A email sent to Sam's Club members has announced the opening of pre-orders for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro,
listing its release date as Friday, November 13. While the date is thus far unconfirmed by Apple, the warehouse retailer said it would be offering only only the 32GB and 128GB Wi-Fi only versions of the forthcoming tablet, rather than the Wi-Fi+Cellular versions. A different report from China had said that retailers there would get the units on November 11, but it is unclear if they simply meant taking delivery of inventory ahead of the debut or that the debut would happen that day.
The retail price of the iPad Pro starts at $799, but scales upward to $1,079 for a 128GB model with cellular capability. Sam's Club will offer the models at a slight discount, charging $787 for the base 32GB version, and $937 for the least-expensive 128GB version. It is not yet known whether or not the chain will also carry the official Apple accessories for the device, which consist of the Smart Keyboard ($169) and the Apple Pencil drawing stylus ($99).
Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue had told attendees at the recent Dropbox Open conference that the new iPad would be available in "a few more days," but if the Sam's Club report pans out it would seem that Cue was referring to pre-order dates rather than retail availability. Still unclear is whether Apple will open a pre-order period for the iPad Pro.
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