Tim Cook told us the iPad Pro was the “biggest news in iPad since the original iPad,” but you wouldn’t necessarily know that based on initial availability of the plus-size tablet.
Apple is reportedly experiencing panel shortages for the device, making it likely that iPad Pro shipments will come in at less than 3 million for the last three months of 2015.
The reason for the panel shortage isn’t specified, so we have no way of knowing what the bottleneck might be, assuming this rumor turns out to be correct. Sharp is providing displays for the 12.9-inch iPad, while GIS is responsible for the giant tablet’s touch modules, lamination and LCM assembly. Samsung Display and TPK are reportedly acting as secondary suppliers.
Given that Apple wants to use the iPad Pro to reinvigorate iPad sales, constrained supplies early on would be less than ideal — particularly since there’s no new iPad Air this year to make up the shortfall.
Apple sold 12.3 million iPads in Q4 last year, which represented a decline from the 14.1 million units sold during the same period in 2013.
From a customers’ perspective, 2.5 million to 3 million iPad Pros is still better than none. Still, from an investor’s perspective, it may not be enough. We shall see.
Source: Digitimes
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
11 responses to “Apple’s super-size iPad Pro could be hard to find early on”
All this quarterly talk. We need to move away from quarterly capitalism and focus on long term growth. If we measured by that, Apple investors would never fret.
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So seeing this product outside the US this year is less than likely I assume.
All I wanted was a properly updated iPad mini and an updated Air. Both should have received the same processor that is in the giant iPad. A giant iPad also defeats the purpose of the original intent of an iPad. Somehow they think neglecting their best selling iPad, the 9.7″ one, is going to regenerate dwindling iPad sales. Apple has lost its way. Steve Jobs would not be happy.
Do you believe the iPad should only ever fulfill its original intent moving forward? On another note, don’t you think putting the same processor in all the iPads would result in a less distinguished product line? Yes, it may be better for the end-user, but Apple still needs to drive sales and profit as a business by differentiating it’s entry-level and higher-end products.
“Do you believe the iPad should only ever fulfill its original intent moving forward?”
What the heck are you talking about?? The mini and the Air are still being sold! If they are being sold then they should be supported properly!!
“On another note, don’t you think putting the same processor in all the iPads would result in a less distinguished product line?”
The distinguishing factor is **size**, and with the Pro model, the writing ability!
“Yes, it may be better for the end-user, but Apple still needs to drive sales and profit as a business by differentiating it’s entry-level and higher-end products.”
Apple, under Tim Cook, has crossed over the line where profit is more important than a sustainable business model. It’s bad enough the lousy upgrade to the mini, and NO upgrade for the Air, but when you design your product line to become slow and crippled devices within two years, that is not only not good for their customers, but it is certainly not good for business.
I’ve owned an iPad since the beginning, and I have convinced probably around 50 people to buy one over the years. No more. In fact, i now warn people away. When things become as bad on the Mac side(the signs are there) I will get rid of my Mac and do the same thing.
Ok.
That “GIANT” iPad is one of the best inventions of our time. You think of an iPad as a screen you play games on or browse the internet.
Entire purpose of this iPad is to make it actually usable for PROFESSIONALS (hence “Pro” in the name). Try drawing on ANY tablet now. Its disgusting. If the managed to reduce input latency to almost a “0” with Apple Pen and new display tech… OH MY!!!! We will stop using papers for good. Every art school in the country should have a bunch of them in their classes.
Yes, and all the Apple people laughed at the Surface Pro and saying who needs something like that. And now they are going ooh ah amazing since it is on an Apple product. And let’s not forget about how Apple people laughed at who needs a small smaller tablet and a bigger phone. What next? A USB port? No, know one needs that ridiculous thing.
It’s a safe bet that most iPad users have no interest in a huge iPad and that most of them are not artists.
It will be hard to get the iPad Pro and the accessories at first, but I already see companies like Lumiy, Spigen, and Logitech coming out with a whole new series of accessories for Apple and other products. Spigen sleek cases for iPhones and iPads, Lumiy amazing LED desk lamps with charging ports, and Logitech with keyboards and other devices.