Today's iPad refresh is Apple's most important since original iPad, says analyst

[RaduTyrsina]

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We’re only a few hours away from the moment when Apple will finally unveil the upcoming fifth-generation iPad and second-generation iPad Mini. The iPad 5 is expected to be thinner and lighter, while the iPad Mini 2 could come equipped with Retina Display, a gold color and fingerprint sensor.

According to Brian White, analyst of Cantor Fitzgerald, today’s event is the most important since Apple launched the first iPad in 2010. White believes this is a crucial moment for Apple, as company's tablet sales were down 27 percent year over year in Q3 of fiscal 2013, which is a first. This is partially caused by the rising number of Android and Windows tablets. Nokia also released today their first tablet, the Lumia 2520 - so all this is increasing the pressure on Apple’s tablet business.

The analyst said:

"Apple has a massive installed base of iPads, and we believe this will drive the biggest upgrade ever for the iPad franchise. In our view, this October launch will prove beneficial for Apple this holiday season.

For example, some of our contacts believe that Apple will unveil a new iPad mini this week but may wait to launch an iPad mini with Retina display until (the first quarter of calendar 2014). If Apple unveils an iPad mini with Retina display this week, we would view this as an incremental surprise."

Apple’s event starts today at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Join us here as we will be swift to bring you all that matters from the event!

Source: AppleInsider