iPad 2 sales have dropped significantly following the introduction of new iPad and iPad mini models back in October, according to the latest research from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. Both the mini and full-size iPad Air making significant percentage gains in Apple's iPad mix.
For the September quarter, the last quarter before the new iPads were released, CIRP said the iPad 2 accounted for some 22 percent of iPad sales. For the December quarter, the iPad 2 fell to only 5 percent of total iPad sales.
In the quarter, the iPad mini with Retina display remained supply constrained until at least mid-December -- the full size iPad accounted for 54 percent of sales, while the iPad mini accounted for 41 percent.
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"Apple managed to shift significant sales to its higher-priced models," said Mike Levin, CIRP Partner and Co-Founder. "For the past year, the legacy iPad 2 grabbed from one-quarter to one-third of iPad sales. Along with the trend toward sale of models with larger storage capacities, Apple should see higher iPad average selling prices, with iPad 2 at only 5% of total sales and iPad mini sales split between the original model and the new iPad mini with Retina display."
The new iPad Air -- which was in strong supply for the quarter -- accounted for 41 percent of total iPad sales, significantly outselling the fourth-generation full-size iPad. Sales of the non-retina iPad mini outstripped its retina-equipped brethren, likely because of supply issues. On the U.S. Apple Online Store, the iPad mini with Retina display only began shipping within 24 hours at the end of December.
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The shift of sales from the cheaper iPad 2 to the more expensive iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina is a good sign for Apple. The company has seen its iPad Average Selling Price consistently drop over the past three years.
Top Rated Comments
This is bad for the iPad 2. I think Apple may discontinue it this year.
Good, I hope they also discontinue the 1st generation iPad mini. Then we will only be left with retina iPads with a minimum of an A7 chip.iPad 2 was and still is a great device, but I believe it is time to say goodbye.
Who was still buying these things?
Did old people wise up or did stores stop pushing them as a reasonable option?
People who buy ipads in volume like this.
Or who have expensive POS systems or other industry-specific hardware that is not easy to adapt to Lightning, nor is there a compelling reason to.
Buying a refurbished model does not work for me, I want the iPad to be new.
Refurb gets you:And that is the part where I can't understand why people would not get the iPad air. I can understand that the price can be tempting, I saw some iPads in my area going of $369 before tax and Target was giving a $60 gift card. But the A5 chip is how many generations behind?
I know a friend who bought a iPad 2 and an iPad mini all within the last 12 months, his wife also got an iPhone 4S....
- a new outer shell
- a new battery
- a thoroughly checked iPad
- Standard one year warranty
- Option of getting Apple Care
- a less expensive iPad
So exactly why do you not want a refurbished iPad?