Sales of the iPad mini are cannibalizing sales of the full-sized iPad much faster than even Apple expected. According to a report from NPD DisplaySearch, January shipments of tablet panels between 7 and 9 inches eclipsed shipments of larger panels.
Shipments of 9.7-inch panels (the iPad) fell from 7.4 million in December to 1.3 million in January, while shipments of 7.9-inch panels (the iPad mini) rose to over 5 million. Smaller tablet panels, including those used for the iPad mini, the Kindle Fire, and the Google Nexus, saw total shipments of 14 million.
Back in December, NPD estimated that Apple would sell 40 million iPads minis and 60 million iPads during 2013, but the sales numbers from January suggest a different outcome. One with the iPad mini on top.
From NPD: “As we noted in December, Apple had planned to sell 40M iPad minis (7.9”) and 60M iPads (9.7”) in 2013. However, the reality seems to be the reverse, as the iPad mini has been more popular than the iPad. We now understand that Apple may be planning to sell 55M iPad minis (7.9”) and 33M iPads (9.7”) in 2013.”
In December and January, the iPad mini was in short supply due to low yield rates for the mini’s display panel. Apple reached a good supply/demand balance in early February, which should lead to even greater sales of the mini tablet.
