A large Apple iPad that was tipped to be launched prior to Xmas has been delayed according to sources due in part to the success of the Apple iPhone 6.
Apple’s larger iPad is tipped to come with a 12.9-inch liquid-crystal-display screen with resolution that is similar to the current 9.7-inch iPad Air.
Apple who is set to host an event on October 16th in the USA 17th in Australia is set to release new Mac PC’s however speculation has it that Apple will also announce “another” product.
Retailers in Australia who are currently experiencing strong demand for the iPhone 6 will miss out on sales of the new larger iPad.
An Apple supply chain executive told the WSJ. “The top priority for the supply chain is to meet the overwhelming demand for the larger screen iPhones. The output of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus remains unsatisfactory”.
They added “It would be challenging for display makers to split resources and spend a few months to ramp up production for a new larger screen iPad now.”
Foxconn, a major assembler of Apple’s iPhones and iPads, is also facing the challenge of hiring enough factory workers to assemble the two new iPhones at its largest production site in Zhengzhou, in northern China. At the plant, more than 200,000 workers are dedicated to just making the new iPhones and key components such as metal casings.
Apple said it sold more than 10 million of its new iPhones in its first weekend of availability. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus went on sale in 10 countries on Sept. 19. Apple has expanded to other countries in recent weeks and is expected to start sales of the new handsets in China on Oct. 17. The company is expected to give an update on iPhone sales when it reports results for the quarter ended September, on Oct. 20.
Currently Apple’s iPad sales are falling. Unit sales have fallen for two straight quarters, while revenue from tablets has fallen on a year-to-year basis for four of the past five quarters.
Data from research firm IDC shows Apple’s share of the global tablet market has slipped to 26.9% in the second quarter from 33% a year earlier. Samsung’s share of the tablet market also dropped to 17.2% from 18.8% as both companies have been facing rising competition from other Chinese vendors including Lenovo who is set to launch a new consumer range in Australia shortly.
Suppliers are also preparing for mass production of a 12-inch MacBook Air in December, featuring a higher resolution display, people familiar with the matter said. The current MacBook Air comes in two different sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch models.
