After the iPhone, the iPad ranks second in terms of Apple’s sources of revenue, so each quarter sales numbers are watched closely by analysts and investors alike. However, since the sales report is just a few days away, Wall Street analysts have given it their best shot at estimating the total sales for the past quarter.
Fact is, the iPad is facing fierce competition from its Android counterparts, so it would be hard to repeat last year’s 55% growth, but nobody is expecting that. Instead, nearly half of the analysts surveyed by Fortune’s Philip Elmer-DeWitt are betting on a decline of iPad sales.
Looking at the sales projections penned by these analysts, the highest comes from Horace Dediu of Asymco (21.81 million units), followed by the professional analyst Peter Misek of Jefferies, who believes Apple has sold 21.60 million iPads between January and March 31.
The lowest estimate is 15 million units, from Matt Lew of the Braeburn Group. The average unit sales estimate stands at 19.33 million units, while last year Apple sold 19.48 million iPads.
