Rumor: Target.com product page for Retina iPad mini hints at Nov. 21 launch

Posted:
in iPad edited January 2014
Apple's highly anticipated iPad mini with Retina display has yet to receive an official sell-by date from Apple, but big-box retailer Target has just posted the tablet on its website, quoting a release date of Nov. 21.

iPad mini


First spotted by MacRumors, Target.com's listing shows the new iPad mini as unavailable online and not sold in stores, but reveals a Nov. 21 release date in the product's overview. Interestingly, not all models are shown with a release date, possibly hinting that the information was posted in error.

While the quoted date may simply be a placeholder, it is one of the first indications of a launch timeline for the tablet.

Target
Source: Target.com


When Apple unveiled the iPad mini with Retina display, the company was vague in its plans, and said the device would launch "later in November." Due to the unannounced release date, Apple is thought to be facing severe supply constraints of the second-generation mini.

Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that Sharp may be responsible for the shortage as its LCD manufacturing plant is having trouble with yield rates for the high-resolution Retina panels. Even before the mini was announced, analysts speculated that demand would outstrip supply, with production issues hindering full-scale production until late this year.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 15

    Cannot be delayed further than 30th so it does not matter if its 21st <img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" /> 

  • Reply 2 of 15
    Makes sense. Has to be out in the US just before Thanksgiving and Black Friday!
  • Reply 3 of 15

    'Launch' is one thing, availability is another. Imagine the angry customers flooding stores on Black Friday, 98% of them walking away without one.

  • Reply 4 of 15
    It's going to be an iPad Christmas AND Thanksgiving. What's interesting is Apple is essentially returning Sharp back to an OEM position from having their own brand (at least in the mobile world).
  • Reply 5 of 15
    Originally Posted by DeeGee48 View Post

    Has to be out in the US just before Thanksgiving and Black Friday!

     

    Why?

  • Reply 6 of 15
    Are you kidding? To sell as many as possible, which probably means all they'll have! Creates excitement among the general public.
  • Reply 7 of 15
    Sweet. It is exactly why android is a good thing. Without competition Apple would not have upgraded the Mini to retina this year for sure!
  • Reply 8 of 15

    Perfect!  Get it before the after Thanksgiving rush!  That is; "if you get one that is"!  LOL.  Mad, mad world we live in!

  • Reply 9 of 15
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jason98 View Post



    Sweet. It is exactly why android is a good thing. Without competition Apple would not have upgraded the Mini to retina this year for sure!

     

    I don't believe that for a single second. Android is never a good thing.

     

    Apple didn't decide to release the first iPad because of any competition. The tablet market didn't even exist.

     

    Apple didn't decide to release an iPad with a super hi-res Retina display because of any Android competition. No other display was like it at the time.

     

    And Apple didn't suddenly decide to release an iPad Mini Retina because of Android. They did it because they were able to and the time was right. It's a natural progression for Apple, as Apple is adopting HI Res Retina displays across their entire line, and Apple is pushing the entire industry forward as usual, by being the first to transition to and introduce such displays. It's probably only a matter of time before Apple releases a 4k display for the Mac Pro. It'll happen next year sometime most likely.

     

    If Android were to disappear from the face of the earth tomorrow, then Apple would simply continue on with their yearly updates, improving all of their product lines as they always do, and the world would be a much better and more peaceful place without any Android of course. 

  • Reply 10 of 15
    flaneurflaneur Posts: 4,526member
    jason98 wrote: »
    Sweet. It is exactly why android is a good thing. Without competition Apple would not have upgraded the Mini to retina this year for sure!

    No, it's the availability of the A7 processor that allows them to do it now. Has nothing to do with Android.
  • Reply 11 of 15
    blackbookblackbook Posts: 1,361member
    Imagine how crazy the lines and media buzz would be if Apple launched the Retina Mini ON BLACK FRIDAY!

    It would be even more awesome if there was a special black friday deal or iTunes gift card given with the retina mini as well!
  • Reply 12 of 15
    andysolandysol Posts: 2,506member
    blackbook wrote: »
    Imagine how crazy the lines and media buzz would be if Apple launched the Retina Mini ON BLACK FRIDAY!

    It would be even more awesome if there was a special black friday deal or iTunes gift card given with the retina mini as well!

    The first point- that would be crazy to be released on Black Friday- where to go at 1am? Apple store or toys r us. So unlikely though.

    The second point is absurd. Ya- let's discount and offer a promotion on a product that will sell out in the first day. Brilliant!
  • Reply 13 of 15
    matrix07matrix07 Posts: 1,993member
    jason98 wrote: »
    Sweet. It is exactly why android is a good thing. Without competition Apple would not have upgraded the Mini to retina this year for sure!

    I completely understand what you said but let thinking about it for a sec. If Apple didn't upgrade new mini to retina, what else with it can they do? A7 is overkill for the non-retina screen. Touch ID is still hard to produce.
    Yes, they can make it cheaper but it'd only make people think of Apple product as a cheap one. It will be unexciting upgrade if not for retina. If Android has any effect on Apple in this case the new mini will be retina AND much cheaper.
  • Reply 14 of 15
    gqbgqb Posts: 1,934member

    I've been saying for a year that I'll jump to the mini once its retina, mainly because I'm actually starting to suffer arm pain from the weight of the iPad 3.

    But after a week of articles such as Gruber's defining some good criteria for deciding which device to get, its looking like I'll be getting an iPad Air tomorrow.

    I'm now in the 'iPad as primary device' camp because I spend all day at work behind a computer (ecch Windows, but a computer nevertheless) and now use my home Mac at most 1% of my time, mostly for the occasional CD/DVD rip, or for photo and music management (which I'm sure will be getting better on iOS with every iteration.)

    Its also now light enough that I think (hope) it will help my arm/wrist.

    Given that, things like Garageband and drawing programs are just better on a full sized iPad. If I go mini, I'll end up losing a lot of functionality.

     

    So its nice to have the decision made.

    Can't wait for tomorrow.

  • Reply 15 of 15
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    I guess that's what you call a 'Target' date. :D
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