Potentially signaling its belief that the launch of the iPad 3 is imminent, Best Buy is now offering $50 discounts across the entire line of iPad 2 models, with pricing now beginning at $449.99 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi model.
Furthermore, Engadget reports that Best Buy has begun updating its internal inventory management systems to reflect a "deleted" status for iPad 2 models.
Best Buy generally does not have advance notice of new Apple products, especially those that are anticipated to appear as part of a major media event. Consequently, Best Buy's moves should not be taken as specific indicators of an iPad 3 launch, although numerous sources have indicated that a debut is near, with March 7 rumored for the planned media event.
But Best Buy certainly appears to be adjusting its offerings to make way for the updated model, and the company is not alone in that regard. Grocery and retail store chain Meijer earlier this month offered the entry-level iPad for $429, a $70 discount from the regular retail prices. Meijer's pricing has since returned to normal, but indications are that retailers are anticipating the arrival of the iPad 3.
Apple may have canceled the super scratch resistant anti-reflective display coating that it planned to use for the iPhone 17 Pro models, according to a source with reliable information that spoke to MacRumors.
Last spring, Weibo leaker Instant Digital suggested Apple was working on a new anti-reflective display layer that was more scratch resistant than the Ceramic Shield. We haven't heard...
Apple has completed Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) for at least one iPhone 17 model, according to a paywalled preview of an upcoming DigiTimes report.
iPhone 17 Air mockup based on rumored design
The EVT stage involves Apple testing iPhone 17 prototypes to ensure the hardware works as expected. There are still DVT (Design Validation Test) and PVT (Production Validation Test) stages to...
Apple will likely manufacture its 20th anniversary iPhone models in China, despite broader efforts to shift production to India, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In 2027, Apple is planning a "major shake-up" for the iPhone lineup to mark two decades since the original model launched. Gurman's previous reporting indicates the company will introduce a foldable iPhone alongside a "bold"...
Wednesday April 30, 2025 3:59 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple is preparing to launch a dramatically thinner iPhone this September, and if recent leaks are anything to go by, the so-called iPhone 17 Air could boast one of the most radical design shifts in recent years.
iPhone 17 Air dummy model alongside iPhone 16 Pro (credit: AppleTrack)
At just 5.5mm thick (excluding a slightly raised camera bump), the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air is expected to become ...
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which launched on April 24, 2015. Yesterday, we recapped features rumored for the Apple Watch Series 11, but since 2015, the Apple Watch has also branched out into the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch SE, so we thought we'd take a look at what's next for those product lines, too.
2025 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple didn't update the...
Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025:
Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:36 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
All upcoming iPhone 17 models will come equipped with 12GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence, according to the Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.
The claim from the Chinese leaker, who has sources within Apple's supply chain, comes a few days after industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with 12GB of RAM.
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If 4g is already built in, and no wifi option is available, it's pretty much guaranteed to have a higher price point.
This is before even accounting for a higher resolution screen
There has to be a WiFi model though for European markets. No one in the UK uses 4g/LTE networks, so the inclusion would be pointless. There is however, strong HSPA+ coverage.
Plus they'd have to look at the market anyway. Over here, the most popular model by a mile is the 16GB WiFi option. If consumers were forced to pay extra for things like 4g and modem capabilities, they'd just stick with an iPad 2.
Personally I dont see the point in having a 3g/4g enabled iPad. I always have my phone with me, and most phones support tethering or can be used as WiFi hotspots, so an extra data plan is pointless. But thats just me though.
The CIA and FBI should be hiring these bloggers that ferret out Apple rumor stories. A deleted item in inventory in a retail chain database, a shipping manifest of air cargo carriers pointing to a change in schedule, the sudden shift in the trade winds - all pointing to an all-out iPad3 launch next week. :rolleyes:.
