There are new reports that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will launch the second generation iPad Mini, and this time it may feature Retina Display and an upgraded 9.7 inch iPad sometime during the third quarter of 2013.
This report comes from CNYes. This report also announced that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has yet to see a decline in iPad Mini shipments. The Cupertino-based company plans to ship out 55 million iPad Minis in 2013. Unfortunately, the increase for iPad Minis also means a decline in shipments for the larger iPad.
The recent report reduced the number of shipments for the iPad from 60 million to 33 million. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) had to revise their numbers from 100 million to 88 million. These numbers are similar to the numbers are reported from NPD Group last month. They also reported that regular size iPad sales collapsed earlier this year. This leads to the prediction that iPad Mini will outsell the larger iPad by the end of this year.
The same report offers some insight as to what we can expect from the next iPad. It’s predicted that this fifth generation tablet computer will feature an aluminum alloy metal chassis, a thinner bezel, and light-weight frame. The sixth generation iPad could give Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) some problems that are similar to the problems that came up with last year’s production of the iPad Mini.
iMore, a popular Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) website, recently predicted that the next generation of iPads and iPad Minis will launch in April but this more recent report contradicts that. Since Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has a tendency to introduce new products during the latter part of the year, it’s most likely that latter rumor could be true. However, iMore does have a strong record of predictions. According to the website’s writer Rene Ritchie, it’s also highly unlikely the iPad Mini will ever feature high-resolution display.
