iPad Pro Guess the iPad Pro/Air announcement/pre-order/availability dates

[bscheffel]

While we wait im(patiently) for the new iPads to materialize let's guess the annoucement/pre-order/availability dates for bragging rights.
My guess:
Announcement - Tue., April 30
Preorder - Fri., May 3
Availability - Fri., May 10

 

[erikkfi]

Those are good guesses. I endorse those but just to be contrarian, here's the pessimistic case:

Announcement: Tuesday, May 7
Preorder: Friday, May 10
Availability: Friday, May 17

Some peoples' heads are going to explode if we get to May 1st with still no announcement (possibly including mine).

 

[bscheffel]

Those are good guesses. I endorse those but just to be contrarian, here's the pessimistic case:

Announcement: Tuesday, May 7
Preorder: Friday, May 10
Availability: Friday, May 17

Some peoples' heads are going to explode if we get to May 1st with still no announcement (possibly including mine).

I don't think there is any chance we won't have an announcement by May 1. The Q2 earnings call is May 2 and they will want to have at least announced the new iPads before the call given iPads sales numbers will be abysmal for the second straight quarter.

 

[Luxurytravelled]

Announcement + Order Opens - Monday 6 May
Availability - Friday 10 May

 

[erikkfi]

I don't think there is any chance we won't have an announcement by May 1. The Q2 earnings call is May 2 and they will want to have at least announced the new iPads before the call given iPads sales numbers will be abysmal for the second straight quarter.

It’s a good theory. That’s why I’m more in favor of your guesses than mine.

 

[UltimateSyn]

While we wait im(patiently) for the new iPads to materialize let's guess the annoucement/pre-order/availability dates for bragging rights.
My guess:
Announcement - Tue., April 30
Preorder - Fri., May 3
Availability - Fri., May 10

I think you've hit the nail on the head, honestly. Announcement early the week of the earnings call makes sense. Pre-orders that Friday make sense (though this is the one thing I'm uncertain about - it may just get immediately order availability), and a release the following Friday checks out.

 

[Davidalan]

My guess:
Announcement - Tue., April 30
Preorder - Fri., May 3
Availability - Fri., May 10

 

[Rubes-]

Long time lurker (15+ years), first time poster... I just couldn't help myself as this feels like the most anticipated iPad launch for a while. Who knows what Apple is planning at this point, so just for fun here's my wildcard guess.

Announcement + orders - Tuesday 30th April
Released - Wednesday 8th May

Based on previous iPad Pro announcement/release windows, they haven't really stuck to the traditional Tuesday press release/Friday launch before.

	Announced	Released	Days
iPad Pro (1st gen)	Wednesday 9th September 2015	Wednesday 11th November 2015	63 days
iPad Pro (2nd gen)	Monday 5th June 2017	Tuesday 13th June 2017	8 days
iPad Pro (3rd gen)	Tuesday 30th October 2018	Wednesday 7th November 2018	8 days
iPad Pro (4th gen)	Wednesday 18th March 2020	Wednesday 25th March 2020	7 days
iPad Pro (5th gen)*	Tuesday 20th April 2021	Friday 21st May 2021	31 days
iPad Pro (6th gen)	Tuesday 18th October 2022	Wednesday 26th October 2022	8 days

*iPad Pro (5th gen) was the only release with an actual pre-order date of Friday 30th April 2021

 

[Rafterman]

Long time lurker (15+ years), first time poster... I just couldn't help myself as this feels like the most anticipated iPad launch for a while. Who knows what Apple is planning at this point, so just for fun here's my wildcard guess.

Announcement + orders - Tuesday 30th April
Released - Wednesday 8th May

Based on previous iPad Pro announcement/release windows, they haven't really stuck to the traditional Tuesday press release/Friday launch before.

	Announced	Released	Days
iPad Pro (1st gen)	Wednesday 9th September 2015	Wednesday 11th November 2015	63 days
iPad Pro (2nd gen)	Monday 5th June 2017	Tuesday 13th June 2017	8 days
iPad Pro (3rd gen)	Tuesday 30th October 2018	Wednesday 7th November 2018	8 days
iPad Pro (4th gen)	Wednesday 18th March 2020	Wednesday 25th March 2020	7 days
iPad Pro (5th gen)*	Tuesday 20th April 2021	Friday 21st May 2021	31 days
iPad Pro (6th gen)	Tuesday 18th October 2022	Wednesday 26th October 2022	8 days

*iPad Pro (5th gen) was the only release with an actual pre-order date of Friday 30th April 2021

15 years befire posting? Damn...

Yeah, iPads have been more like "oh, yeah, and we released new iPads." A lot of times, they just suddenly appeared, no pre-launch announcement or pre-order, just first come first serve.

 

[erikkfi]

The consensus seems to be on a 4/30 announcement, with the main reasoning being that they want to be able to talk about the new iPads on the 5/2 earnings call as a way to deflect questions about why iPad sales may not have been so hot last quarter. This theory will be put to the test a week from tomorrow.

 

[cpatrick08]

The consensus seems to be on a 4/30 announcement, with the main reasoning being that they want to be able to talk about the new iPads on the 5/2 earnings call as a way to deflect questions about why iPad sales may not have been so hot last quarter. This theory will be put to the test a week from tomorrow.

If the pre-order is before the quarter end cutoff, they could talk about the pre-sale info being good which should appease shareholders.

 

[rulymammoth]

The consensus seems to be on a 4/30 announcement, with the main reasoning being that they want to be able to talk about the new iPads on the 5/2 earnings call as a way to deflect questions about why iPad sales may not have been so hot last quarter. This theory will be put to the test a week from tomorrow.

The fact that we think this is even within the realm of possibility shows just how driven Apple is these days by short term thinking.

 

[Portavoz]

I'll be watching the Apple Newsroom at 10am PT today. My guess on odds for an announcement:

Today - April 23 - 10% chance
Tues - April 30 - 70% chance
Mon - May 6 - 10% chance
Tues - May 7 - 10% chance

 

[erikkfi]

New event coming 5/7. 9to5 Mac has it but MacRumors doesn’t yet. This is it!

Apple announces special event for May 7: 'Let Loose' - 9to5Mac

Apple has announced a special event for May 7, teasing “Let Loose.” The event will be online and take place...

9to5mac.com

 

[hovscorpion12]

Looks like all the guesses and speculation is over. Tuesday May 7th!!!

 

[Portavoz]

Revised odds:

May 7 - 100%

 

[mattburley7]

may 7th announcement but what are we thinking for preorder and availability?

 

[Luxurytravelled]

may 7th announcement but what are we thinking for preorder and availability?

Pre order the same day, availability on Friday 10th.