Mikey Campbell
Apple is already showing stockouts of certain iPad Pro models less than two days after kicking off preorders, while shipping estimates for Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard, both deemed essential to the iPad Pro experience, have fallen to 4 to 5 weeks.
Apple saw its initial batch of 128GB iPad Pro models quickly depleted on Thursday, with both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular versions no longer available for pickup at most brick-and-mortar Apple Stores and estimated next-day delivery times pegged at 12 to 15 days out. The stockout applies to all three color options.
Supply constraints appear to be limited to higher capacity 128GB models, however, as 32GB configurations — exclusive to Wi-Fi only configurations — are showing pickup availability at most stores across the U.S. Customers who choose expedited shipping for their 32GB iPad Pro purchase are promised delivery on Nov. 16, while free shipping arrives a day later.
Suffering more substantial delays are Apple Pencil and the new Smart Keyboard, both of which might be considered more of an essential than an add-on accessory by prospective iPad Pro buyers. Shipping availability is estimated at 4 to 5 weeks for both devices, up from the one-week wait times seen at launch.
Apple is touting iPad Pro as a tool for creatives and many users are thinking about purchasing the device specifically for such purposes. As such, the lack of launch day availability for the two first-party accessories came as a disappointment to some.
Apple Pencil is a pressure- and tilt-sensitive stylus developed in tandem with specialized display hardware only found in iPad Pro, meaning its full potential can only be realized on the jumbo-size tablet.
The Smart Keyboard is also specific to iPad Pro as it uses Apple's new Smart Connector interface, but its absence at launch is less of a concern thanks to third-party products like Logitech's Create Backlit Keyboard Case.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Amber Neely
132 Comments
They commonly do this with peripherals for new devices. Any thoughts as to why?
They thought that nobody wants a stylus? (Just kidding.)
I ordered my space grey iPad pro 128g WiFi and cellular at 12:40 am on Wednesday and I received my unit today Thursday late. That is unbelievable. I have never had such a fast turnaround. I ordered only the iPad and left the keyboard and pencil to be picked up at BestBuy because I have gift certificates that I want to redeem. The 4-5 weeks delay for those items is just inexcusable. It will be longer till I get them from BB. This is a big blot on Apple and it is a repeat of the botched Apple Watch debut. I wonder what Jobs would have done? Edit: I wanted to load my iPad pro with my iPad Air 2 backup but I entered the circle of update hell. iPad pro needs iTunes 13.2.1 but my MacPro which is running OS X 10.7.5 does not run iTunes 13.2.1 which requires OS X 10.8.5. That is a big screwup by some stupid software design engineer. Backing up and Restoring is just pushing data back and forth. Why would that require another OS version than my MacPro and another iTunes version? Speaking as a 47 year career system software engineer this screwup is amateurish.
I could have picked one up at my Apple Store, but there were no Pencils and there won't be for over a month. Another Apple launch failure.
I'm excited to receive the 128 GB model I ordered but am annoyed that Apple didn't offer a 64 GB version. I understand why -- similar to their rationale for not offering. 32 GB iPhone 6s -- but 128 GB is much more storage than many users need, especially in a world that favors streaming rather than playing locally stored content.