There’s no sense in sugar coating it, and if we’re being totally honest (aren’t we always?), we have to admit we’re a little disappointed there isn’t more competition in the tablet market just yet. After talking a big game through the second half of 2010, few tablet makers have actually delivered shipping products to go toe-to-toe with Apple’s iPad, while most are probably waiting for Android 3.0.
We can’t say we blame them, and for Samsung and LG, this staggered launch schedule by the competition is just fine (Galaxy Tab notwithstanding). From a sales perspective, the iPad has been a resounding success, which benefits every company playing a role in producing the magical slate. According to DigiTimes, LG Display shipped 1.5 million iPad panels in November alone, edging out Samsung, which shipped 1.2 million panels in the same month.
Looking ahead, LG expects to fill orders for 35 million iPad panels in 2011. Meanwhile, Samsung predicts it will ship 15 million units in the first quarter of 2011, as will Chimei Innolux, a newcomer to the iPad supply chain.
These figures take into account both first and yet-to-be-released second generation iPad models, and if you add them all up, it comes out to 65 million Apple branded slates, a good 20 million more than market estimates.
Image Credit: rizwanashraf.com
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