote for the AppleTV (40" screen including Apple iOS)

- Browse content while watching TV
- type on fullsize keyboard instead of crappy remote
- SecondScreen for TV program makers
- Browse content on you mac and play on TV
- Live debate and chat about current TV content
- Itunes DJ type of content playlist


This would be THE solution for browsing content and inserting TEXT and so on...

PLEAS MAKE THIS!!!!!
Rating: 7 Votes
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Northgrove
89 months ago
I imagine a surprisingly low price for being Apple. If there's something Tim Cook knows his **** about, it's this. :p I'd go as far as to say that the low price will be the main attraction of the mini. I think Apple really wants to kill the lower end in the tablet business, and that they'll try to do it with an agressive pricing strategy to the point of being a device selling with their lowest profit margins yet. They'll have one device precision targeted for this, and they'll try to leave absolutely no room to compete. $199-$250 perhaps?
Rating: 6 Votes
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knemonic
89 months ago

Maybe they are intending to price it aggressively, and that's why they think demand will be strong. However, as well as expanding the iPad market to customers with smaller budgets, it's bound to cannibalise sales of the full size iPad to some extent.


Not nessecaraly. Those who cannot afford the New iPad aren't buying the iPad, simply because they cannot afford it. Instead they are resorting to Kindles and the Nexus, cause the price is right, even though they might prefer the iPad.

A modestly priced iPad mini around $249 is geared to capture a market that Apple is losing, even though they have the iPad 2 at $399.

The fact is those who cannot afford a 399 iPad 2 but can afford a 199 Nexus, will find a way to afford a 249 iPad mini, because it is within reach and worth the ecosystem.

Apple knows now more than ever that they have to do this. This is the same with having to get the iPhone on as many carriers as possible, since they were losing tons of sales to loyalty or company discounts with carriers (me for example with Verizon). I wanted an iphone for four generations but I simply would not switch to ATT. When it came to VW, I was up at 2am preording one.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Allenbf
89 months ago
iWant
Rating: 5 Votes

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