Skip to main content

With a Record Number iPhones Sold and iPad Sales Falling, the iPad Pro is a Shoo-In

Apple released their first quarter financial report today and for the most part the news was spectacular.

Revenues reach an all time high of $74.6 billion (up 30%) and record quarterly net profit of $18 billion (up 37%). The new record followed largely from the launch of two new iPhone phablets last quarter, which sold 74.5 million units.

iphone-17161[1]

Apple also reported setting a new record for revenue from iTunes, with their summary sheet showing that the company earned $4.7 billion from Apple Care as well as app, music, ebook, movie, and other licensing deals. Similarly, Apple also set a new record on revenues from Mac sales (while at the same time reporting a dip in the number of units sold).

Unfortunately for Apple, the good news does not extend to iPad sales. The 21.4 million iPads sold last quarter represents an 18% drop from the same period in the prior year.

And as you can see in the following chart (by BenedictEvans), iPad sales have started to dip while iPhone sales have continue to increase year over year:

ipad iphone sales

Just to be clear, the brown line represents the number of iPads sold since it launched in 2010, and the peaks represent the quarters in which Apple has launched new models. Do you see how the peaks and valleys have started trending down and not up?

What we’re looking at here is the same data that has likely already convinced Apple senior management to release an iPad Pro. After all, the last time Apple had a plateau, it shipped the iPad Mini and sales went up (the black arrow).

I would not be surprised if Apple expects the iPad Pro to have a similar effect.

At this point the iPad Pro is believed to have a 12″(ish) screen and possibly launch next quarter. Many details have been bandied about, but at this point it is still difficult to separate the leaks from the rumors and drunken speculation. (Some of the speculation, including that the iPad Pro would have an optional stylus, is rather nifty.)

If that size is correct then the iPad Pro would look about yay big in comparison to the iPad:

One of the crazier iPad Pro mockups from 2013

One of the crazier iPad Pro mockups from 2013

Similar Articles


Comments


Leaked iPad Pro Case Confirms 4 Speakers, Size ⋆ Ink, Bits, & Pixels January 30, 2015 um 10:09 am

[…] While there's no way to prove that this isn't an elaborate fake, I tend to think it's real. As I wrote last week, I expect declining iPad sales will inspire Apple to release an iPad Pro. […]


It's Not Just Apple – Global Tablet Shipments Dipped Last Quarter ⋆ Ink, Bits, & Pixels February 2, 2015 um 10:59 am

[…] were surprised when Apple announced disappointing iPad sales last week, but this next bit of news might come as a […]


Unicorn Watch: Larger iPad Delayed Until Later This Year ⋆ Ink, Bits, & Pixels March 5, 2015 um 9:53 am

[…] I do think we'll see a new larger iPad. Apple's tablet sales have declined for the past 4 quarters, and it's clear that sales of the […]


Thanks to Apple, E-ink Reports Profits Up Last Quarter ⋆ Ink, Bits, & Pixels March 31, 2015 um 6:55 pm

[…] I don't have specifics, but Apple is reportedly using E-ink's LCD tech in its new iPhones. Apple launched a 4.7" iPhone 6 and 5.5" iPhone 6+ late in the 3rd quarter, selling a record 74.5 million units. […]


New iPad Pro Rumors Circulate – Do You Think They're Any More Likely to Be True Than the Last Ones? | The Digital Reader July 13, 2015 um 10:37 am

[…] new larger iPad would be a good way for Apple to boost its sagging tablet sales. Furthermore, we have seen a few leaks, including a shell for the iPad Pro and a schematic, that […]


Write a Comment