iPad: towards a record 20 million units shipped in the second quarter

Analysts are expecting to see more than 20 million iPad’s shipped during the second quarter of 2012, with sales even overtaking the iPhone in the long run.

With the new iPad launched earlier this year, Apple has seen demand for their tactile tablet remain solid with this tablet remaining the dominant product in this segment despite a range of competing devices using other mobile OS’ being launched.

The device has seen such great success that analyst Charlie Wolf, from Needham & Company, believes that the company could set a new sales record in the second quarter by shipping more than 20 million units.

This would be more than double last year’s volume (9.3 million), with it being a slight increase over the end of 2011 period (15 million), which was a very popular period for the device.


The iPad to soon sell more devices than the iPhone?
Charlie Wolf has made his estimations based on the increased use of iPad’s in education and enterprise, as well as the repositioning of the iPad 2 at 399 dollars.

As for the iPhone, analysts believe that 28 million units could be shipped, down from the 35 million units shipped in the previous third quarter. This is due to buyers holding out for the new iPhone which should be launched in the autumn.

Apple has traditionally seen a dip in iPhone sales in the quarter before the release of a new model. And with the new iPad launched in China and an increased roll in business, analysts anticipate that iPad volumes will end up overtaking the iPhone in the medium term, as the iPhones are being strongly attacked by Android smartphones.