Apple could ship 65 million iPads next year

Shipments of 9.7-inch iPad panels from LG Display reached 1.5 million units in November 2010, and fellow supplier Samsung Electronics’ shipments reached 1.2 million units for the month, according to “DigiTimes” (http://macte.ch/e0SNe).

LG Display is estimated to land orders for 35 million iPad panels in 2011, and Samsung and Chimei Innolux (CMI), who is scheduled to join iPad supply chain in the first quarter of 2011; each will each receive orders for 15 million units, says “DigiTimes.”

Based on these estimates, iPad panel shipments (including first and second generation models) will reach 65 million units in 2011, which is significantly higher than market estimates of 45-48 million units for the year, the article adds. “Market players noted that the 65 million unit shipment goal indicates that Apple is very optimistic about the tablet computer market in 2011, and it may also mean that Apple is overbooking panel capacity,” says “DigiTimes.”