Apple isn’t even finished its global rollout of the iPad mini yet, but according to one analyst Apple might be moving production of the next-generation iPad mini to a quicker timeline.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Doug Freedman is in China visiting chip companies this week and believes Apple is already getting ready for production of the next-generation iPad mini, which might feature the Retina display so sorely missed in the original. Here’s what Freedman had to say:
“iPad Mini Gen-2: Apple’s gen-2 iPad mini is getting pulled-in, and is likely to have several new suppliers, with TXN gaining content.”
TXN is Texas Instruments, which has supplied components to iPads in the past, including obscure silicon parts like touchscreen line drivers. This actually isn’t a lot to go on, but Freedman seems to think that Apple is moving up the introduction of the second-generation iPad mini. However, given the fact that the first-generation iPad mini is still in short supply, he might be jumping the gun a little on this one.
iPads are typically on a one year schedule between versions; however, the third generation iPad only lasted eight months until Apple pushed it aside and released the fourth generation iPad. If that kind of schedule and turnaround is in place for the next generation iPad mini, we could begin to see invites for an announcement some time in late June or early July.
