Apple announced Monday morning that it had sold a total of 3 million iPads in just three days, a record for first-weekend iPad sales. That's double the 1.5 million Wi-Fi iPads it sold when the third-generation iPad launched in March, and those numbers should allay fears that Apple's iPad mini might be a dud with its higher-than-expected $329 entry-level price.
"We set a new launch weekend record and practically sold out of iPad minis," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. "We're working hard to build more quickly to meet the incredible demand." Apple did not report selling out of fourth-generation iPads.
The sales figures only account for the Wi-Fi-enabled iPad mini and fourth-gen iPad; LTE-capable versions won't go on sale for another few weeks in the US and by the end of the year elsewhere. All told, it sold 3 million iPads (LTE-enabled models included) during that earlier launch weekend.
The newest iPad models were available in 34 countries at launch, likely a major factor in helping Apple hit that 3 million mark with Wi-Fi-only iPad models. It also didn't hurt that the iPad mini represents a significantly new form factor compared to the revised "iPad 4." Apple did not share a breakdown of the sales numbers between the mini and full-size iPads, though anecdotal evidence suggests that consumers largely favored the iPad mini this past weekend.
Look for our comprehensive review of the iPad mini, and well as a report on the performance enhancements for the fourth-gen's new A6X processor, later today.
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