“The launch of the iPad mini in late 2012 has been seen as an acknowledgement by Apple that smaller size (7-9-inch) tablet PCs would become a larger part of the market than larger sizes (9.7-inch or 10.1-inch),” David Hsieh reports for The NPD Group’s DisplaySearch Blog. “Key aspects are more attractive prices and the ability to hold the device in one hand rather than two.”

“Shipments of 9.7-inch tablet PC panels collapsed, falling from 7.4 to 1.3M, while 7-inch and 7.9-inch panel shipments grew rapidly, from 12 to 14M. Shipments of 10.1-inch panels grew only slightly,” Hsieh reports. “The January panel shipment data may be an indicator for 2013, starting with Apple’s product mix shift.”

Hsieh reports, “As we noted in December, Apple had planned to sell 40M iPad minis (7.9-inch) and 60M iPads (9.7-inch) in 2013. However, the reality seems to be the reverse, as the iPad mini has been more popular than the iPad. We now understand that Apple may be planning to sell 55M iPad minis (7.9-inch) and 33M iPads (9.7-inch) in 2013.”

Read more in the full article here.