iPad Mini Release Date Pushed Back 4-6 Weeks Due to Production Problems
The iPad Mini is almost here, but recent delays mean you'll just have to wait a little longer.
The production schedule for Apple's new tablet is behind by four to six weeks, Topeka Capital Markets supply chain analyst Brian White said on Thursday, Oct. 4. This means that the suppliers will not get the amount needed to fulfill the demand by consumers for this holiday season.
White said the following in a statement:
"Similar to the iPhone 5, we sensed that suppliers have found the specs around Apple's 7.85-inch 'iPad Mini' to be a challenge and yields have been frustrating. In our view, this is the reason the 'iPad Mini' is 4-6 weeks behind our original launch expectation that we discussed in June... We believe that supply constraints will initially hold back the full sales potential during the first month or so of the launch."
A Fortune report cited a "major Apple investor" who said Apple will begin to send out press invites for the new iPad Mini event on Oct. 10. The publication suggests that the iPad Mini could be released by Nov. 2, but the recent developments may push that back.
New photos and videos have surfaced on the Japanese blog Macotakara and AppleInsider which demonstrate its size. Some of the specifications yet to be confirmed are a two model option between a seven and nine inch screens. The iPad Mini will also include a stylus and an 8-megapixel camera.
The device will operate on Apple's new iOS 6, which has garnered mixed reviews from users. The price tag is rumored to be set at around $250 to $300 per respective screen sizes.
Some of Apple's current competition for the tablet market includes devices such as the Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7. Many of these devices are inexpensively priced around $150 to $250.
"An iPad Mini, priced around $249, would substantially soften Amazon Kindle Fire's price advantage and would negate any size advantage," reported AllThingsD.
The iPad Mini is likely to use its lower price to attract buyers on a budget. They will also likely use the access to thousands of iPad specific apps as a factor to encourage sales against their competitors.
