Analyst: iPad Sales to Drop Drastically in Q1 2015, iPad Pro Production to Be Delayed Until Q2 2015

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that iPad sales will drop drastically in Q1 2015 and that production of the rumored iPad Pro won't start until Q2 2015.

"We forecast iPad shipments will fall 54.5% QoQ to 9.8mn units in 1Q15, given a lack of new applications, tablet market saturation and slow season."

"We believe that, in a major shift, while Apple (US) used to be able to use new form factor designs to boost demand, it has failed to do so this time around. The lighter and thinner iPad Air 2 will face strong headwinds in increasing sales in 1Q15, we believe; we also hold that this means that iPad, along with the entire tablet market, is faced with structural challenges characterized by a lack of new applications and market saturation. We don't think these challenges will be easily overcome by upgraded specs, new form factor designs or lower prices."


Kuo's estimate of 9.8 million units for 1Q15 is low considering Apple sold 16.35 million in 1Q14; however, iPad sales have been down for the past three quarters in a row.

In regards to the iPad Pro, Kuo believes the device will use an oxide panel to achieve a "high resolution, quick response, and high color saturation". He says production is being pushed back to provide time necessary for component yield and assembly.

Recent reports have the iPad Pro sporting a 12.2-inch display, a thickness of around 7mm, and speakers at the top and bottom, perhaps for stereo.

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[via MacRumors] [via AppleInsider]