14 DAY TRIAL // Apple will not be able to fulfill demand for a crisp, Retina-capable iPad mini this year because part suppliers aren’t playing ball, according to a new report.
Reuters has it on file from sources in Apple’s supply chain that the Cupertino company is now delaying the launch of its second-generation iPad mini, which was said to sport a Retina display and various other enhancements.
“The reason behind the delays in manufacturing the retina display screens for the iPad Mini were unclear. One source at a supplier said there were delays in Apple's certification of panel producers, which were given strict power-saving requirements,” according to the report.
A Retina display drains much more battery power than a standard-resolution screen, and Apple needs to be careful not to downgrade the advertised 10-hour battery life for its diminutive tablet computer.
A faster processor, which will also be part of the iPad mini 2 refresh, is also likely to take its toll on the battery, so the Retina display must be highly power-efficient.
“Given the time required to ramp up screen production, a retina display-equipped iPad Mini would not be available in large volumes until early next year,” the sources reportedly added.
Two of these sources noted that “Apple has also told suppliers to reduce costs […] with one person saying the U.S. firm is looking at rolling out an iPad Mini with a smaller 8 gigabytes of memory,” according to the publication.
In a recent leak, Aussie Sonny Dickson (known for numerous accurate iPhone and iPad leaks) noted that the iPad mini 2 would also sport a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, just like the iPhone 5s.
The tablet is expected to ship in multiple color options, including the Space Gray finish introduced for the first time this year.