For years, Apple followed the tradition of releasing one tablet and one smartphone each year. But as the market competition grew fiercer, Apple had to compromise and it ended up shortening the shelf-life of its products. An analyst has now claimed that Apple will release the next-gen iPad and iPad mini in March this year, mere 5 months after the launch of the last-generation models.
It was in October last year when Apple took the world by surprise and unveiled two new iPad models. One of them was the standard-sized 4th-generation iPad. The other was more intriguing – it was the first ever mini tablet from the company, dubbed ‘iPad mini.’
iPad 4 packed a Retina display whereas iPad mini didn’t. Ever since the original release, many had been hoping that Apple would release a new iPad mini model complete with a Retina display. That hasn’t happened so far. But now, Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets has cited that Apple has plans of introducing iPad 5 and the next-generation model of iPad mini by March this year.
The information, White claims, has been divulged by Apple’s supply chain sources present at CES 2013. According to him, “Apple will release the iPad 5 and the second-generation iPad mini this March. The iPad 5 is expected to be lighter and thinner than the iPad 4 that was released in October, while the form factor of the iPad mini should be similar to the first generation iPad mini that debuted in October.”
If indeed this turns out to be true, it may be somewhat of a disappointment for owners of iPad mini and iPad 4. That’s because their expensive new slates would become last-generation within five months of release. Such rancour from users of iPad may affect Apple’s sales in the coming days. The company needs to devise some strategy to placate the users if must it shorten the shelf-life of its products.
Courtesy: Wall Street Pit
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