Japan, other countries getting the iPad 2 this week

By Geoff Duncan Updated April 27, 2011

Apple iPad 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple still can’t make enough iPad 2s to meet consumer demand in any market, so what’s the company doing? Launching the iPad 2 in a dozen new markets this week, and revealing plans to put the Wi-Fi version of the iPad 2 on sale in China beginning May 6.

The iPad 2 will go on sale in Japan on Thursday, April 28—the announcement is particularly significant because Japan was originally slated to get the iPad 2 on March 25, but the launch was delayed by the catastrophic 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami on March 11. April 29 will see the iPad 2 launch in Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Suggested pricing is essentially the same as U.S. pricing: $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi only model, escalating to $829 for a 64 GB model with 3G capability.

Apple also announced the Wi-Fi only version of the iPad 2 will launch in mainland China on May 6, and that the company plans to announce additional international availability for the device at a later date.

Apple launched the iPad 2 at the beginning of March and, so far, has been unable to meet demand for the device. The company actually fell short of sales forecasts for the iPad 2, in part due to component shortages brought on by the Japanese earthquake. Apple sold almost 4.7 million iPad 2 tablets during the second financial quarter of 2011, and while that was lower than expectations, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer noted that the company had “sold every iPad 2 we could make.” Retail availability of the iPad 2 remains spotty, and wait times for online orders remain one to two weeks.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Mobile

Best iPad deals: Save on iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad Mini

iPad Pro 2020 Screen.

For years the Apple iPad has been setting the standard for the best tablets, and despite its more premium nature you can generally find some great iPad deals among the best tablet deals. That’s certainly the case right now, as there are a lot of iPad deals to shop. And while many of the best Apple deals include fan favorites like iPhone 15 deals, MacBook deals, and even AirPods deals, the current iPad deals have a lot of savings available. We’ve rounded up all of the best iPad deals worth shopping right now. Reading onward you’ll find discounts on everything from budget iPads to recent releases, as well as some savings on iPad accessories. If you’d like to sort through the competition as well, be sure to check out today’s Samsung tablet deals, Amazon Fire tablet deals, and Kindle deals.
Apple iPad 10.2 (9th Gen) (64GB Wi-Fi) -- $229, was $329

Apple's A13 Bionic chip is no M1 or M2, but it still offers 64-bit architecture and neural engine support for excellent performance. In other words, this 10.2-inch iPad is incredible value. It has a 10.2-inch Retina display, 64GB of storage, supports Touch ID and Apple Pencil (1st Gen), and it's size, plus all-day battery life make it an excellent choice for anyone with an on-the-go lifestyle.

Mobile

How I turned my iPad Air into a great work machine for just $90

The iPad Air 2024 in a Zagg Crystal Palace folio case with the Keychron B1 Pro keyboard.

The Apple iPad Air (2024) is a brilliant all-rounder, and I find working on it to be just as convenient and fast as working on my MacBook Air M1. However, I’ve been put off really recommending it as a “laptop alternative” because the Magic Keyboard accessory costs so much. It’s $300 for the 11-inch or $350 for the 12.9-inch version, so surely I could come up with a way to reduce the price but not my productivity?

I set out to do precisely that, and in the process, I turned my iPad Air into a lovely work machine -- all for just $90. Here's how I did it.
Apple's Magic Keyboard is brilliant

Mobile

The 9th Gen iPad is under $200 for a limited time

Apple iPad 9th Gen. 2021 on porch with toys.

The Apple iPad has long been a staple of the tablet world, giving users numerous ways to engage with popular apps, games, organization tools, and personal media. From one retailer to the next, we see iPad deals on a near-daily basis, so you know that whenever we flag one for a dedicated deals post, it’s got to be good! That being said, allow us to draw your attention to this terrific Amazon promo:

For a limited time, you’ll be able to order the 9th Gen iPad with Apple’s A13 Bionic chip for $199. At full price, this model usually sells for $330. While it’s a bit older than the latest and greatest iPad models, the ninth iteration of the 10.2-inch iPad is a lightweight and portable force to be reckoned with.