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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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ipad_mini_hand-250x307.jpg
Taiwan's Economic Daily News reports [Google translation] that shortages of Retina display panels for Apple's planned second-generation iPad mini have forced the company to push back its internal launch plans into early 2014. The company reportedly had been planning to launch the device during the fourth quarter of 2013, in time for the holiday shopping season.

The report also appears to suggest that Apple may offer both Retina and non-Retina versions of the second-generation iPad mini, although it is unclear just how price and feature differentiation between the models would work out.

Today's article is just the latest in a line of reports expressing uncertainty over Apple's iPad mini plans. Back in April, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had indicated that technical challenges with Retina displays would likely result in the updated iPad mini beginning to ship in the September-November timeframe, perhaps somewhat later than observers had been expecting at that time.

NPD DisplaySearch analysts have also been flip-flopping on their claims, beginning with a May report initially claiming that Apple would be releasing a non-Retina iPad mini update later this year with a Retina update to follow in early 2014, but within hours reporting on DisplaySearch's claim was revised to indicate that a Retina display would be included in both of those updates. But last month DisplaySearch returned to its original prediction, claiming that a thinner non-Retina iPad mini would arrive late this year with a Retina model following in early 2014.

Article Link: More Claims of No Retina iPad Mini Until Early 2014
 

appleisking

macrumors 6502a
May 24, 2013
658
3,022
Hrm more reason to pick up a refurbished right now for me. Was kinda hoping for a refresh in sept. or oct. tho.
 

T-Mac

macrumors member
Jul 6, 2007
84
0
Tennessee
So why would I buy a non-retina mini in late 2013 if reports indicate that a retina version shows up in early 2014?
 

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
What would be the reason to purchase a non-retina mini 2 at this point?

Is there anyone who would pick one of these up over a highly discounted mini 1?

Retina is coming - I think it'd be a big mistake for Apple to release a non-retina version. If it takes a little extra time, so be it. Just release it when its ready and quit this "in-between, stepchild product" nonsense (looking at you iPad 3).
 

ArtOfWarfare

macrumors G3
Nov 26, 2007
9,560
6,059
So they're planning on letting the iPad Mini go a year and a half without an update?

Given it's in such a competitive market, this seems like a poor business choice to me... I'd say ship the best gen 2 you can this year and then put off retina until gen 3 in summer/fall of next year.
 

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,132
31,175
There's been so many flip flops with these rumors I don't believe any of them at this point. Not even worth reporting on.
 

Scarpad

macrumors 68020
Jan 13, 2005
2,135
632
Ma
So they're planning on letting the iPad Mini go a year and a half without an update?

Given it's in such a competitive market, this seems like a poor business choice to me... I'd say ship the best gen 2 you can this year and then put off retina until gen 3 in summer/fall of next year.

That's what I think will happen , they'll bump the processor to an A6 and maybe a better camera
 

palmerc2

macrumors 68000
Feb 29, 2008
1,623
683
Los Angeles
if true, history is just repeating itself....happened with the original iPad.

Only difference I don't think folks were expecting a "retina" display on the iPad 2, but I could be wrong....
 

suprakc

macrumors regular
Jun 15, 2013
110
3
Utah
I'm really not sure how it could get any thinner. I'm holding one right now and when I face it towards a mirror, it looks like a floating screen in my hand. IMO, the mini is doing just fine. I have loved mine since launch day. The focus for fall needs to be on iPhone 5s and MacBook Pro (along with iOS 7 and Mavericks). That is where my money is going.
 

PracticalMac

macrumors 68030
Jan 22, 2009
2,857
5,242
Houston, TX
Why so hard for Apple to find companies to make the Retina screen?

Whats different then a Kindle HD panel, something roughly the same size.
 

animatedude

macrumors 65816
Feb 27, 2010
1,143
88
i'm probably the only person on the planet who never purchased an iPad and been waiting for the Retina iPad mini for a while now.......
 
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