The delay in Retina iPad mini’s release has long been attributed to poor yield rates of the Retina display panels, but a new report coming out of Korea suggests that there’s actually a problem affecting an unknown number of panels Sharp has manufactured that are behind this delay. While Sharp isn’t the primary manufacturer of display panels for the Retina iPad mini, it is believed to manufacture as many as 40 percent of all panels. ETNews claims that the LCD burn-in issue in these display panels is related to the IGZO technology Sharp is using, and while the glitch might not be visible to the naked eye, it reportedly does not meet Apple’s standards so the company can’t proceed with production using the flawed panels.
The report cites an “industry guru” who claims that if Apple doesn’t go ahead with these panels, and it changes suppliers, it would have to delay the launch of the Retina iPad mini. That would presumably mean that the new iPad mini won’t be coming in November. Apple has only said that it intends to release the tablet later this month, it is yet to provide a concrete release date. On the other hand, it has also been rumored to be in talks with Samsung for production of Retina display panels. This particular report reiterates that, adding that the Korean manufacturer might start making panels for Apple early next year.
Filed in . Read more about iPad mini and Retina iPad mini.