There may not be quite as many people waiting outside Apple stores for an iPad Air as there has been for other recent Apple launches, but the device may still have a very successful opening weekend.
Gene Munster, a top Apple analyst with Piper Jaffray, said in an investor note Friday that he expects Apple to sell 2.5 million to 3.5 million iPad Air devices this weekend. If sales came in at the high end, that would be more than the 3 million devices sold during the opening weekend when Apple introduced the iPad Mini and fourth generation iPad.
See also: Apple iPad Air Raises the Tablet Bar
Unlike last year, Apple is staggering the launch of the two iPad devices by releasing the Retina iPad Mini later this month, which Munster argues accounts for the smaller lines.
"Given that today's launch is only for the iPad Air, we believe that the shorter lines seen this year compared to last year's iPad Mini launch or the iPad 3rd Gen launch in March 2012 were to be expected," he wrote, noting that he counted 365 customers in line at Apple's flagship store in Manhattan this year compared to 580 for the Mini launch last year.
Even so, Munster says the turnout this year was "slightly better than our low expectations."
Apple's share of the global tablet market dropped below 30% in the most recent quarter from just more than 40% a year ago, according to data from IDC. The new tablets may offset some of that decline, though any market share gains will likely be limited by supply constraints.
Image: Mashable