We’re still reeling from the damage dealt to Apple stock from a rumor about a cut in supplies, and this morning has seen another publication say something similar, this time in regards to iPad screens. According to Reuters, Sharp has massively cut back iPad 9.7-inch screen production, slowing nearly to a halt in favor of the smaller, iPad mini display.
The details about the whys and hows of the story are incredibly skimpy. There are no numbers for production on either size of screen, and no real evidence for a reason. Reuters even mentions:
The sources didn’t say how much of the slowdown was due to seasonal changes in demand or consumers opting for the smaller iPad mini and were unable to characterize Apple’s overall tablet sales.
This could be caused by a number of things — maybe Apple’s gearing up for a new device, that requires a new screen assembly line; maybe focus is shifting to the iPad mini; maybe Apple has a large back-supply already; or yes, maybe the iPad has saturated the market.
Even so, given that last week’s report on iPhone 5 screens was widely debunked, I’d take all of this with a grain of salt.
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