Before the new iPad mini and the 4th generation 9.7-inch iPad went on sale Apple (AAPL) had sold over 100 million iPads in the two and a half years since it launched. But as impressive as that number sounds, according to a new proprietary study by DisplaySearch analyst David Hsieh, Apple could sell 100 million units in 2013, half of them minis, as demand explodes.
“In 2013, it is likely that Apple will adjust its product portfolio to meet the strong demand for the iPad mini,” Hsieh wrote in his study. ”We believe that Apple is targeting total iPad shipments of 100 million in 2013, half accounted for by the iPad mini, and 40 million new iPad and 10 million iPad 2, as production continues at least until the middle of 2013.”
In addition to his iPad projection, Hsieh also forecasts the total tablet market will ship 170 million units-plus next year and that if Apple hits its targets, Cupertino will continue its domination at approximately 60% market share.
Well someone else estimated 50 million last for 2013, so is this more media Apple hype? The fact is no one how many they will see and we will have absolutely no indication of what the figures might be until this quarters figures come in towards the end of Jan. But what we do know is that iphone 5 sales in China have bombed. Along with the 300,000 units on pre-orders, there were an additional 30,000 sales on opening day in China. There are around 50 million potential customers in China and all Apple have managed to sell on their opening day is around 330,000. Not even a million or even half a million. If this were also to apply to ipads, this will not be good at all.