Thursday, November 24, 2011, 11:20 am

Best Buy offering $45 off all iPad 2 models during early online Black Friday sale

By AppleInsider Staff

Apple Authorized reseller Best Buy on Thursday launched an online sale offering the steepest discounts yet on all of Apple's iPad 2 models along with free shipping.

The sale offers an instant $45 savings off all 18 iPad 2 models, including the 6 WiFi-only models, 6 AT&T 3G models and 6 Verizon 3G models.

Finalized pricing, which can be seen in the chart below, ranges from $454.99 for the 16GB WiFi iPad 2 to $784.99 for the 64GB 3G models before tax. Shipping is free on all orders.

In many cases, the discounts will beat Apple's own Black Friday iPad pricing, which is expected to include discounts of $41 to $61 off the various models.

As of 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, 16 of the 18 models remain available for purchase with only two (16GB Black WiFi and 16GB White Veirzon 3G) having sold out.

This year's Black Friday marks the first time the iPad 2 has been offered at a material discount since its introduction earlier this year. Readers looking for additional iPad savings alternatives on new or used models can turn to AppleInsider's eBay-powered Apple Product Auctions or its iOS Device Price Guide.