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Retina iPad Mini Unlikely to See Widespread Availability in 2013

Wednesday October 2, 2013 5:57 am PDT by Richard Padilla
ipad_mini_blackFollowing a report earlier this week from market research firm IHS iSuppli, sources from inside Apple’s supply chain have stated that the Apple will be unable to roll out a next-generation version of the iPad mini with a high resolution Retina display this month, reports Reuters. Specifically, the sources are expecting Apple to wait until early next year for a full-fledged launch or make the iPad mini with Retina display available only in very limited quantities this year.
The reason behind the delays in manufacturing the retina display screens for the iPad Mini were unclear. One source at a supplier said there were delays in Apple's certification of panel producers, which were given strict power-saving requirements.

LG Display Co Ltd, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's display unit and Sharp Corp all vied to manufacture the panels, supply chain sources said.
The news of problems with strict power-saving requirements are consistent with the previously rumored challenges related to the integration of the Retina display and the compact size and exceptional battery life of the iPad mini. Additionally, two of the sources have also stated that Apple has told told suppliers to reduce cost, with one person saying that the company may roll out a separate new iPad mini with 8 GB of storage to compete in emerging markets.

Notably, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed last month that the Retina iPad mini would indeed make an appearance before the end of the year. Apple has been expected to launch its redesigned iPad and a Retina iPad mini in the near future, with Reuters claiming that the unveiling is indeed planned for this month.

Related Roundup: iPad mini 5
Tag: reuters.com
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
[ 192 comments ]


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cclloyd
74 months ago
No retina would make me a sad panda.
Rating: 13 Votes
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MTL18
74 months ago
I find this hard to believe...

...miss all the Xmas sales? Isn't that the point of revamping nearly the entire line in the final 4 months of the year?

As someone who was hoping to use one of these as an xmas gift, I hope this is wrong.
Rating: 13 Votes
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IbisDoc
74 months ago
Once they realized that Google had made the current mini even more obsolete than it already was, they just didn't have enough time to produce a retina mini.
Rating: 12 Votes
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Small White Car
74 months ago

This is what Steve was good for. He would of told his team to buckle down and make it happen. Next year would not have been good enough.

Then again Steve wouldn't have released a non-retina iPad mini in the first place.


You mean the same Steve that didn't put 3G in the first iPhone when everyone said that was too late?

The same Steve that didn't put 4G into the next two iPhones even though everyone said that was too late?

Or the same Steve that made the first 2 iPads without retina displays even as they were putting them into iPhones?


I don't know where the idea that Steve was some sort of ultra-new-tech-pushing-god came from, but it's pretty ridiculous.
Rating: 9 Votes
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bbishop93
74 months ago
Damnit I really want this asap.
Rating: 8 Votes
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MTL18
74 months ago

This is what Steve was good for. He would of told his team to buckle down and make it happen. Next year would not have been good enough.

Then again Steve wouldn't have released a non-retina iPad mini in the first place.


Steve wouldn't release a mini-tablet unless it could cook a 5 course meal. All praise Steve.

:) /s
Rating: 6 Votes
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rosalindavenue
74 months ago
I don't believe this report for a second. Apple has been very farsighted in supply chain management. I know they could be constrained by yields, etc. but I doubt it. This is a screen res that has been available for a while; it was just too expensive to use in the first mini. I think this is either stock price manipulation, or suppliers who have not been called on to supply this gen.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Raftysworld
74 months ago
Can MacRumors post a single article without resorting to citing Ming-Chi Kuo?
Rating: 5 Votes
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Chastepe
74 months ago
Think twice.

I still cannot understand how some of you who are supposed to follow Apple's news for years believe that Apple is going to implement its latest technology without first making a ton of money. Apple = Baby Steps towards latest technology, they do not care to impress or to catch up with Samsung etc. because they have the brand and they know whatever they make is going to be a success. So when they split an upgrade into future product releases they make double the amount of money. It' s a simple strategy to make more money (of course when you know in advance that you can).

I am sure you have noticed how many times has Apple make you say "This feature/hardware upgrade is going to be definitely on the next release" and in the end it s not. A classic example was the USB 3.0 implementation. Another example might be the second screen feature which will be on Mavericks, I mean this feature should be available since Snow Leopard but this is Apple's method of doing business.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
mdelvecchio
74 months ago

You mean the same Steve that didn't put 3G in the first iPhone when everyone said that was too late?

The same Steve that didn't put 4G into the next two iPhones even though everyone said that was too late?

Or the same Steve that made the first 2 iPads without retina displays even as they were putting them into iPhones?


I don't know where the idea that Steve was some sort of ultra-new-tech-pushing-god came from, but it's pretty ridiculous.


agreed. it's absurd. im convinced these commenters are teenagers.
Rating: 5 Votes

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