Katie Marsal
Best Buy on Sunday kicked off a second leg of extremely aggressive discounts on Apple's latest iPads, offering $50 instant discounts on all iPad Air 2 models and between $50 and $100 off all iPad mini 3 models.
The latest discounts, which follow on the heels of two similar Black Friday sales (1, 2), are not expected to last long, as Best Buy has quickly run out of stock of iPads in a matter of hours during earlier sales, especially the iPad Air 2s.
Alternatively, AppleInsider partner MacMall is also offering discounts on new iPad Air 2 purchases that may actually net customers a better deal, as the authorized reseller does not collect tax from orders in 41 U.S. states.
For example, MacMall is offering the entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Air 2 for $479.99. But at a sales tax rate of 7 percent, users would save $54 over the regular out-the-door cost, netting a slightly greater savings over Best Buy. MacMall only charges sales tax on orders sent to CA, CO, GA, IL, MN, NC, NY, TN, and WI.
The full list of iPad Air 2 prices available from both Best Buy and MacMall follows. Below are the current sale prices, all of which are the current lowest prices according to our iPad Price Guide:
iPad Air 2s
Best Buy
16GB Silver WiFi Only savings for $449.99 $49.01 savings
16GB Space Gray WiFi Only for $449.99 $49.01 savings
16GB Gold WiFi Only for $449.99 $49.01 savings
16GB Silver WiFi + Cellular for $579.99 $49.01 savings
16GB Space Gray WiFi + Cellular for $579.99 $49.01 savings
16GB Gold WiFi + Cellular for $579.99 $49.01 savings
64GB Silver WiFi Only for $549.99 $49.01 savings
64GB Space Gray WiFi Only for $549.99 $49.01 savings
64GB Gold WiFi Only for $549.99 $49.01 savings
64GB Silver WiFi + Cellular for $679.99 $49.01 savings
64GB Space Gray WiFi + Cellular for $679.99 $49.01 savings
64GB Gold WiFi + Cellular for $679.99 $49.01 savings
128GB Silver WiFi Only for $649.99 $49.01 savings
128GB Space Gray WiFi Only for $649.99 $49.01 savings
128GB Gold WiFi Only for $649.99 $49.01 savings
128GB Silver WiFi + Cellular for $779.99 $49.01 savings
128GB Space Gray WiFi + Cellular for $779.99 $49.01 savings
128GB Gold WiFi + Cellular for $779.99 $49.01 savings
MacMall
Grey 16GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MGL12LL/A) for $479.99 [$19 savings]
Silver 16GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MGLW2LL/A) for $479.99 [$19 savings]
Gold 16GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MH0W2LL/A) for $479.99 [$19 savings]
Grey 64GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MGKL2LL/A) for $579.99 [$19 savings]
Silver 64GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MGKM2LL/A) for $579.99 [$19 savings]
Gold 64GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MH182LL/A) for $579.99 [$19 savings]
Grey 128GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MGTX2LL/A) for $674.99 [$24 savings]
Silver 128GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MGTY2LL/A) for $674.99 [$24 savings]
Gold 128GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi (MH1J2LL/A) for $674.99 [$24 savings]
Grey 16GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH2U2LL/A) for $609.99 [$19 savings]
Silver 16GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH2V2LL/A) for $609.99 [$19 savings]
Gold 16GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH2W2LL/A) for $609.99 [$19 savings]
Grey 64GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH2M2LL/A) for $699.99 [$29 savings]
Silver 64GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH2N2LL/A) for $699.99 [$29 savings]
Gold 64GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH2P2LL/A) for $699.99 [$29 savings]
Grey 128GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH312LL/A) for $789.99 [$39 savings]
Silver 128GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH322LL/A) for $789.99 [$39 savings]
Gold 128GB iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (MH332LL/A) for $789.99 [$39 savings]
iPad mini 3s
16GB Silver WiFi Only savings for $349.99 $49.99 savings
16GB Space Gray WiFi Only savings for $349.99 $49.99 savings
16GB Gold WiFi Only savings for $349.99 $49.99 savings
16GB Silver WiFi + Cellular savings for $479.99 $49.99 savings
16GB Space Gray WiFi + Cellular savings for $479.99 $49.99 savings
16GB Gold WiFi + Cellular savings for $479.99 $49.99 savings
64GB Silver WiFi Only savings for $424.99 $74.99 savings
64GB Space Gray WiFi Only savings for $424.99 $74.99 savings
64GB Gold WiFi Only savings for $424.99 $74.99 savings
64GB Silver WiFi + Cellular savings for $554.99 $74.99 savings
64GB Space Gray WiFi + Cellular savings for $554.99 $74.99 savings
64GB Gold WiFi + Cellular savings for $554.99 $74.99 savings
128GB Silver WiFi Only savings for $499.99 $99.01 savings
128GB Space Gray WiFi Only savings for $499.99 $99.01 savings
128GB Gold WiFi Only savings for $499.99 $99.01 savings
128GB Silver WiFi + Cellular savings for $629.99 $99.01 savings
128GB Space Gray WiFi + Cellular savings for $629.99 $99.01 savings
128GB Gold WiFi + Cellular savings for $629.99 $99.01 savings
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Malcolm Owen
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16 Comments
Best Buy seems to be teetering ... My daughter took the ferry off Martha's Vineyard last week and drove to the nearest Best Buy to get an MBA last week only to find it closed and signs in the window saying 'Out of Business". I was surprised one store would say such a thing but it seems the 'Amazon' effect is kicking in with a vengeance.
Thanks AI! Missed the first go round, but just saved $100 on a new mini to entertain my daughter on our Christmas road trip.
Best Buy seems to be teetering ... My daughter took the ferry off Martha's Vineyard last week and drove to the nearest Best Buy to get an MBA last week only to find it closed and signs in the window saying 'Out of Business". I was surprised one store would say such a thing but it seems the 'Amazon' effect is kicking in with a vengeance.
Several years ago they were flying high as Circuit City was floundering across the street in our area.
Still a luxury item. $600 for an iPad Air 2 with Cellular for only 16 GB.
Apple is probably eating the cost of the sale.
It would not be surprising if they are forced to sell their base models in the future with 32 GB.
The upsell is too much to swallow.
Regardless of how good they are, based on those prices, a lot of people are not going to bite and settle for their iPhone 6/6+ and laptop. Unless they have the disposable income.
It should be interesting to see how Apple handles the iPads with phones crowding out tablets (for a lot of people, not everyone). Despite the fact that the iPad Air 2 is pretty freaking amazing, they can't sell them simply because they are amazing devices.
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We were at the Apple Store last night to check out the iPhone 6/6+'s. For a third time. Wow, the iPhone 6 is pretty big and such a beautiful phone. With that or the 6+, they negate the need for an iPad for many. The 6 is pretty big in its own right.
For us, the litmus test of a big enough phone is: Is it big enough to be a decent eReader? The 6 is just fine as an eReader. Our family plans to transition to the iPhone 6 as soon as we can.
Best Buy seems to be teetering ... My daughter took the ferry off Martha's Vineyard last week and drove to the nearest Best Buy to get an MBA last week only to find it closed and signs in the window saying 'Out of Business". I was surprised one store would say such a thing but it seems the 'Amazon' effect is kicking in with a vengeance.
Yes, I agree that wording is 'odd'...
Also odd that they wouldn't refer customers to the nearest functioning location...
Also odd that they wouldn't try to survive Christmas, then shutter it, although
that might have to do with lease expiration or other contractual terms with the landlord...
Also odd that people still shop there, but that's just based on my own unpleasant experiences there.