iPad Mini Shipments May Fall 30%

Apple's AAPL beloved iPad Mini might be headed for steep declines in the second quarter. While the company is believed to have shipped 15 million units during the first quarter (the final number will not be released until next week), Apple may ship 20 to 30 percent fewer units during the second quarter. According to DigiTimes, no more than 12 million iPad Minis will be shipped to stores during the April-June sales period. As few as 10 million units may actually make it to retail. Not surprisingly, the "lacking demand" (as DigiTimes put it) is being blamed on consumers who are waiting for the next-generation model. While it is unknown when the iPad Mini 2 will ship -- most experts speculate that it will arrive in the third or fourth quarter -- Apple products tend to decline six months after they are released. This is because consumers know that they only have to wait another six months (or less) for the next iteration to be released. The exception might be the Mac Pro. While Apple has been trying to replace its oversized, ultra-powerful desktop with smaller iMacs and portable MacBook Pros, many power users love the Mac Pro format. Last year more than 10,000 consumers "Liked" the Facebook FB page entitled, "We Want a New Mac Pro." To date, more than 20,000 individuals have signed this unofficial petition by "Liking" the page. Apple has not responded to consumer requests for a full Mac Pro overhaul, but the company has provided a few tweaks over the past couple of years. Rumors suggest that the firm may finally release a true upgrade this spring or summer. Meanwhile, DigiTimes' sources claim that Apple still hopes to ship 55 million iPad Mini units in 2013. This shipment reduction could make that goal more difficult to obtain, but it is still well within Apple's reach. Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at 248-636-1322 or louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ