The new iPhone and the oft-rumored iPad Mini are set to launch in September, according to a report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to the report, the new iPhone would launch in early September, followed by the launch of the iPad Mini later in the month.
Kuo released predicted Q3 2012 sales numbers for the two devices, with the iPhone sales not expected to pick up significantly due to component shortages and the fact that the iPhone will be released with only a few weeks remaining in the quarter. Kuo was decidedly more bullish about the iPad Mini, with estimated sales of 1.8 million in the 1-2 weeks the device will be on the market in Q3. Kuo believes both the next iPhone and the iPad Mini sales will be off the charts in Q4, with the latter easily besting sales of the larger 9.7″ iPad.
When it comes to projections for Q4, Kuo suggests that iPhone sales will be a remarkable 55 million units in the quarter, spurred by the new iPhone and a price reduction for the Siri-touting iPhone 4S. Sales of the iPad line (including the iPad 2) are estimated to be nearly 24 million, largely propelled by the iPad Mini.
Interestingly, Kuo believes that the current 9.7″ iPad will also get a refresh in the September timeframe, with a change to internal components to reduce the overheating issues many users report with the new iPad, as well as to reduce manufacturing costs. Kuo offered the following statement:
“Though shipments of iPad mini’s components will start in August, the new iPad line will end production, ready for transition to a modified New iPad line. As such, component shipments will drop in August as iPad mini’s components shipments growth will be offset. On a side note, the modified New iPad shares the same exterior as the original model, but contains modifications to correct its thermal dissipation problem and lower-cost components.” – Ming-Chi Kuo, KGI Securities
Could we see the iPhone and iPad Mini launch as early as September? As is customary with Apple launches, we’ll just have to wait and see.