Production Of Apple’s Larger iPad Stalled, Pushed Out To Next Year
After launching bigger size iPhone models in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, we expected Apple to follow suit by announcing a larger version of its iPad Air, and to do it perhaps this month during a scheduled press event (October 16). We were wrong. While rumors of a 12.9-inch iPad Air still appear to be true, it doesn't look like the giant slate will see the light of day until next year.
According to The Wall Street Journal and the "people familiar with the matter" that it spoke with, Apple's suppliers are too busy trying to produce enough iPhones to meet demand to concentrate on a new form factor for the iPad Air. As a result, plans to mass produce a larger iPad model had to be pushed back until next year.
"The output of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus remains unsatisfactory," a person in the supply chain told WSJ. "It would be challenging for display makers to split resources and spend a few months to ramp up production for a larger screen iPad now," adding that meeting demand for the iPhone 6 Plus is the supply chain's "top priority" at the moment.
Apple sold more than 10 million new iPhone models during the first weekend of availability, and 4 million during the first 24 hours. The new handsets are on sale in more than a dozen territories and will add China to the list at the end of next week (October 17).
It's not yet known what Apple will debut during its press event on October 16, though speculation suggests it will be new iPad and iMac models. There's also been chatter of a thinner MacBook Air with touchscreen support on the horizon.
According to The Wall Street Journal and the "people familiar with the matter" that it spoke with, Apple's suppliers are too busy trying to produce enough iPhones to meet demand to concentrate on a new form factor for the iPad Air. As a result, plans to mass produce a larger iPad model had to be pushed back until next year.
"The output of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus remains unsatisfactory," a person in the supply chain told WSJ. "It would be challenging for display makers to split resources and spend a few months to ramp up production for a larger screen iPad now," adding that meeting demand for the iPhone 6 Plus is the supply chain's "top priority" at the moment.
Apple sold more than 10 million new iPhone models during the first weekend of availability, and 4 million during the first 24 hours. The new handsets are on sale in more than a dozen territories and will add China to the list at the end of next week (October 17).
It's not yet known what Apple will debut during its press event on October 16, though speculation suggests it will be new iPad and iMac models. There's also been chatter of a thinner MacBook Air with touchscreen support on the horizon.
