Apple limits iPad Pro purchases as early stocks run out

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iPad
You’ll have to wait until April to get the base model 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

Buyers already snapped up the Apple’s initial supply of one version of the 2020 iPad Pro. A 12.9-inch model ordered now won‘t ship until early April. The 11-inch model is still available on launch day, however.

In what’s likely an attempt to prevent hoarding, Apple put a restriction on how many iPad Pro units each customer could buy.

A longer wait for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro

Place an order now on the Apple Store for a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the delivery time is sometime between April 2 through April 6. That shows Apple has run out of its very first production run because orders placed yesterday for this tablet are scheduled to arrive March 25.

Those eager to get this tablet on launch day can upgrade it with more storage — Apple is currently only out of the version with 128GB. Add more capacity and there are units available for delivery on March 25.

There might be less of a rush on the latest 11-inch iPad Pro because orders placed now are still set to arrive March 25.

No 2020 iPad Pro hoarding

A note on the Apple Store order page for the latest top-tier iPadOS tablet says “Limited to two 11-inch iPad Pro and two 12.9-inch iPad Pro per customer.”

It’s not known how many units of this tablet Apple was able to stockpile before yesterday’s announcement, but the COVID-19 outbreak in China early this year might have left the company with a limited supply. Assembly plants of all types of electronics were temporarily closed to reduce the spread of the deadly disease, almost certainly reducing the number of iPad Pro units produced in the run up to the release.

Limiting the number that each customer can purchase should prevent someone from buying a bunch then offering them on eBay at inflated prices when Apple’s stock runs out.

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