Contrary to Amazon's assertion earlier this week on its website that its Kindle Fire HD sported stereo speakers while the iPad Mini does not, iFixit did indeed locate two speakers on Apple's tablet. (Amazon has since removed the comparison chart from its home page.)

iFixit also tentatively identified the display module in its unit as from Samsung, which according to an analyst from NPD DisplaySearch, is , a move that will likely result in severe shortages. Instead, Apple has turned to LG Display (LGD) and a new source, AO Optronics (AOU) for its tablet screens.

Last week, however, Richard Shim of NPD DisplaySearch said that the Samsung-Apple relationship wasn't completely dead, and that the former was still supplying about 5% of all iPad display modules.

Wiens made a point of noting that the iPad Mini uses a separate pane of glass overtop the LCD display, unlike other Apple devices such as the Retina-equipped MacBook Pros and the upcoming refreshed iMacs, which sport glass fused to the screen, a tactic used to reduce the device's thickness.

Wiens speculated that Apple may have foresworn fusing in the Mini to reduce repair costs of shattered screens, what with the expectation that many will be used by children and that schools may view them as more attractive than full-sized iPads because of the lower price.