iPad Mini 2 Retina Display to Be Made by Samsung? 'We Cannot Take Their Orders,' Says Rival Supplier

The iPad Mini 2 retina display could be made at least partially by Samsung, according to new reports. The size of the tablet is expected not to change, but Apple reportedly has few other choices to produce screens that are consistent with their standards for quality and quantity.

The iPad Mini 2 with retina display is the next step for the tablet, which was first released in November of last year with a decent display that matched the iPad 2. However, the Cupertino-based company will now shifting their orders from AU Optronics to Samsung to produce the retina displays, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

"We cannot take [Apple's] orders because our rate of output efficiency is too low to be profitable," a manager at AU Optronics told WSJ.

Although Apple has been attempting to shift business away from their biggest rival- Samsung's Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 now represent a significant share of the smartphone market, and have been called Apple's biggest challenger- they still must rely on them, Sharp and LG Display for the iPad Mini 2's retina screens. Apple is also reportedly considering colored back shells for the devices.

Making the iPad Mini 2 more likely to come with a retina display is the recent release of Google's Nexus 7 2; it has a smaller screen, but a higher resolution than the Mini. That, combined with the upcoming new Kindle Fire HD, could push Apple to release the latest iPad Mini with a retina display.

However, 9to5mac reported that Apple's iPad Mini 2 could be A6 chip-powered with no retina display. Models 2,8, 2,9, and 2,10 were spotted in a hidden file that lists all iOS7-supported devices, according to developer Nick Frey.

Neither sources have been able to confirm the existence of a retina or non-retina, display, however, as Apple tests multiple products before sending just one to launch.