iPad 2 Production Was Stymied by Manufacturing Difficulties?

IHS iSuppli reports that Apple's first quarter iPad 2 supplies fell far short of demand due to manufacturing difficulties.

Those issues, according to the sources, included quality concerns with liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, production shortages of the new speaker, lamination issues with one of the touch suppliers and end-unit production shortfalls. While Apple is now on track to significantly increase its production volume in the second quarter, the company reportedly is still falling substantially short of its target production goal for April.

Despite the difficulties, IHS iSuppli expects Apple to retain its dominant market share into 2015.


"While Apple may lose its dominant share, there is no sign yet of a serious opponent to challenge Apple’s place as the tablet market leader at least through 2015"

IHS iSuppli estimates that in 2013 shipments of other media tablets will rise to 111.1 million units, compared to only 81.3 million iPads, as shown in the attached figure. iPad shipments are estimated to rise to 97.9 million units in 2015, compared to 164.2 million for other media tablets.

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