Apple Expected to Discontinue the Non-Retina iPad 2

Apple’s second-generation non-Retina display iPad 2, which has been available in the market for almost three years now, is expected to be discontinued in the near future, AppleInsider is reporting. Apple introduced the iPad 2 with A5 processor in March of 2011 and was an immediate success. A year later, Apple lowered its price tag to $399 (16GB WiFi) and it has been selling for that price ever since.

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According to the source, the $399 iPad 2 may no longer be as appealing to customers with the Retina iPad mini now occupying the same price point. Therefore, Apple has reportedly made the decision to ramp down iPad 2’s production. It must be noted however that after nearly three years on the market, the iPad 2 has been a smash success for Apple, accounting for roughly 38% of units in use before the debut of the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini.

“Even with the launch of two more subsequent hardware revisions — most recently last fall with the fifth-generation iPad Air — the iPad 2 has continued to live on as a legacy device in Apple’s product lineup. Its remaining availability has been somewhat perplexing, suggesting that Apple continued to find success with the device at $399.”

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also hinted in the past that the iPad 2 is reaching end-of-life, with Apple expected to ship only 0.3 million units in the current quarter.

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