Apple Reports 3 Million iPads Sold over the Weekend

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Apple is reporting that it sold 3 million iPad 4 and iPad Mini tablets over the weekend, breaking previous records. The new devices went on sale Friday.

According to the press release, “Customers around the world love the new iPad mini and fourth generation iPad,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We set a new launch weekend record and practically sold out of iPad minis. We’re working hard to build more quickly to meet the incredible demand.”

Brian X. Chen from The New York Times noted, “In Monday’s statement, Apple noted that last weekend’s new iPad sales were double the number of Wi-Fi-only third-generation iPads sold on its first weekend in March. That’s almost a fair comparison because Apple has yet to release the iPad Mini and fourth-generation iPad with a cellular data connection. But this time it’s comparing the combined sales of two different types of iPads with sales of one iPad.”

Matthew Lynley with The Wall Street Journal observed, “So we don’t know exactly how many iPad Minis that Apple sold, only saying it ‘practically sold out.'” He added, “If the numbers were very good, it’s surprising that Apple wouldn’t want to break those numbers out. Estimates for iPad Mini sales vary from about 1 million in sales on the low end to upwards of 3 million units sold for the first weekend on sale, according to early analyst notes.”

Market researchers at IDC also today released figures for tablet sales third quarter, which ended before Apple released its new iPad models. Michelle Maisto from eWeek reported, “Apple tablet sales fell sharply during a third quarter without a new iPad, reducing Apple’s share to 50.4 percent while Samsung tablet sales grew 325 percent year over year. Apple has dominated the tablet market since the iPad reimagined and reinvigorated it. But as competitors find their footing with more compelling devices, Apple’s position at the top is being shaken. During the third quarter, it came the closest it ever has to losing the majority share of the market, with its percentage slipping to 50.4 percent, from 60 percent a year ago, IDC said in a Nov. 5 report.”