KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that Apple’s widely speculated iPad mini will arrive in September, and expects the smaller tablet to overtake the 10in iPad’s sales by the end of the year.
Kuo expects that the 7.85in iPad will see about 1.8 million units soldduring the last part of the third-quarter following its launch, butthat sales will significantly increase to more than 13 million unitsduring the fourth quarter, overtaking the 10in iPad that is currentlyon the market.
That is not the only change we’ll see to the iPad lineup thisSeptember, says Kuo. He claims that Apple will be making minor changesto the 10in iPad, to address thermal issues and reduce costs. Kuo’ssources suggest that these internal updates will be invisible tocustomers, reportsMacRumours.
“Though shipments of iPad mini’s components will start in August, thenew iPad line will end production, ready for transition to a modifiednew iPad line,” says Kuo. “As such, component shipments will drop inAugust as iPad mini’s components shipments growth will be offset. On aside note, the modified new iPad shares the same exterior as theoriginal model, but contains modifications to correct its thermaldissipation problem and lower-cost components.”
Earlier this month, ex-Apple staff backed up iPad mini claims, sayingthat a smaller, cheaper iPad will be a “sweet spot” for Apple.
In the same note sent on Monday, Kuo also predicted the arrival of a13in MacBook Pro with Retina display, alongside a new Ivy Bridge iMaclineup, as well as a September launch for the next iPhone andredesigned iPod touch.