Retina iPad Mini Display Production Levels Appear Set to Match Last Year's Model

According to market research firm IHS iSuppli (via CNET), production levels for displays destined for this year’s upcoming iPad mini are set to be on par with those of last year’s model. The firm also believes that this year’s iPad mini will feature a high-resolution Retina display, something that has been highly rumored for the upcoming device.

"Based [what] we are seeing in the [production] pipeline...The volumes are similar to the iPad Mini that we saw in Q4 of last year," said Vinita Jakhanwal, director of mobile & emerging displays at IHS iSuppli, referring to display production. [...]

LG Display is expected to be the main supplier initially for the Mini Retina, though Sharp is also expected to participate in production, Jakhanwal said. Other reports have also cited Samsung as a supplier as various manufacturers struggle to reach high-volume production of the pixel-dense yet thin display.

Jakhanwal also notes that AU Optronics is currently supplying a small share of iPad mini displays but that it would need to "scale up" before it could begin supplying Retina display panels. Reports have indicated that Apple is likely to dump AU Optronics as an iPad mini display supplier as it moves to Retina panels.

Earlier this week, a report from Bloomberg claimed that Apple will indeed release a thinner full-sized iPad and a Retina-equipped iPad mini within the last three months of 2013. This would mean that the upcoming September 10 media event for the iPhone would be completely separate from that of an iPad announcement. The new full-sized iPad is expected to have a narrower bezel like the existing iPad mini, while the new iPad mini is not expected to have any significant design changes.