Breaking Down the Numbers
Earlier today, AT&T announced record sales and activation numbers for the new iPad. During the Apple dividend/buyback call, Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke of a "record weekend" for the new iPad. Unfortunately, neither had actual numbers to share. And that was odd since normally when Apple has a new record number to crow about, they do.
But it seems Tim Cook just didn’t want to spoil the surprise. Apple has just issued a release with their actual sales numbers for the first weekend of the new iPad. And the numbers are big. Very big. Three million iPads sold in the first three days is a staggering figure.
How Does This Compare to Previous Versions?
So how does that stack up to the previous versions of the iPad? Well, Apple didn’t officially announce first weekend sales for the iPad 2, likely because they were very constrained. Analyst estimates pegged the number sold somewhere between 500,000 to somewhere just north of 1 million.
Analyzing the Numbers
Using the bullish numbers, this iPad launch was roughly 3x as large as the launch last year. Two years ago, Apple sold 300,000 iPads on the first day of sales. Again, the pace here seems to be about 3x that. For comparisons sake, Apple sold 4 million units of the iPhone 4S in its first weekend late last year.
Industry Analysts Weigh In
Over the weekend, a few analysts were jumping over one another to be the first to predict timid sales of the new iPad. Those analysts, once again, now look like huge assclowns.
Apple’s Official Statement
The quote part of the release below:
"The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold―the strongest iPad launch yet," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Customers are loving the incredible new features of iPad, including the stunning Retina display, and we can’t wait to get it into the hands of even more customers around the world this Friday."
Implications for the Industry
The implications of these numbers are significant. With three million iPads sold in just three days, Apple has once again set a new standard for sales numbers in the tech industry.
As noted by analyst Philip Schiller, "customers are loving the incredible new features of iPad." This is likely due to the Retina display and other features that have been incorporated into the latest model.
What Does This Mean for Future Sales?
With three million iPads sold in the first weekend alone, it’s clear that Apple has a strong momentum going forward. With sales numbers like this, it’s no wonder that Apple is confident about its future prospects.
As noted by Tim Cook during the Apple dividend/buyback call:
"We’re thrilled with the response to our new iPad and are confident that we will continue to drive innovation in the tablet market."
Conclusion
In conclusion, the numbers speak for themselves. With three million iPads sold in just three days, Apple has set a new record for sales numbers. The implications of this are significant, both for Apple and the tech industry as a whole.
As noted by analyst Philip Schiller, "customers are loving the incredible new features of iPad." This is likely due to the Retina display and other features that have been incorporated into the latest model.
Table of Comparison
| Model | First Weekend Sales |
| — | — |
| New iPad (2023) | 3 million |
| iPad 2 | 500,000 – 1 million |
| New iPad (2021) | 300,000 |
Sources
- AT&T
- Apple
- Philip Schiller
Note: The above table is a simplified representation of the comparison between the sales numbers for each model.