iPad Air already counting for half of all iPad sales

Apple's recently launched iPad Air is selling "especially well" and is now accounting for almost half of iPad sales, according to new sales research.

Estimates from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) have revealed that the iPad Air accounted for 41% of total iPad sales in the October-December 2012 quarter, compared to 43% for the iPad with Retina in the same period.

The iPad Mini with Retina display is also selling well, with CIRP finding that together with the original iPad Mini accounts for 41% of iPad sales in the quarter, compared to 30% for the iPad Mini in the year-ago quarter.

"These results bode well for the new iPad models," said Josh Lowitz, CIRP partner and co-founder. "The new iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina display together account for well over half of all iPad sales in the quarter, even though they were available only for two months. iPad Air sold especially well given that Apple has three other iPad models for sale."

CIRP bases its findings on its survey of 500 US Apple customers that purchased an iPad, iPhone, or Mac in the US in October-December 2013.

Apple managed to shift "significant sales" to its higher-priced models, noted Mike Levin, CIRP partner and co-founder: "Along with the trend toward sale of models with larger storage capacities, Apple should see higher iPad average selling prices, with iPad 2 at only 5% of total sales and iPad mini sales split between the original model and the new iPad mini with Retina display."