Apple (AAPL +2.08%) surprised everyone earlier this week by suddenly launching the new iPad Mini Retina. Apple had previously said it would launch "later in November," but no one expected it to come less than two weeks after the iPad Air launched. The iPad Mini with Retina display promises to generate considerable demand this holiday shopping season as consumers are shifting toward smaller form factors.
Investors have been expecting supply constraints related to this device, and low yields at Sharp may be the culprit. LG Display seems to be producing sufficient volume of panels, though. In fact, Apple may have even turned to frenemy Samsung (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF) to obtain more display panels to boost production. Apple hates feeding information to Samsung through its supplier relationship, but at the same time it wants to make as many Retina iPad Minis as possible.
In this segment of Tech Teardown, Erin Kennedy discusses the details of the new iPad Mini with Evan Niu, CFA, our tech and telecom bureau chief.
