New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

AU Optronics Reportedly Making up Ground on 'iPad Mini' Display Production

Monday October 15, 2012 8:12 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Amid reports of component yield issues holding back launch supplies of the "iPad mini" earlier this month, it was reported that AU Optronics, which had been slated to produce two million display panels during the third quarter, was experiencing issues that resulted in the company providing only 400,000 units over that time period. AU Optronics was said to be responsible for 40% of Apple's target of five million panels for the quarter, with LG Display responsible for the other 60%.

Just a week before Apple is expected to introduce the iPad mini, China Economic News Service now reports that AU Optronics has resolved its production issues and is making up for lost time by boosting its production from two million panels per month to three million at Apple's request.
AU Optronics Corp., a major maker of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel in Taiwan, has replaced old photo masks to overcome problems in production of display panels for Apple's new iPad mini, hence motivating Apple to increase order by 50%, according to insiders but not commented upon by AUO.
The new production target is said to be going into effect in "mid-October", although it is not entirely clear how quickly those additional panels will make their way through the supply chain and into finished products.

A launch date for the iPad mini is not yet known, but Apple's history of major iOS device launches suggests that availability could come approximately a week and a half after its October 23 introduction, with Friday, November 2 being a possible debut date. First-generation products have, however, in the past seen longer lead times than new versions of existing products.

Related Roundup: iPad mini 5
Tag: Taiwan Economic News
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
[ 49 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
Skika
88 months ago

Is it just me, or does that look like the same size as a Galaxy Note? You know, the one all the fanboys say is too big...


Yeah one is a phone and other is a tablet?

Is this post even serious?
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
h1r0ll3r
88 months ago
As is always the case, never buy first gen products. Those that do, I can foresee a TON of "My screen sucks on my iPad Mini" threads. And people complained about the iPad 3 screen :rolleyes:
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
BigBeast
88 months ago
Did I miss the useful info- is it Retina or near Retina?
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
pgiguere1
88 months ago

I understand Apple will rename the existing product the Maxi iPad after introducing the Mini.


Sure, just like they did with the Maxi iPod!

Oh wait.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
kernyboy
88 months ago
you're really proud of yourself huh? so clever. did you come up with that all on your own lol
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
goinskiing
88 months ago
At this point I'd be surprised to not see an iPad Mini. :p
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
AppleScruff1
88 months ago
That's what happens when you go to second and third rate suppliers.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Mr. Gates
88 months ago
I've had the iPad 3 for a while.

I just got the Nexus 7

I got to say , the Nexus 7 isn't quite AS fast...but it's fast.

And what it can do .....BLOWS THE iPAD AWAY !

Cheaper , more flexible and an overall better user experience
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Anuba
88 months ago

As is always the case, never buy first gen products.

It's a bit hard to avoid, isn't it? iPad 1 was a new product category = 1st gen. iPad 2 was a major hardware redesign = 1st gen. iPad 3 was the iPad 2 with a brand new type of display in it = 1st gen. iPad 4 will have that display but the rest will probably be redesigned again = 1st gen.

Or take stuff the iPod Nano, which radically redesigned from the ground up every time a new model comes out. If you're gonna hold out for a tried and true Nano you can NEVER buy one. You wouldn't be able to buy much Apple stuff at all, other than interim iPhone models with "S" attached to their names, speedbumped Macs, the iPod Classic and Shuffle, the Thunderbolt display, and the keyboard+mouse.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
daneoni
88 months ago
AU make decent screens. I remember them from the PowerBook days.
Rating: 2 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]