Availability of Apple's 12.9" iPad Pro slips to May as rumored update looms
Possibly shedding some light on an anticipated refresh, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro stock situation appears to be dwindling, with nearly no stock of popular models in high-volume stores, and an expected refresh date across the board of May 16.
Spot-checks of 20 Apple Retail stores show decreasing stock levels or no stock at all at retail, with the least expensive models, the 32-gigabyte with Wi-Fi and 128-gigabyte with LTE models, most profoundly impacted Apple Retail-wide. No guidance has been issued to stores as of yet on the declining stock levels.
One Apple Store staffer we spoke with said that it had "been a while" since they had any 12.9-inch iPad shipments at all, and they had been without the 32-gigabyte Wi-Fi only model for "a few weeks, now."
Additionally, the Apple online store is completely sold out of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Regardless of what model is chosen online, delivery time is listed as 2-3 weeks.
It is unclear if this is an anomaly related to overseas shipment of production, or an indication of a looming refresh. Similarly, in late February, all 12.9-inch iPad Pro models showed estimated ship dates of 2 to 3 weeks. Additionally, Apple's in-store pickup option was pushed back from February 20, exactly four weeks to Mar. 20.
The stock shortages from late February rectified themselves the first week of March, with everything suddenly made available both online, and in-store. However last time, the depleted stock on the 32GB model at our polled retail stores hadn't existed for as long as it has this time.
An iPad Pro refresh in early 2017 was prognosticated last year, with an update to the 9.7-inch model, a new 10.5-inch version, and a refreshed 12.9-inch model. It is unclear if the rumor mill picked up on the 2017 iPad (also known as the fifth generation iPad) as part of the refresh, or if a 9.7-inch iPad Pro is coming.
Spot-checks of 20 Apple Retail stores show decreasing stock levels or no stock at all at retail, with the least expensive models, the 32-gigabyte with Wi-Fi and 128-gigabyte with LTE models, most profoundly impacted Apple Retail-wide. No guidance has been issued to stores as of yet on the declining stock levels.
One Apple Store staffer we spoke with said that it had "been a while" since they had any 12.9-inch iPad shipments at all, and they had been without the 32-gigabyte Wi-Fi only model for "a few weeks, now."
Additionally, the Apple online store is completely sold out of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Regardless of what model is chosen online, delivery time is listed as 2-3 weeks.
It is unclear if this is an anomaly related to overseas shipment of production, or an indication of a looming refresh. Similarly, in late February, all 12.9-inch iPad Pro models showed estimated ship dates of 2 to 3 weeks. Additionally, Apple's in-store pickup option was pushed back from February 20, exactly four weeks to Mar. 20.
The stock shortages from late February rectified themselves the first week of March, with everything suddenly made available both online, and in-store. However last time, the depleted stock on the 32GB model at our polled retail stores hadn't existed for as long as it has this time.
An iPad Pro refresh in early 2017 was prognosticated last year, with an update to the 9.7-inch model, a new 10.5-inch version, and a refreshed 12.9-inch model. It is unclear if the rumor mill picked up on the 2017 iPad (also known as the fifth generation iPad) as part of the refresh, or if a 9.7-inch iPad Pro is coming.
Comments
But I actually think that the future of computing is the ecosystem model that Jobs championed many years ago. That is, the future of computing is a range of interconnected devices, from the Apple Watch to the Mac Pro to a data center full of powerful servers, all working together.
I see in the new campus a reflection of Jobs' ecosystem vision. It would be nice if the first introduction at the new campus was somehow connected to that larger ecosystem, rather than a single product.
But whatevs. These days, any new non-iPhone product introduction is welcome. So if the best they can do is intro an updated iPad Pro, so be it -- I'll take what I can get.
She really wants a Pro, so this can't come soon enough.
It looks like she'll be waiting until after our European trip at the start of May...
I just checked, and the norm is 4 weeks delivery for a Maxed 12.9" model...
That puts it at May 16th...
WWDC starts on June 5...
Much as I anticipate a new iPad Pro announcement, I doubt we'll see one before WWDC.
But, that could be a good thing... new iPad Pros, new iOS, new Swift (4.0?)...
Hoping for a kb case with a trackpad/cursor capability on a new iPad Pro and the ability to run full Xcode.
Still waiting. 128 GB, cellular, Pencil, Magic Keyboard, cases and covers. Going to cost me a bit. The rumor of the 10.5" having a new ID is troubling though. Hopefully the new ID makes it to the 12.9" if so.
As I get older, I'm finding that y desire for the cutting edge tech is declining and more often I'm asking myself if what I have is capable of doing what I need it to do. With regards to the refresh of the 12.9, my gut says don't hold your breath about that happening until the Sept/Oct 2017. I'd like to be wrong but the rumor mills has gone from March hype to dead silence and as "Tht" pointed out, the price of the 12.9 has not dropped in any meaningful way. That suggests to me that Apple isn't in any hurry to clear out inventory just yet.
Apple has certainly done skimpier Announcement events (I'm thinking the TV app last fall) so hopefully there will be an event soon with the 3 hardwares (new ipadsPros, new 4K AppleTV, and the refreshed MacPro - don't ignore the elephant in the room) and hopefully corresponding software updates.
I'm interested in what they do with the 9.7" Pro, personally, but I also don't think they'll do an announcement before WWDC.
AI quoted on Apple World Today:
https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2017/4/18/new-ipad-pros-may-be-coming-may-16-per-appleinsider
That's the one thing about iPad upgrades that ticks me off— Apple changing the size just enough so that I can't use my Mini 2's case on the 4. So I hope they upgrade the Mini.