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Analyst says next-gen iPad mini won’t have a Retina display

Published Jun 19th, 2013 2:50PM EDT
iPad Mini 2 No Retina Display

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Despite numerous reports suggesting Apple’s second-generation iPad mini will ship later this year with a Retina display, one industry watcher believes the Retina-equipped version of Apple’s latest tablet won’t launch until sometime in 2014. According to NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim, Apple’s next iPad mini will use the same display as the current model, though it will feature an upgraded processor and a slimmer design. The analyst also says Apple will launch a new Retina iPad mini in early 2014, though his claims are riddled with holes.

First, it seems unlikely that Apple would launch a new iPad mini this fall and then a third-generation model in “early 2014.” Apple has grouped iPad launches closely in the past, but only when it offered a minor upgrade on the fourth-generation model that added Apple’s new lightning connector port and coincided with the iPhone 5 launch. The addition of a Retina display would hardly be a minor upgrade.

Beyond that, Apple is currently pushing developers to issue only Retina-compatible apps, and with the recent requirement that all screenshots in the App Store be optimized for Retina displays, it seems unlikely that the company would then launch a new device without a Retina display unless it ran into some serious manufacturing snags. Shim mentions no production problems in his report.

Finally, Shim has said numerous times that Apple’s next-generation iPad mini will feature a Retina display. As recently as last month, in fact, Shim said LG would begin mass production of Retina displays for the second iPad mini model either this month or in July.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.