Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster is forecasting that Apple will sell over one million new iPads this Friday when it goes on sale for the first time. Munster has been fairly on target with Apple predictions in the past compared to other analysts.
There’s no reason to not believe that figure. Shipment dates for the new iPad have already been pushed back to at least 2-3 weeks after just a few days of being available for pre-order. I personally remember delays getting as long as 4-5 weeks when I ordered my iPad 2 in 2011, so if demand is presumably higher for this new iPad, expect to see the shipping delay increase over the next week or so.
Don’t forget that for the first time, Apple is selling two different models of the iPad: not just the new iPad, but the iPad 2 as well for $399. Including the second-generation tablet into the figure could push sales numbers well over one million.
Apple would not comment on Munster’s prediction for this Friday, nor would it provide any forecasts of its own. Instead, an unnamed representative simply commented that sales have “been off the charts” so far.
Last year, Gene Munster said Apple would sell around 500,000 iPad 2 units in the first weekend though other analysts went as high as one million. The iPhone 4S ended up selling four million units in the first three days of availability in October. That gives it a slight edge over predicted iPad sales, but keep in mind that the iPad is a $500 product.
[via CNET]