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Apple Stores start selling Retina iPad mini to walk-in customers as regional carriers launch cellular models

iPadminiRD_4up_wHand_iOS7-PRINT

Regional carriers are starting to announce availability for cellular models of Apple’s new Retina iPad mini just as the company today started offering the device to walk-in customers.

Bluegrass Cellular announced today that it is now offering the iPad mini Wi-Fi Cellular models in-store and online. Available on the carrier’s website now starting at the usual $530 for the 16GB model, the carrier is also offering all three models (16GB, 32GB, and 64GB) on its no-contract “Freedom, Expanded” plan. That allows customers to make 12 monthly payments to get the device they want with the ability to trade-in and upgrade to a new device after a year. That plan will run $26.50/month for the 16GB model on Bluegrass, $31.50/month for the $630 32GB model, or $36.50/month for the $730 64GB model. The carrier appears to only have Space Gray models of the device available, at least online, and the Freedom Expanded plans are only available in-store. Another regional carrier, C Spire Wireless, will begin selling the Retina iPad mini over the next week. UpdateU.S. Cellular has also begun cellular iPad mini with Retina Display sales today on its website.

In other Retina iPad mini news, we’ve just received word Apple has just started selling the device to walk-in customers in its retail stores following an initial launch for Personal Pickup orders only.

The Personal Pickup option is still available online, while online orders of the Retina iPad mini are currently expected to ship in 5-10 days from Apple’s website. It’s unclear how much stock will available to walk-in customers across Apple’s retail stores, so your best bet might still be to order online for delivery or personal pickup.

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Comments

  1. PMZanetti - 10 years ago

    Having finally gotten to play with one in-store, I’m incredibly glad I got an iPad Air instead. The Retina display is for whatever reason not particularly impressive on the mini…at all…and the increased thickness is definitely noticeable.

    The iPad Air is by far superior….much more than $100 superior. Despite being a full 7.9″, the mini is just too small to be an iPad.

    • daving313 - 10 years ago

      Odd. I actually returned the Air and got the Retina Mini instead. Everyone has their own reasons.

      • PMZanetti - 10 years ago

        Of course. There is nothing wrong with the mini…except that its not an iPad. And calling it an iPad just seems wrong when you use it. The UI is SMALL. Almost iPhone-small.

        The mini is really a big iPhone, not a small iPad. Nothing wrong with that, I just don’t see the mini being an option for anyone who wants an “iPad”.

    • Brett Huhn - 10 years ago

      Actually, it is an iPad and saying it is NOT so only confirms that you needed to take a closer look. To me,the larger iPad Air is just too large as evidenced by the one I own that just sits there and is NOT used except by house guests. Being emphatic does not make one right. It just makes one look like an old fart

      • zato (@zatoitchy) - 10 years ago

        “Being emphatic does not make one right. It just makes one look like an old fart”

        It also makes one look like an anti-Apple propagandist. Especially when it’s the first response, and clicking on the name shows no previous posts.

      • tallestskil - 10 years ago

        Your anecdotal evidence is equally admissible as his. Either you’re both valid or it doesn’t matter at all.

        The iPad mini is too small for meaningful use. Its market is idiots–the same idiots who WOULD buy a 13” iMac in today’s market.

      • Brett Huhn - 10 years ago

        Like folks say. ” I can’t hear what you are saying, because what you are speaks so loudly to me”

      • tallestskil - 10 years ago

        “Folks” don’t say that.

  2. sammurrayuk - 10 years ago

    I much prefer the mini to the Air, all about the portability and it fits in my pocket.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.