Apple Thunderbolt Display: Last week, we published an article – Consumers Waiting Weeks or Longer for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iMac – discussing wait times for recent orders. To view the article in its entirety, visit this link.
In the article, we discussed wait times for online orders as well as a lack of inventory available from major resellers.
According to a recent article by AppleInsider, there may be more to these recent delays than meets the eye.
“A number of resellers have run dry of Apple Thunderbolt Display inventory, suggesting the 27-inch monitor may be due for an upgrade, perhaps with a thinner design that takes cues from the latest iMacs.”
As of today, many of the biggest Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) resellers – including Amazon and MacMall – have no Thunderbolt Display units in stock.
While this may not have anything to do with the iMac delay, it is interesting to note that supplies appear limited across multiple products.
The article goes on to add:
“Stock-outs are often one of the first signs of a forthcoming upgrade to Apple hardware.”
“At the very least, the Thunderbolt Display is in need of an upgrade to its MagSafe cable. Apple currently ships a MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter with every Thunderbolt Display to allow compatibility with the latest MacBooks.”
“But the Thunderbolt Display and its predecessor, the Cinema Display, have historically borrowed LCD technology from Apple’s all-in-one iMac lineup. And the iMac was recently redesigned with a reengineered display panel that is thinner and reduces glare by 75 percent.”
While there is no way of knowing for sure what Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is thinking, many signs point towards a redesign in the near future.
Here is an additional excerpt that ties wait times for the 27-inch iMac to the Thunderbolt Display:
“Apple’s new 27-inch iMac remains in short supply because of apparent production issues associated with the display. Until those issues are worked out, Apple may not have enough panels to also provide for a new 27-inch Thunderbolt Display.”
“One report last week claimed that Apple and LG have only been able to produce about 100,000 27-inch iMacs per month. Apple’s online store continues to advertise that new orders of the 27-inch iMac ship in three to four weeks.”
As you can see, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is having a difficult time keeping up with production. iMac ship times have already slipped to as long as a month, and now the Thunderbolt Display is not available through major resellers.
Possible upgrades for a new Thunderbolt Display could include a thinner LCD panel and faster USB connectivity.
What are your thoughts on the recent delays from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)? Do you believe we will see a redesigned Thunderbolt Display in the near future?
Check back here for more updates on Apple Thunderbolt Display.
DISCLOSURE: I have no positions in any stock mentioned.
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