Customers allegedly waiting for next-gen Mini

iPad mini shipments are expected to decline about 20 to 30 percent in the current quarter, say supply chain sources for DigiTimes. Apple is already believed to be cutting its Mini reserves, from roughly 15 million in the previous quarter to between 10 and 12 million. The shipment forecast is being blamed on people waiting for the release of a second-generation Mini, even though the first-gen tablet shipped in November.

Panel suppliers are predicted to see corresponding drops in their own business. LG Display -- Apple's main iPad panel supplier -- is reportedly expecting that April iPad/iPad mini parts deliveries will only reach 3.5 million units, versus the 5 million units shipped in March. May and June shipments could slip to just 3 million each, the sources say.

Apple is nevertheless said to be maintaining a production target of 55 million iPad minis for 2013. If the sources are right, Apple could conceivably make up for some of the deficit when a new Mini does ship. It's frequently expected that the hardware will make the jump to a Retina display, overcoming a common complaint about the first-gen design.

by MacNN Staff