Apple Store Down Ahead of iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 Pre-Orders

[MacRumors]

Apple has taken its online store down to prepare for the launch of iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 pre-orders. When Apple announced the two new tablets, it said pre-orders would be available starting on October 17, although the company did not specify when exactly pre-orders would start.

Given the short amount of time between the announcement of the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 and the start of pre-orders, it is unclear whether other retailers and carriers will be prepared to offer iPad pre-orders.

Apple's iPad Air 2, which includes several upgrades like Touch ID, an A8X chip, an improved camera, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and an anti-reflective screen, is available in 16, 64, and 128GB capacities. Pricing in the United States starts at $499 for the entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi only model and goes as high as $849 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB model.

The iPad mini 3, which has been updated with Touch ID and a new gold color option, is also available in 16, 64, and 128GB configurations. Pricing for the iPad mini 3 begins at $399 for the Wi-Fi only 16GB model and goes as high as $729 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB model.

Apple has not announced when the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 will be in stores or when the two tablets will begin shipping out to customers, giving only an availability date of "later next week."

Article Link: Apple Store Down Ahead of iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 Pre-Orders

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Ok here we go!!

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Was just going to report this.

About freaking time - I've been refreshing and trying to buy it for the past 2 hours now. I don't want to be one of the people who gets an estimated delivery time of December - my fiancee's birthday is in late November and this is what I plan to get her (she's been asking for one for the past 2 years. I just got a pay raise this year, so now is the time.)

 

[Teste]

Too bad the lack of an iPad Pro shows that Apple = noob

 

[mattopotamus]

Do the ipad ship times tend to slip fast? I thought these were readily available on launch day.

 

[Menopause]

Was just going to report this.

About freaking time - I've been refreshing and trying to buy it for the past 2 hours now. I don't want to be one of the people who gets an estimated delivery time of December - my fiancee's birthday is in late November and this is what I plan to get her (she's been asking for one for the past 2 years. I just got a pay raise this year, so now is the time.)

Good guy ArtofWarfare!

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Do the ipad ship times tend to slip fast? I thought these were readily available on launch day.

Actually last year it was in abundance. This year there are rumors of shortages. Then again, they're rumors. My advice: Don't take a chance.

 

[Nozuka]

with ipads you can usually just walk into a store and get one on launch day..

 

[BMcCoy]

with ipads you can usually just walk into a store and get one on launch day..

Yup, less hype with iPads, despite them being cheaper than iPhones.

 

[bhudda]

bad luck

was in the middle of ordering the 6+ for pick-up, in my area today, when it went down..finally stocked the att 128 grey... such is life

 

[=alex=]

Is it likely to have Black Friday discounts on the models?

 

[deeddawg]

with ipads you can usually just walk into a store and get one on launch day..

Yes and no. With last year's launch supplies were pretty good. There have been prior launches with very constrained supplies and high demand, resulting in pretty good waits. I'd guess that with no real revolutionary changes there's unlikely to be much difficulty buying.

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Is it likely to have Black Friday discounts on the models?

Yep. Whether they'll be worth waiting for is anyone's guess.

I recommend looking at 2012 and 2013 BF sales. As I remember Apple doesn't usually offer much of a discount and with other retailers it depends. There were some good BF & CM deals on ipad mini's as I remember, though not so much on the mini retina. I could be wrong, best to do a little research.

 

[ghsDUDE]

The iPad Air 2 is the only reasonable upgrade. I can't believe what they did to the Mini 3.

With 5 options Apple's iPad lineup is a mess.

 

[Lancer]

Will the original iPad mini still be in the mix?

 

[fithian]

This is the first iPad I have seen that has an education store discount, although it is only $20. Time to buy one in a no state tax store for $809.

 

[thekeyring]

So the iPad mini 3 still has an A7 chip?

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The iPad Air 2 is the only reasonable upgrade. I can't believe what they did to the Mini 3.

With 5 options Apple's iPad lineup is a mess.

This. There needs to be iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2 and that's it.

At a push, keep the 16 GB iPad Air 1 and iPad mini 2 to cover a lower price point, but no more.

 

[Cool Pup]

I had zero issues seeing Airs (and other iPads) on launch day at major stores. The Retina Mini supply was pretty limited last year though and was harder to find.

I can assure that Mini 3s will be in abundance and iPad Mini 2 will be in another supply constraint due to the 100 dollar discount "upgrade".

I don't think you guys need to worry about it and I doubt that preorders will sell out.

 

[OneMike]

Didn't even know there was a pre order

 

[Sodner]

So the iPad mini 3 still has an A7 chip?

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This. There needs to be iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2 and that's it.

At a push, keep the 16 GB iPad Air 1 and iPad mini 2 to cover a lower price point, but no more.

Make those the 16 GB models and start the Air 2 and mini 3 at 32 GB.

 

[RightMACatU]

So the iPad mini 3 still has an A7 chip?

I call it the iPod treatment.
iPad Air2 just smoked the Mini3

 

[dumastudetto]

Judging by twitter there's a lot of people waiting to get their pre-orders in. I'm expecting a very quick sell out of the new iPad Air 2 models.

 

[iphone6fan]

What time do you think the store will come back online?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I don't think you guys need to worry about it and I doubt that preorders will sell out.

Yes, it seems Apple agrees b/c it looks like this is a worldwide launch which is uncommon unless there is abundant supply. But we don't know what % of units Apple is allocating to pre-order w/ "Day 1 delivery." I'm sure Apple wants some sort of usual line to validate the new iPads. That's what motivates me. I don't want to go anywhere near any store and I'll hopefully have sold my Air 1 by then so will be in need of the replacement.

 

[TallManNY]

Judging by twitter there's a lot of people waiting to get their pre-orders in. I'm expecting a very quick sell out of the new iPad Air 2 models.

No way. This is completely different than iPhone sales. I knew five people who preordered the iPhone within 8 hours of the preorder beginning. I suspect I won't know a single person who will preorder the iPad and I might not know ten people who are really aware that the preorder is happening today.

I the iPad Mini 3 is a minor update, so no chance of it selling out. The iPad Air 2 is a great update, but it isn't like the Air wasn't already light and plenty fast. I doubt we see a quick sell out and if we do it won't be a long backorder.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

What time do you think the store will come back online?

Probably exactly on the hour or half hour between 8am and 10am eastern.

 

[iphone6fan]

Probably exactly on the hour or half hour between 8am and 10am eastern.

I was thinking 7:00 am Central time.