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iPad Mini 2 delayed, claims report

Has the iPad Mini 2's release been pushed back? Taiwan-based DigiTimes says so. Meanwhile, the redesigned iPad 5 is apparently still on track.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor
Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.
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The next-gen Mini is delayed, DigiTimes claims. The fifth-generation iPad is expected to take design cues from the iPad Mini.
The fifth-generation iPad is expected to take design cues from the iPad Mini. Apple

Shipments of the second-generation iPad Mini will trail those of a new version of the 9.7-inch iPad by months, according to an Asia-based publication.

Volume production of the fifth-generation iPad will begin in the July-August time frame, while volume production for the iPad Mini 2 may be pushed back to November -- so claims Taiwan-based DigiTimes in a Monday report, citing "supply chain" sources.

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The delay is attributed to either mass-production problems or a deliberate decision by Apple to postpone introduction of the Mini 2. The latter reason is based on "market watchers" belief that the Mini 2 could hurt iPad 5 sales, DigiTimes said. In other words, Apple wants to focus solely on the launch of the iPad 5 first.

As reported previously, the iPad 5 will adopt a slim side bezel design and be 20 to 30 percent lighter than the iPad 4, DigiTimes said.

Shipments of the fifth-generation iPad should total about 8 million units in the third quarter, according to the report.

NPD DisplaySearch said in May that production of the Retina displays for the Mini 2 should begin by July with production of the tablet itself in the third quarter.