Apple has already sold an unbelievable amount of iPads since its initial release in 2010. Just how many? Joe Rossignol of iDownloadBlog wrote, “Apple has already sold more than 40 million iPads since the tablet was introduced in 2010.” But what about their projected sales for 2012? Considering the release of the iPad 3 is imminent, Rossignol continues that Apple “may be on pace to more than double that amount by the end of 2012. According to analyst Shaw Wu for Sterne Agee, a brokerage firm, Apple is expected to sell at least 48 million iPads in 2012.”
48 million iPads in one year? Sure, the iPad has been successful. But how are they going to more than double the iPad’s total sales in just one year? “We believe this significant refresh will likely help drive higher iPad sales and help further differentiate from arguably the only real competitor in the market, Amazon’s Kindle Fire, and not to mention the myriad of Android offerings out there,” Wu wrote. “We are currently modeling 48 million iPad shipments for calendar 2012.”
But I don’t think Wu’s telling the whole story. There’s also speculation surrounding the possibility of Apple continuing to produce and sell the iPad 2 alongside the iPad 3. This would give consumers more options, the ability to purchase an iPad at a lower price point, and would certainly lead to more sales.
We look forward to seeing just what the new iPad 3 will be capabale of. It’s rumored to be released early this year, so keep on the lookout during the next few months for more details.