A recent note from famous KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that he doesn’t expect the new and improved iPad Mini to enter production until October. This is all because of production issues and keep in mind this is the Retina Display iPad Mini we’re talking about.
Yield issues are to blame apparently and they’re caused by the high res display, if sources are to be believed. A note from the analyst mentioned above says that the second gen iPad Mini is experiencing production issues that come from the process of finding a proper display with enough pixels to reach Retina status. An October start of mass production means that the debut will go down in November at the earliest or possibly at Xmas time.
The same Kuo notes that Apple may be looking to build a low cost iPad Mini, in order to boost the sales and respond to the wave of budget Android slates. However, I say they could simply lower the price of the iPad Mini and that will do… Launching a cheaper iPhone and iPad in the same year would be seen by many as a desperate move from Apple. Are they desperate?
If the cheaper iPad exists, it’s supposed to cost around $199 to $249.