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Just like a new born baby takes attention away from older siblings, Apple’s iPad
Mini has been the centre of attention for Apple fanatics, while iPad 4
sales have reportedly gone down. Reuters has recently reported that
Sharp has significantly reduced production of full-size iPad screens.
The production of 9.7 inch screens has been halted to dedicate increased
resources to 7.9 inch screens.
Sharp did keep the productions of 9.7 inches to the minimum, just to
keep the line running, but the Kameyama plant in Japan will be producing
an increased amount of 7.9 inch screens. Representatives from Sharp did
not specify a reason as to why this was done, but it is being
speculated that the demand of iPad 4 might be decreasing due to the
increasing demand of iPad mini.
Rough estimates suggest that Apple has sold between 8 million to 12
million iPad mini units since its release. The iPad 3 and 4 sold a lot
less units than their predecessors, and with the option to buy a mini or
an iPad 4, a buyer is most likely to go for an iPad mini.
The news that Sharp had minimized the production of 9.7 inch screens
has resulted in a 1 percent drop in Apple’s shares, and the stock value
has gone below 500 dollars for the first time in ages.
From the news, it seems as if iPad mini has cannibalized iPad 4, but
that may not be the reason why the Sharp minimized the production. Tablets are durable, faster, and reliable devices that last for years and do not need to be replaced every couple of years.
The number of Tablet users out there is finite, and is not increasing
at an exponential rate, mostly because the new smartphones are
providing better alternatives when it comes to processor speed. Most of
the Tablet users already have a Tablet, and those who are looking for a
new one would have to choose between the slick iPad mini and the classic
iPad 4. The rate at which iPad mini is flying off the shelves indicates
that the buyers have made their choice.
The production for iPad 4 is nowhere near halted, and we can expect a
few million units to sell in 2013; however, we can also expect iPad
mini to be the top earner for Apple this year, unless they come up with
something newer and better.
