iPad Mini 2 Release Date Delayed Due to Retina Screen Shortage?

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Friday, July 12, 2013

More reports have surfaced confirming that the release date for the iPad Mini 2 has been pushed back due to a shortage of retina displays.

These issues have forced Apple to push back its release until early 2014, according to a report from Taiwan's Economic Daily News.

The publication stated that Apple originally planned to launch the device in the final quarter of 2013 and now has to push it back due to this supply shortage. The report also states that Apple might offer a Retina and non-retina iPad Mini model; however, it is unclear how price and feature differentiation will work between the two.

DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim reported similar information last month when he retracted some of his earlier statements claiming the retina model would debut in the fall and now claims Apple fans will see it sometime next year.

"Apple is expected to refresh its iPad mini in the second half of the year. The new iPad will continue to use a 7.9-inch display with 1024 x 768 resolution, but it will use the iOS 7 operating system and an A6 processor in a slimmer design than the current generation," he said.

"Another iPad Mini is also planned for production but not until early 2014," he continued. "That device is expected to feature a QXGA (2048x1536) resolution display and the iOS 7 OS."

The DisplaySearch report should be taken with a grain of salt as no information on the tablet has been confirmed at this time.

The iPad Mini 2 is expected to launch shortly after the release of the fifth-generation full sized model, according to an older report from DigiTimes. Volume production of the new generation 9.7-inch iPad is expected to begin in July or August, with shipments in the third quarter estimated at 5 million units.