Market research firm IHS iSuppli (via CNET), reports that production levels for displays for this year’s iPad mini model are set to match the numbers for last year’s production. They also believe there will indeed be a Retina display model of the device.
“Based [what] we are seeing in the [production] pipeline…The volumes are similar to the iPad Mini that we saw in Q4 of last year,” said Vinita Jakhanwal, director of mobile & emerging displays at IHS iSuppli, referring to display production. […]
LG Display is expected to be the main supplier initially for the Mini Retina, though Sharp is also expected to participate in production, Jakhanwal said. Other reports have also cited Samsung as a supplier as various manufacturers struggle to reach high-volume production of the pixel-dense yet thin display.
While AU Optronics is currently supplying a small share of iPad mini displays, it is believed they would have to “scale-up” before beginning to supply panels for the Retina display model. Some reports have indicated Apple is likely to drop AU Optronics as a supplier as they make the move to the Retina display panels.
