Supplies Of The iPad Air Are Expected To Be ‘Plentiful’ On Launch Day
by Brent Dirks
October 28, 2013
If you’re looking to snag an iPad Air on launch day Friday, Nov. 1, we’ve got some good news. According to MacRumors, supplies of the new tablet should be “plentiful.”
Apple is even reportedly planning on allowing the Personal Pickup option at its stores on Friday. That would allow buyers to place an online order starting at 12:01 a.m. PT, and then pick up their tablet at an Apple Store the same day without waiting in line.
That would definitely be an unusual move for the company as Apple didn't even offer the option for the iPhone 5c on its launch day, even though there were an abundance of handsets ready to be purchased.
So even though the company isn’t offering preorders for the slimmer tablet, which has driven some customers a little crazy, don’t expect to see the same supply issues that continue to hound the iPhone 5s.
Unveiled at a special media event last week, the iPad Air is 20 percent thinner than the fourth-generation tablet and weighs just a pound. Starting at $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi version, it will sport a 64-bit A7 processor.
In the United States and other launch countries, Apple Stores will open at 8 a.m. local time.
The abundant supplies of the iPad Air will apparently be in stark contrast to the iPad mini with Retina display, which will arrive later in November. A report last week said supplies of that tablet will be “ridiculously tight” at launch.