Start your engines, Apple fans! The iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 arrive in select Apple Stores

By Malarie Gokey October 23, 2014

ipad air 3 news version 1450181476 2 v2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple has been uncharacteristically quiet about the official in-store arrival date for the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. It seems that Apple plans to forgo the long lines and chaos that typically accompany device launches by stealthily sneaking iPads into stores in waves. Currently, would-be buyers can stroll up to several Apple Stores on the East Coast and a few in other parts of he country to buy Wi-Fi only versions of the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3.

Those who pre-ordered the new iPads online should receive their new iPads any day now, with some arriving as early as Wednesday. If you haven’t ordered online and happen to live in New York, you can pick up the Wi-Fi only models of the iPad Air 2 and Mini 3 at any Manhattan location. Select Apple Stores in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. also have the new iPads in store. Meanwhile, West Coast cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle are expected to receive the new iPads in the near future.

If you’re hoping to pick up the LTE-enabled version of the new iPads, you’ll have to wait for yours to be delivered or pre-order one from Apple, carriers, or other retailers. For a complete list of retailers offering pre-orders, check out our handy guide.

This marks the first time that Apple won’t have an official in-store launch date and may reflect slowing iPad sales. Many tech pundits were disappointed by the limited improvements made on the new iPads. Apple’s recent financial report also signals a decline in iPad demand. Even so, CEO Tim Cook assured investors that it’s just a slight speed bump.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…

Mobile

You may have to wait a while longer for new iPads

The backs of Apple's iPad Air and iPad Pro, with the tablets place on a table.

Just days ago, the Chinese website IT Home said Apple would announce the launch of its 2024 iPads on Tuesday, March 26. However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman — who still believes new iPads will arrive this spring — has debunked this rumor. In other words, we'll probably have to wait a little longer for new Apple tablets to arrive.

Gurman had previously stated that Apple's next-generation tablets would arrive in late March or April. Of the March 26 rumor, Gurman took to X, formerly Twitter, to say it was "not true."

Mobile

Get 32% off the cellular model of the iPad Pro 12.9 this weekend

The iPad Pro on a desk next to a stylus and AirPods.

If you've been thinking about getting the iPad Pro with cellular connectivity but you've been hoping to buy the tablet from iPad deals for a discount, this may be what you've been waiting for -- a 32% discount from Amazon's Woot on the 12.9-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular model of the 2021 Apple iPad Pro with 128GB of storage. From $1,199, it's down to just $810, which is a steal price for this device with savings of $389. However, while there are still several days left on this offer, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase immediately because there's a chance that stocks don't last that long.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9
It's not the latest version of Apple's top-of-the-line tablet -- the honor goes to the 2022 Apple iPad Pro -- but the 2021 Apple iPad Pro is still a pretty powerful device by today's standards. That's because it's equipped with Apple's M1 chip, which promises fantastic speed and excellent graphics when you're working on your multimedia projects, multitasking between several apps, or playing console-level games. With its 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR touchscreen, you'll enjoy high-brightness and high-contrast content, and its mini-LED display provides deeper black levels and more vibrant colors.

Mobile

Best tablet deals: iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Fire, and more

Front face of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.

Whether you’re shopping for one of the best iPads or one of the best tablets in general, it never hurts to keep an eye out for some savings. Tablet deals are often pretty easy to come by, with top tablet brands like Samsung, Apple, and even Microsoft having a tablet model or two discounted somewhere on the internet. We’ve scoured all of the current tablet deals and compiled them into what we feel are the best tablet deals going on right now. Reading onward you’ll find everything you need to know in order to save big on a new tablet, as well as some information on which of the best tablet deals may best suit your needs.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (32GB) -- $96, was $160

If you need an Android tablet for simple tasks like browsing the internet and watching streaming shows, the affordable Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite may be enough for you. Its 8.7-inch screen is decent with WXGA+ resolution, while maintaining portability so you can easily hold the tablet in one hand. Its internal storage is limited at 32GB, but you can expand it by up to 1TB using a microSD card. For the clumsy ones, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is perfect for you because it's protected by a sturdy metal frame.