Shipping times for the iPad mini have been slowly improving over the last few weeks, and customers ordering from the U.S. online Apple Store can now expect to have their tablets shipped within 1–3 business days.

ipadminishiptimes
European stores are also experiencing improved shipping dates, with a new lead time of 3–5 business days. Last week, European Apple Stores were listing a two week wait for an iPad mini. Other worldwide Apple Stores list shipping times of 3–5 business days.

Rumors in late 2012 revealed supply constraints were leading to restricted quantities of iPad minis, which was later confirmed by Apple during its first quarter conference call.

According to Apple executives, the Cupertino-based company expects to achieve supply/demand balance on the iPad mini by the end of the March quarter.

Top Rated Comments

WilliamLondon Avatar
159 months ago
He's certainly proving otherwise. For a supply chain guru, he's anything but. This is probably more of a function of lowering demand if anything.

That seems really unfair - this guy runs a company that has product launches unlike most (every?) other companies in the world. Which other company must stockpile millions of devices (globally) for launch (several times per year), buy in components and parts and purchase manufacturing time from partners without being able to guarantee a steady stream of business? The line between having enough stock on day 1 launch to meet demand (would you care to be the person in charge of that prediction? I wouldn't!) and not having enough stock (saving the company money up front but possibly losing sales revenue) is a very fine line indeed, and sometimes they overestimate demand, and other times they underestimate demand (this isn't like relatively predictable software upgrades) - getting it right I would think is actually quite impossible. As consumers we're either fickle or impatient, and Apple has to deal with us on our terms, and I think they actually do a pretty amazing job, I would never be so critical about their performance.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghost187 Avatar
159 months ago
The problem with apple products in general in terms of supply and demand is hard to fix and I don't blame them. Here is the cycle that an iOS device in general follows.

1st Quarter - Supply is extremely short. Demand is extremely high.
2nd Quarter - Supply and Demand even out by the end of the quarter.
3rd Quarter - Supply is high. Demand is low in anticipation of next gen.
4th Quarter - Everybody is holding off for the next gen, Investors are bashing Apple, competition releases its products early and show that they are superior to a 9 month old product, and all hell breaks loose.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dampfnudel Avatar
159 months ago
We're waiting for the retina iPad mini!!!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
skitzogreg Avatar
159 months ago
I'm fully aware that this article is regarding a drop in shipping times for the iPad Mini.

I'm also fully aware that I must share my absolute excitement for the Retina iPad Mini that hasn't been announced. Bring on the Retina iPad Mini, Apple!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kas23 Avatar
159 months ago
No one can replace Tim Cook with the supply chain :(

He's certainly proving otherwise. For a supply chain guru, he's anything but. This is probably more of a function of lowering demand if anything.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrsir2009 Avatar
159 months ago
Took them a while

No one can replace Tim Cook with the supply chain :(
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched in September. macOS Sequoia 15.4 comes two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. With...