iPad Mini $199

haven

Expedition Leader
Apple continues to sell the original iPad mini, the model without the Retina display, for $299.
http://store.apple.com/us/buy-ipad/ipad-mini

However, in recent days two retailers have lowered the price of the iPad Mini to $199. First was Target Stores, now it's Best Buy. That's $50 cheaper than the price of a similar refurbished iPad Mini through Apple's web site.

http://www.target.com/p/apple-ipad-...213695#prodSlot=medium_1_1&tempterm=ipad+mini

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchp...=960&fs=saas&saas=saas&keys=keys&st=ipad+mini

Both websites have sold out online pretty quickly, but retail stores may have stock on hand.

So the question is, Why the fire sale prices? Are retailers just reducing inventory of the least expensive Mini? Is a new Mini due to be announced soon, making the old model obsolete? Or will the original Mini continue at a lower price? Did Apple authorize the lower prices?

It's clear from the recent Apple Worldwide Developers Conference that future iPads will include the fingerprint sensor found in today's iPhone 5S. The new iPhone and iPad Air models coming this Fall will use a processor called A8, making the A5 in the current iPad Mini three years out of date. The current iPad Mini with Retina display uses an A7 processor.

Here's another idea. Target, Best Buy and Staples all sell the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 inch tablet for $199. It's an attractive product, with high resolution display, fast processor and Amazon's version of Android 4.3. Maybe the buying public was choosing the Fire HDX, leaving the iPad Mini languishing on the shelves. Nah!
 

Xrunner

Explorer
I would guess Apple just reduced the minimum advertised price (MAP) that they allow authorized retailers to sell at.

Why? No idea... perhaps they are preparing for the rumored (larger screen) iPhone 6 and betting they need a better base price on the iPad Mini?
 

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