Retina iPad Mini Supplies Improving for Holidays

As numerous potential customers have discovered, the Retina iPad mini has been in very short supply since its quiet launch earlier this month, with Apple reportedly struggling with display yields that have limited production.

retina_ipad_mini_space_gray_silver
Several analysts had previously predicted that Retina iPad mini production would be limited to roughly two million units for the fourth quarter of 2013, but a new report from Digitimes claims that the production issues have been solved and that Apple has forged ahead with orders for four million units for the month of November as the company scrambles to build up its supplies for the holiday shopping season.

As bottlenecks in making components for the iPad mini with Retina have gradually been removed, Apple has increase orders in November to nearly four million units, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

Currently, Apple's orders for the iPad mini with Retina have already surpassed those for the first-generation iPad mini, the sources noted.

In-store availability of Retina iPad mini models has improved markedly for Apple's U.S. retail stores, with the company starting to offer walk-in sales late last week, although availability of Wi-Fi models remains much stronger than for cellular-capable models. Orders placed through Apple's online store are currently being quoted 5-10 business day shipping estimates for all models.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...

Top Rated Comments

AppleWarMachine Avatar
152 months ago
But is the $70 increase worth the difference to some?

I don't see why not :D

And not just for the Retina, but everything else (like 4 times faster)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleVsAndroid Avatar
152 months ago
But the screens.. the screens seems to be bad?

I got one and I love it. Its very easy to hold and use compared to the bigger Air. Depends on what you want!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleMark Avatar
152 months ago
New iPad Mini Retina - Experience

I took delivery of my new iPad Retina today, with the following observations.

I already own a 1st Gen 32GB WIFI iPad mini and upgraded primarily for a larger HD (128GB), cellular & GPS. So, I restored from a back-up so that all the settings, Apps were exactly the same on both devices to be able to make equal comparisons.

1. Firstly, I noticed that the screen compared to my 1st generation is noticeably yellow. In fact my 1st Gen is very much more on the blue / white spectrum and similar to my desktop iMac and cinema displays and white backgrounds look white. The Retina too looked warm (dirty white).

2. I carried out the marco.org image retention test and the Retina failed. The irony is that I carried out the same test on my 1st Gen and although there was some minor retention (mainly around the edges), it faded away quicker. It is worth mentioning that retention was never something I noticed the 10 months I have owned my Mini, until I went looking for it.

Interestingly, I left both iPads on the Apple home page for about 5-10 minutes while I was gauging colour and resolution. On switching to grey on the retention test screen I could clearly see the words iPad Air from the Apple Ad on the home page on the Retina only.

3. The Retina screen itself is a mixed bag for me. For me the resolution is only marginally better overall, possibly exacerbated due to the dirty hue of the 'yellow' screen. Yes it is definitely clearer when you stare closely, or zoom in. However, it is not like my full size iPad where a Retina Screen is a big deal. It is so relatively small that for me it is not a big difference and thankfully not the reason I upgraded. I am guessing that it will be better for watching movies, but I do not do this on my Mini that often myself.

Saying that I cannot accept a screen who's colour balance is not as good as a non-retina screen and has retention issues out of the box.

4. In my real world test's of opening and closing App's and the 'web page racing' I did. I did not appreciate the 4 x speed difference. X2 maybe, but not X4.

It is true to say that if I did not have something to compare it to, it may not have been an issue. But I do and it is. Also based on my experience with early poor iPhone displays, the yellow is too much and will have caught up with me in the end.

Just thought I would share my observations and disappointment. I just cannot believe I waited 2 weeks for this.

My advice to anybody wanting to buy now, is to buy direct from Apple and not an awkward 3rd party retailer. This is because, I will send this back or walk into an Apple store with no questions within 14 days. In the UK, high street stores like Curry's, Argos etc are going to give you a hard time for returning something, with the "fault's" I have observed.

I will try another (if I do not have to wait another 2 weeks...) to see if I get an improved unit, otherwise I will wait for the next update.

I also posted a couple of photo's for anybody who cares. The New Retina is the black device, but of course you know that right...?. Also, I only did the retention test for 5 minutes (for this photo), as I was in a hurry and already carried out the testing previously.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bkushner Avatar
152 months ago
But the screens.. the screens seems to be bad?

No
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dumastudetto Avatar
152 months ago
But the screens.. the screens seems to be bad?

The tiny minority of obsessives are missing out on a great product. I feel sorry for them. But there's no doubt these new Retina iPads are already a phenomenal success story for Apple.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nagromme Avatar
152 months ago
DigiTimes = random click bait.

They invent hundreds of things--along with some obvious common-sense statements--and a few predictions turn out true by sheer luck. Not many.

You may as well ask an 8-ball as take a DigiTimes "report" seriously.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)