iPad 2 exceeds sales expectations, beats original iPad launch numbers

What is unlikely to be a surprise, analysts are reporting record sales and numbers of Apple’s latest iteration of the iPad tablet.

Analysts from the investment firm Piper Jaffray are claiming sales of around 400,000 to 500,000 iPad 2 units in its first weekend of release, which would be a huge jump over the initial 300,000 units of the first iPad sold last year, according to tablet-news. Additionally, around 70% of new buyers were new to the iPad scene and did not own the original iPad when surveyed. Unfortunately, this data from Piper Jaffray was extrapolated from a sample size of only 236, but still shows that Apple is succeeding in expanding the tablet market to newcomers and former iPad owners alike.

Another analyst, Chris Whitmore, claims to have called around 100 retail stores nationwide for an inventory count of iPad 2 units for launch. To his surprise, 100% of all contacted stores were sold out just a few hours after the launch date, and believes it was one of Apple’s “most successful product launches to date.”

Some sales estimates, however, are even higher than those predicted above. Analyst Scott Sutherland of Wedbush Securities notes sales of well over 500,000 units, possibly even nearing the 1 million mark.

While analysts can play the guessing game on total iPad 2 sales, Apple has yet to officially reveal how many iPad 2 units have been sold since its launch last Friday. Fortunately, Macnn is reporting that some retail stores will be opening early today, March 15^th, with a healthy restock of iPad 2 units. So for those who have yet to get their hands on the latest craze, Apple may be giving a quick second chance.

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