∞ Analysts predict Apple sold 5-9 million iPads in quarter

Apple has never said how many iPad 2s it sold since it was released, but some industry analysts have weighed in with their sales expectations.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]Fortune asked 30 analysts for their estimates on iPad sales for the quarter — the results, if true, are very good for Apple. On the low-end of the scale is Deutsche Bank’s Chris Whitmore who estimates sales at 5 million. On the high-end is Hendi Susanto who estimates 8.8 million of the devices were sold.

The estimates include two weeks of iPad 2 sales, which went on sale March 11.

Checks from analysts on the weekend the iPad 2 went on sale showed that the iPad 2 sold between 400,000 to 500,000 units on the first Saturday alone. Analyst Gene Munster said his research showed that 70 percent of iPad 2 buyers were new to the iPad and the split between Mac (51%) and PC (49%) was almost even.

While Apple hasn’t given out any sales numbers, the company told The Loop that demand for the iPad 2 has been “amazing.”

[Via TUAW]

Update: This article has been updated to reflect that Fortune’s number were asking about all iPad sales for the quarter, which included iPad 2 sales.