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Mass Production of Retina Displays for iPad Mini Expected to Start in June or July

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Following a somewhat confusing report earlier this week in which NPD DisplaySearch analysts first indicated that a Retina iPad mini would not appear until the first quarter of 2014 before quickly issuing a correction stating that a third quarter refresh would bring the Retina display to the line, the firm has now told CNET that production on those Retina display panels should begin in June or July.

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The timing would not be a tremendous surprise given that the firm just said that the device should begin shipping in the July-September quarter, although other sources have indicated that it may not appear until somewhat later in the year. DisplaySearch's Richard Shim also claims that current iPad mini display supplier LG Display will maintain a prominent role in production of the new Retina displays, and that Samsung will remain out of the display supply picture.

"We should see the start of mass production of the panels in June or July," said Richard Shim, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch.

LG Display will be one of the major manufacturers of the display, he said, adding that Samsung is not a supplier for the Mini.

"Samsung is currently not in the iPad Mini and they won't be in the next generation. LGD is becoming a much bigger supplier than before," he said.

LG is reportedly the main supplier for display panels in the current iPad mini, with AU Optronics also responsible for a significant portion of the supply.

Also unsurprising is Shim's claim that the Retina iPad mini will adopt the same 2048 x 1536 resolution seen on the full-size iPad's Retina display, albeit at a higher pixel density to fit the iPad mini's smaller physical size. Maintaining consistent resolution across the iPad lineup allows developers to target a single screen size with their apps, simplifying their work.

On last month's earnings conference call, Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared to specifically temper new product expectations for the next several months, mentioning that Apple had a number of great products coming "in the fall and across all of 2014."

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Tags: NPD DisplaySearch, Richard Shim
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Caution)
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

N
Nova Sensei
168 months ago
With the mini going to match the resolution of the bigger iPad; think we might see another resolution increase on the bigger one?

Otherwise...why even get the big iPad? It's more expensive and same screen resolution and less pixel density.

Why do people have 60" tv's? 22" is same resolution....
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
jhead95
168 months ago
We didn't need an analyst to give us this news. It was a given.

Yeh, except it wasn't and still isn't.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
Jayse
168 months ago
We didn't need an analyst to give us this news. It was a given.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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fullauto
168 months ago
1) You can't perceive the difference without holding it three inches from your face

That's what she said ;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
Daze & Confuse
168 months ago
someone remind me the root of the word "analyst"

Ana. :p

(It has several meanings - Up, Back, Again, Excessive. I suspect that none are the answer you were hoping for....)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
MacDarcy
168 months ago
People believe analysts/rumors/"reports" when they want it to be true.

I want it too, but I see near zero chance of this happening in 2013 at all, much less within the next few months:

Screen power consumption
Screen thickness
Screen weight
GPU performance
GPU power consumption
Battery capacity
Battery thickness
Battery weight
Cost and margins and end price
Yields and supply

The mini already sells well, and to change it to retina, all of the above must be addressed--without making it noticeably heavier/thicker, or you lose much of what makes the mini great. The mini (unlike the full 10" iPad) is already part of Apple's newer generation of lighter batteries/hardware. There are limits to how fast you can squeeze blood from that stone. Also remember the newest iMacs: yields were low, so they would have sold more iMacs total if they'd waited to release them!

Think 2014 for a retina mini. On the bright side: also think faster mini this year, and lighter 10" iPad this year.

Gimme a break. If Apple can put a retina screen on the iPhone with good battery life, they certainly can manage to do it with the mini.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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