AU Optronics Reportedly Making up Ground on 'iPad Mini' Display Production

MacRumors · Oct 15, 2012, 10:12 AM

Amid reports of component yield issues holding back launch supplies of the "iPad mini" earlier this month, it was reported that AU Optronics, which had been slated to produce two million display panels during the third quarter, was experiencing issues that resulted in the company providing only 400,000 units over that time period. AU Optronics was said to be responsible for 40% of Apple's target of five million panels for the quarter, with LG Display responsible for the other 60%.

Just a week before Apple is expected to introduce the iPad mini, China Economic News Service now reports that AU Optronics has resolved its production issues and is making up for lost time by boosting its production from two million panels per month to three million at Apple's request.

Quote:

AU Optronics Corp., a major maker of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel in Taiwan, has replaced old photo masks to overcome problems in production of display panels for Apple's new iPad mini, hence motivating Apple to increase order by 50%, according to insiders but not commented upon by AUO.

The new production target is said to be going into effect in "mid-October", although it is not entirely clear how quickly those additional panels will make their way through the supply chain and into finished products.

A launch date for the iPad mini is not yet known, but Apple's history of major iOS device launches suggests that availability could come approximately a week and a half after its October 23 introduction, with Friday, November 2 being a possible debut date. First-generation products have, however, in the past seen longer lead times than new versions of existing products.

Article Link: AU Optronics Reportedly Making up Ground on 'iPad Mini' Display Production

goinskiing · Oct 15, 2012, 10:14 AM

At this point I'd be surprised to not see an iPad Mini.

macse30 · Oct 15, 2012, 10:23 AM

I understand Apple will rename the existing product the Maxi iPad after introducing the Mini.

h1r0ll3r · Oct 15, 2012, 10:25 AM

As is always the case, never buy first gen products. Those that do, I can foresee a TON of "My screen sucks on my iPad Mini" threads. And people complained about the iPad 3 screen

pgiguere1 · Oct 15, 2012, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macse30

I understand Apple will rename the existing product the Maxi iPad after introducing the Mini.

Sure, just like they did with the Maxi iPod!

Oh wait.

kernyboy · Oct 15, 2012, 10:28 AM

you're really proud of yourself huh? so clever. did you come up with that all on your own lol

thejadedmonkey · Oct 15, 2012, 10:33 AM

Is it just me, or does that look like the same size as a Galaxy Note? You know, the one all the fanboys say is too big...

BigBeast · Oct 15, 2012, 10:34 AM

Did I miss the useful info- is it Retina or near Retina?

daneoni · Oct 15, 2012, 10:35 AM

AU make decent screens. I remember them from the PowerBook days.

arctic · Oct 15, 2012, 10:37 AM

No invitations yet to this supposedly event. Don't disappoint us, Tim. We need that rMBP 13".

Imac&SoShouldU · Oct 15, 2012, 10:38 AM

Seriously...I'd be surprised if anyone still thinks the iPad mini ISN'T going to happen...then again a lot of the "it's an iPhone 6" crowd might still say no way up untill right before the announcement.

hamlin · Oct 15, 2012, 10:38 AM

I don't have a tablet at the moment but if this is real I might have to get it. The only downside is that I know the price will be double of any other 7 inch tablet. I feel it will be $299-399 minimum.

Skika · Oct 15, 2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Is it just me, or does that look like the same size as a Galaxy Note? You know, the one all the fanboys say is too big...

Yeah one is a phone and other is a tablet?

Is this post even serious?

Anuba · Oct 15, 2012, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h1r0ll3r

As is always the case, never buy first gen products.

It's a bit hard to avoid, isn't it? iPad 1 was a new product category = 1st gen. iPad 2 was a major hardware redesign = 1st gen. iPad 3 was the iPad 2 with a brand new type of display in it = 1st gen. iPad 4 will have that display but the rest will probably be redesigned again = 1st gen.

Or take stuff the iPod Nano, which radically redesigned from the ground up every time a new model comes out. If you're gonna hold out for a tried and true Nano you can NEVER buy one. You wouldn't be able to buy much Apple stuff at all, other than interim iPhone models with "S" attached to their names, speedbumped Macs, the iPod Classic and Shuffle, the Thunderbolt display, and the keyboard+mouse.

lazyrighteye · Oct 15, 2012, 10:42 AM

I know people are talking about price control, but I see no way this mini is not retina. That would be a major differentiator amongst tightening competition.

KdParker · Oct 15, 2012, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h1r0ll3r

As is always the case, never buy first gen products. Those that do, I can foresee a TON of "My screen sucks on my iPad Mini" threads. And people complained about the iPad 3 screen

I wouldn't avoid a first gen product. While there will be some issues it rarely is for a majority of the users.

If I wanted an iPad mini (depends on price points) then i would get the first generatoin.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skika

Yeah one is a phone and other is a tablet?

Is this post even serious?

unfortunately....it probably is

Nungster · Oct 15, 2012, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Is it just me, or does that look like the same size as a Galaxy Note? You know, the one all the fanboys say is too big...

Actually it's bigger, and btw, it's NOT a phone.

shortenjam88 · Oct 15, 2012, 10:53 AM

The screen won't be retina, as already stated. Maybe we will be surprised, who knows? But with the alleged focus on iBooks during the event I think the display will have to be pretty close to retina, as reading books on the iPad 1/2 was pretty underwhelming, seeing the pixels and all.

thadoggfather · Oct 15, 2012, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daneoni

AU make decent screens. I remember them from the PowerBook days.

My pre-unibody MacBook Pro had an AUO screen also. I preferred it to Samsung and LG counterparts.

Can't speak for the company's quality on the whole (I just have no clue).

mac jones · Oct 15, 2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h1r0ll3r

As is always the case, never buy first gen products. Those that do, I can foresee a TON of "My screen sucks on my iPad Mini" threads. And people complained about the iPad 3 screen

I don't adhere to this philosophy myself as I think it's just a wee bit paranoid.

I mean, sure there are problems. Waiting around for nirvana is gonna be a long.......wait.

chrisdee · Oct 15, 2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h1r0ll3r

As is always the case, never buy first gen products. Those that do, I can foresee a TON of "My screen sucks on my iPad Mini" threads. And people complained about the iPad 3 screen

Agree. Dont buy first generation. Might have lots of issues.

Noctilux.95 · Oct 15, 2012, 11:04 AM

I would love to pick up a 3G/4G iPad Mini for less than $400. Hope that price is a reality.

NOV · Oct 15, 2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arctic

No invitations yet to this supposedly event. Don't disappoint us, Tim. We need that rMBP 13".

Was thinking the same, isn't it a bit late to schedule a presentation for the 23th?

Tiger8 · Oct 15, 2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgiguere1

Sure, just like they did with the Maxi iPod!

Oh wait.

You are missing the joke, think feminine products...got it?

Newfiebill · Oct 15, 2012, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOV

Was thinking the same, isn't it a bit late to schedule a presentation for the 23th?

It would seem to me that, if this is indeed ture, the invites would have to go no later than Wedneday?

Oct 15, 2012, 10:14 AM	#2
goinskiing macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Meridian, ID	At this point I'd be surprised to not see an iPad Mini. __________________ 2012 15" rMBP 2.3GHz 256GB w/8GB; 27" iMac, 2.8GHz i5, 16GB, C300 SSD 128GB+1TB; 32GB Verizon iPhone 5; TV2
	2

Oct 15, 2012, 10:25 AM	#4
h1r0ll3r macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maryland	As is always the case, never buy first gen products. Those that do, I can foresee a TON of "My screen sucks on my iPad Mini" threads. And people complained about the iPad 3 screen __________________ 15" MBP iPad (3rd Gen) iPod Nano (6th Gen) & 160GB Classic ATV Galaxy Note 2
	4

Oct 15, 2012, 10:33 AM	#7
thejadedmonkey macrumors 604 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pa	Is it just me, or does that look like the same size as a Galaxy Note? You know, the one all the fanboys say is too big... __________________ MacBook Air • 17" MacBook Pro • iPod Nano • Apple TV Custom Windows 7 Desktop • Surface RT • WP7 "Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment." - Mulla Nasrudin
	1

Oct 15, 2012, 10:34 AM	#8
BigBeast macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2009	Did I miss the useful info- is it Retina or near Retina? __________________ 2012 rMBP 2.6GHz Core i7 16gb 512 SSD13" 2010 Ultimate MBA 2007 MBP 2.4GHz C2D 4gb 160gb MatteiPhone 5iPad Mini 16 GB Wifi
	3

Oct 15, 2012, 10:35 AM	#9
daneoni macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2006	AU make decent screens. I remember them from the PowerBook days. __________________ 15" MBP Core i7 \| 27" ACD \| AEBS \| 5G iPod \| iPhone 5 \| 3G Apple TV \| iPad mini
	2

Oct 15, 2012, 10:23 AM	#3
macse30 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2009	I understand Apple will rename the existing product the Maxi iPad after introducing the Mini.
	1

Oct 15, 2012, 10:28 AM	#6
kernyboy macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2007	you're really proud of yourself huh? so clever. did you come up with that all on your own lol
	2

Oct 15, 2012, 10:37 AM	#10
arctic macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2008	No invitations yet to this supposedly event. Don't disappoint us, Tim. We need that rMBP 13".
	0

Oct 15, 2012, 10:38 AM	#11
Imac&SoShouldU macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: any apple store in the US OF A(pple)	Seriously...I'd be surprised if anyone still thinks the iPad mini ISN'T going to happen...then again a lot of the "it's an iPhone 6" crowd might still say no way up untill right before the announcement.
	1

Oct 15, 2012, 10:38 AM	#12
hamlin macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada	I don't have a tablet at the moment but if this is real I might have to get it. The only downside is that I know the price will be double of any other 7 inch tablet. I feel it will be $299-399 minimum.
	0

Oct 15, 2012, 10:42 AM	#15
lazyrighteye macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Denver, CO	I know people are talking about price control, but I see no way this mini is not retina. That would be a major differentiator amongst tightening competition.
	0

Oct 15, 2012, 10:53 AM	#18
shortenjam88 macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2012	The screen won't be retina, as already stated. Maybe we will be surprised, who knows? But with the alleged focus on iBooks during the event I think the display will have to be pretty close to retina, as reading books on the iPad 1/2 was pretty underwhelming, seeing the pixels and all.
	1

Oct 15, 2012, 11:04 AM	#22
Noctilux.95 macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: LA	I would love to pick up a 3G/4G iPad Mini for less than $400. Hope that price is a reality.
	0

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