iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 release date will probably happen soon as retailers offer deals and discounts on the current iPads.
H.H. Gregg is among the retailers that offered a price cut on iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display. The retailer offers the 16GB iPad Air for only $459.99 instead of its original price of $499.99. The 32GB and 64GB variants also received respective discounts.
iPad Air is not the only device that received a discount. H.H. Gregg also slashed the price of the entry level model of the tablet's little brother, iPad Mini Retina. The 8-inch device is being sold at $279.99 shaving off $20 from its usual price of $299.99.
Best Buy also offered discounts on the said tablets. The electronics retailer cut off $100 from the price tag of the WiFi-only model of iPad Mini Retina and the iPad Air. However, the tablets come with a binding two-year contract with Sprint, AT&T or Verizon.
Meanwhile, Apple Store is also selling refurbished units of iPads. The 16GB iPad Air WiFi only variant costs $420 and the 32GB costs $510. Refurbished units were brought back by users to Apple where back case and battery were replaced.
Latest reports claimed that iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3will pack a TouchID fingerprint sensor, A8 processor, iOS 8 and waterproof feature.
As for the release date, Apple fans may be disappointed as rumor has it that iPad Air 2 may the only tablet to be released this year. Relaible Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believed that Apple puts its priority in iPad Air 2.
"Compared with lower-margin iPad mini with Retina display, which shipments has been tepid, higher-margin iPad Air was a hot selling item in 4Q13, which will slow Apple in developing new iPad mini models," she said.
"We believe Apple plans to launch upgraded iPad Air early this year, and will accelerate development of 12.9″ iPad," she added.
