iPad Sales Projections: Apple iPad Sales Projections for 2013

iPad Sales Projections: There is no denying the fact that the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad lineup has sold well in the past. With that in mind, there are signs pointing towards the iPad mini becoming more popular than its big brother in the near future.

Apple is actually the smart money’s second favorite publicly traded company (see why it’s important to pay attention to hedge fund activity).

Yesterday, NPD DisplaySearch posted this piece of content to its official company blog: Smaller Tablet PCs to Take Over in 2013?

Here is the main point to take away:

“As we noted in December, Apple had planned to sell 40M iPad minis (7.9”) and 60M iPads (9.7”) in 2013. However, the reality seems to be the reverse, as the iPad mini has been more popular than the iPad. We now understand that Apple may be planning to sell 55M iPad minis (7.9”) and 33M iPads (9.7”) in 2013. At the same time, Samsung, Amazon, Google, ASUS and Acer are all eyeing the 7-9” segment to grab tablet PC market share, while many white box makers in China are also emphasizing the smaller size tablet PC.”

As you can see, the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad mini is picking up a lot of steam while it appears that the full-size tablet is floundering just a bit.

Additionally, other companies are beginning to take notice of this. For example, Samsung and Google, two of Apple’s biggest competitors, are realizing that the smaller tablet market is hot. For this reason, they may begin to devote more time and resources into product development.

With all this in mind, it is important to note that there are some key issues to consider. In other words, this market may be growing fast but it could lead to some issues along the way.

Here is one question posed in the same article:

“Until now, 7-9” tablet PC purchases are mainly due to the comparatively lower price point. However, this is not a long-term solution for brands. With upgrades in resolution, function, and product design, can 7-9” tablet PCs move to a more premium positioning, targeting users willing to pay a premium for a high-end product even if it is smaller?”

It will be interesting to see if Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad mini sales outpace the full-size tablet in 2013, as expected by NPD DisplaySearch. What are your thoughts on this? Share your opinion in the comment section below.

Check back here for more updates on iPad Sales Projections.

DISCLOSURE: I have no positions in any stock mentioned.

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