iPad mini Mini 5 in Apple Stores?

[RoadWarrior56]

I had posted earlier today on this thread about my experiences in finding a Mini in the Atlanta area. I had phoned Apple late this morning, and I was told to phone again later today and then day by day for information about stock in nearby stores. The implication was that none of these stores had Mini's in stock yet. I then phoned at 3 PM and I was then told that those stores did get some supply and had already sold out. If I ordered a Mini today, i would not get it until the third week of April, and that no store would hold a unit for me unless I ordered it. I had already checked a nearby Best Buy earlier online today and found they did have a small number 256 GB Space Gray Wi-Fi Mini's in stock. I stopped there on the way home, traded in the Mini 2 and Mini 4, and got my new iPad Mini, which I am setting up now. I didn't get quite as much credit for my trades compared to what Apple would had gotten me, but it was not different enough ($30 difference) to either have to check nearby Apple stores on a daily basis for limited stock or pre-order for delivery time of at least 3 weeks.

My impression is that the demand is high for the Mini 5, at least initially since this is a substantial upgrade that is up to 2 years overdue. I don't know the overall supply situation, but it is possible that Apple underestimated the demand, since they seem to have treated the Mini as the red headded step child of the Mini product line.

 

[masotime]

I don't know the overall supply situation, but it is possible that Apple underestimated the demand, since they seem to have treated the Mini as the red headded step child of the Mini product line.

I don't think it's possible to overstate the above - the iPad mini is an amazing product - naysayers have no idea how ergonomic it is - the tactile experience is hard to convey for those who have learned how to appreciate the form factor.

 

[Jedimark]

Just picked up a 64GB Silver WiFi from the SF Union Square store.

 

[Fenhalls]

I had posted earlier today on this thread about my experiences in finding a Mini in the Atlanta area. I had phoned Apple late this morning, and I was told to phone again later today and then day by day for information about stock in nearby stores. The implication was that none of these stores had Mini's in stock yet. I then phoned at 3 PM and I was then told that those stores did get some supply and had already sold out. If I ordered a Mini today, i would not get it until the third week of April, and that no store would hold a unit for me unless I ordered it. I had already checked a nearby Best Buy earlier online today and found they did have a small number 256 GM Mini's in stock. I stopped there on the way home, traded in the Mini 2 and Mini 4, and got my new iPad Mini, which I am setting up now. I didn't get quite as much credit for my trades compared to what Apple would had gotten me, but it was not different enough ($30 difference) to either have to check nearby Apple stores on a daily basis for limited stock or pre-order for delivery time of at least 3 weeks.

My impression is that the demand is high for the Mini 5, at least initially since this is a substantial upgrade that is up to 2 years overdue. I don't know the overall supply situation, but it is possible that Apple underestimated the demand, since they seem to have treated the Mini as the red headded step child of the Mini product line.

How very fitting that a road warrior should be posting a dispatch from the front lines.

 

[dyt1983]

I don't think it's possible to overstate the above - the iPad mini is an amazing product - naysayers have no idea how ergonomic it is - the tactile experience is hard to convey for those who have learned how to appreciate the form factor.

But... but... the home button ISN'T CENTERED!!!

/s

 

[RoadWarrior56]

But... but... the home button ISN'T CENTERED!!!

/s

I love the home button on the 5, centered or not. The slow touch ID on the Mini 4 never worked well or reliably. The newer Touch ID is much faster, smoother and more reliable on the 5. It’s fast like my old iPhone 6s touch ID was.

 

[tcannizz]

Don't settle for that. For the price, it should be near perfect.

I did not settle for it. After going back and forth on what to do, I went back to my local store and..

Exchanged it for an iPad Mini! I really quite like the size of the mini after using it for 30 minutes and setting up! The Air while nice with the bigger screen just felt too big.

I don’t do work on my iPad. Strictly web browsing, YouTube, twitch, podcasts, occasional games, and sketching! So for what it is, I really like the mini size
[doublepost=1553824921][/doublepost]

I did not settle for it. After going back and forth on what to do, I went back to my local store and..

Exchanged it for an iPad Mini! I really quite like the size of the mini after using it for 30 minutes and setting up! The Air while nice with the bigger screen just felt too big.

I don’t do work on my iPad. Strictly web browsing, YouTube, twitch, podcasts, occasional games, and sketching! So for what it is, I really like the mini size

Now I just have to wait for my mini case to come in from Amazon (should be here Saturday!)

I ordered an Air case that showed up today but wasn’t originally planning on doing this swap for a mini. Oh well, patience!

 

[masotime]

Just picked up a 64GB Silver WiFi from the SF Union Square store.

I went to SF Union Square looking for a 256GB Space Gray LTE but they didn’t it in stock, but their internal systems showed that the one at Chestnut St. did. Grabbed one successfully - but it looks like stocks are low. Stonestown didn’t have any stock of that model either

 

[haruhiko]

It's widely available in most Apple Stores in Hong Kong as of today Friday 29 March.

 

[haruhiko]

Update: all stocks were gone before noon for at least the cellular model

 

[masotime]

Cellular makes a lot of sense for a small, portable device like the iPad mini, so I’m not surprised it ran it quickly - although it’s also arguable that Apple didn’t expect many cellular models to sell give the price premium for a “budget” iPad.

 

[haruhiko]

Just picked up my 64GB cellular

 

[Josieb1]

Still no new iPads in the UK

 

[tabilo]

Anyone has some insights on the availability in the Singapore Apple Store? Will be there end of next week and would love to buy a 256/Cellular mini.

 

[haruhiko]

Anyone has some insights on the availability in the Singapore Apple Store? Will be there end of next week and would love to buy a 256/Cellular mini.

Should be fine a week later I guess.. but you can always check at the Apple Store app for in-store pickup availability?

 

[BMcCoy]

Still no new iPads in the UK

Yeah, it's weird. I just did a live chat, and they were cagey about it. Saying "no official release date" and recommending online order for delivery.

Further commenting "the iPad mini does not appear to be in stock at any stores"

 

[mackie8]

Anyone has some insights on the availability in the Singapore Apple Store? Will be there end of next week and would love to buy a 256/Cellular mini.

Im from singapore...
All models available now in apple orchard

 

[olisones]

Covent Garden, London have stock - just picked up a 256gb Space Grey Wi-fi/Cellular

 

[*~Kim~*]

Being in the UK sucks. Based on a currency calculator I just used, you could almost get the 64GB cell version in the US for the cost of the 64GB wifi version in the UK. And we have to wait longer for it.

Didn't someone say they were shipping them out of Shenzhen? Extra vat, import duty and handling fees if a UK online order came from there.

Am I right in thinking Apple use UPS? I'm yet to have a good experience with them so I wouldn't want them delivering an iPad.

 

[gymratjudy]

Looks like most of the stores in NY that didn't have stock earlier have stock now.

 

[trsblader]

My local store had no stock all week and today they have almost everything, including LTE versions and storage options. Silver 64 and 256gb wifi along with gold 256gb w LTE are the only models not available for me.

Of note, my store doesn't open for 3 more hours, so unsure how quickly stock will go

 

[LibbyLA]

Stock just showed in my local store but no space gray cellular in either storage option. I’m trying to wait until there’s a sale but we’ll see.

Showing April 15-17 for in store pickup and none at the 4 closest stores to me, 3 of which are 1 to several hours away.

256 is available an hour away.

 

[*~Kim~*]

Is the website sufficient for stock checking or does the Apple Store app give more info? My iPad is too old so I'd have to update the iOS on an old iPhone to use it.

 

[trsblader]

Is the website sufficient for stock checking or does the Apple Store app give more info? My iPad is too old so I'd have to update the iOS on an old iPhone to use it.

Not sure about the app, but I've called into my local store a few times and they have told me the website is not real-time and can be off quite a bit when demand is up. I've gotten friendly enough people each time that they'd go check stock numbers and tell me what demand had been like recently so I could make an educated guess on whether they'd have stock still or not.

I wouldn't be surprised if the site is only updated once per day, after hours.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

Not sure about the app, but I've called into my local store a few times and they have told me the website is not real-time and can be off quite a bit when demand is up. I've gotten friendly enough people each time that they'd go check stock numbers and tell me what demand had been like recently so I could make an educated guess on whether they'd have stock still or not.

I wouldn't be surprised if the site is only updated once per day, after hours.

I've had this confirmed by multiple stores in my very large DFW market: apple.com and the app will only show store pickup available when there is over a certain threshold of in-stock units. They cannot tell me how many units that is, but I can say it's more than 3 of a particular configuration.

Yesterday the website and app both showed no pickup, but my store had at least 2-3 of each in stock. They worry about reliably reserving units from website or app when stock is that low because it takes them time to process the online order reservations while meanwhile people are walking in and buying. It's a prudent approach to ensure online pickup orders get saved for those buyers while also allowing walk-ins.

Moral of the story is always go the store to check for the walk-in stock. If you can wait a bit after release stock levels will rise and they will be available for store pickup purchase online.