Neil Hughes
The Apple Pencil for iPad Pro launched at electronics retailer Best Buy on Friday, with some stores showing inventory in stock, despite the fact that Apple's own retail locations continue to face constraints.
As of Friday, shoppers can check Best Buy's website to see if their local location is carrying the Apple Pencil. Online orders for the stylus are not yet available.
This year, Best Buy has become a closer retail partner with Apple, serving many areas where the iPad maker doesn't have a retail presence. Accordingly, Best Buy locations have sold new devices like the fourth-generation Apple TV on product launch day, alongside Apple's own retail outlets.
Best Buy was also among the first to discount the Apple Watch, offering savings of up to $50 off new purchases of the wearable device. The company also began offering and servicing AppleCare and AppleCare+ warranties this summer.
Availability of the Apple Pencil has been extremely limited since it went on sale last week, due to apparent production issues with the Bluetooth accessory. It is only compatible with Apple's new jumbo-sized iPad Pro.
For more, see AppleInsider's first look at the Apple Pencil, as well as a breakdown of what it can and cannot do. The drawing and pointing tool is priced at $99.99.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
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25 Comments
Why would they expand it if their own supply is constrained?
Oh, cool. Will Best Buy have an Apple Pencil on display to test with a display iPad Pro?
Initially, I must admit to getting a bit pissed -- after all, mine, ordered late last week, will become available for Apple Store pickup only on Dec 17.
But I just checked, and it says that that there isn't one available for store pickup in a Best Buy within a 250 mile radius of where I live (and that includes a few large cities).
I can live with that.....
Nice gesture on Apple's part to supply inventory to BB for people like me that live 100 miles from the nearest Apple Store. I am a little surprised they would ship a constrained item to anyone besides themselves. However I just checked and the closest BB with inventory is in a city with an Apple store. Go figure.
There is something very wrong with this rollout...I ordered mine at 12:03 am the morning they went on sale and my order STILL says shipping in 1-2 weeks while others ordering days after me are getting their's already. I got one at BestBuy today and cancelled my Apple online order.