Launch-Day iPad Air Stocks Begin to Weaken, High-Capacity Models Most Affected

With the iPad Air now having launched in over 40 countries today, supplies of the device are starting to weaken in some of Apple's online and retail stores. The most significant signs of tightening supplies are appearing in higher-capacity models in some countries, specifically 128 GB and 64 GB cellular models and 128 Wi-Fi models. In a number of countries these models are now listed as shipping in 5-10 business days.

Apple's U.S. online store continues to list delivery dates of November 4 for new orders of all models, while those looking to use Personal Pickup to order their devices online and pick them up today at a nearby U.S. Apple retail store will find that supplies are beginning to dry up with increasing combinations of models and stores now listed as "Ships to store" rather than "Available today".

ipad_air_nyc_pickup
In countries other than the U.S., Apple's online stores list shipping estimates rather than delivery estimates, and the following combinations of models and countries have seen estimates slipping to 5-10 business days:

- Australia: Cellular 128 GB in space gray

- Austria: Wi-Fi and Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver

- Belgium: Wi-Fi 128 GB in space gray

- China: Wi-Fi 16 and 128 GB in space gray, all Wi-Fi models in silver (Cellular models not available yet)

- Czech Republic: Cellular 64 GB and 128 GB models in both space gray and silver, Cellular 32 GB and Wi-Fi 128 GB in silver

- Denmark: Cellular 128 GB in space gray

- Finland: Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver

- France: Cellular 128 GB in space gray

- Germany: Wi-Fi and Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver

- Hong Kong: All models quickly became unavailable for shipping

- Hungary: Cellular 64 GB and 128 GB models in both space gray and silver, Cellular 32 GB in silver

- Ireland: Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver

- Netherlands: Cellular 128 GB in space gray

- Norway: Cellular 128 GB in space gray

- Poland: Wi-Fi and Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver

- Portugal: Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver, Wi-Fi 128 GB in space gray

- Singapore: Cellular 128 GB in space gray

- Sweden: Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver

- Switzerland: Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver, Wi-Fi 128 GB in space gray

- UK: Cellular 128 GB in both space gray and silver

Update: U.S. users interested in checking availability of Personal Pickup for various models may want to take advantage of Apple-Tracker.com for a much more efficient method than going through Apple's online store manually for each model.

T-Mobile 128GB iPad Air
Update 2: The Space Gray 128GB iPad Air w/cellular on T-Mobile is the first model to see its shipping time slip on the U.S. store. It is now available to ship in 5-10 business days.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean

Apple Discontinued These 25 Products This Year

Wednesday December 24, 2025 7:24 am PST by
With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year. Most of the products that were discontinued this year were simply replaced by a new model with an updated chip. However, the iPhone SE line was entirely discontinued when the iPhone 16e launched, and the iPhone Plus line is being phased out. Below, we have...

Top Rated Comments

CodexMonkey Avatar
159 months ago
I believe Microsoft are looking to experience 'weakened stock levels' with the Surface 2 but the only way to truly achieve that would be to only manufacture one. And then demo it.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
olowott Avatar
159 months ago
this should tell apple something
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheKrs1 Avatar
159 months ago
Geez, at the price of the 128gb iPad, you might as well buy a Macbook Air :eek:

Yeah... but I already have a MBA.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citi Avatar
159 months ago
Geez, at the price of the 128gb iPad, you might as well buy a Macbook Air :eek:
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citi Avatar
159 months ago
These new iPads truly are revolutionary. How can it be possible to pack so much cutting-edge technology into such a slim, light, gorgeous device? Only Apple can do this. And that's why iPad Air is already selling out around the world in just a few hours.

Do you work for Apple? This sounds like a PR sound bite.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chupa Chupa Avatar
159 months ago
i don't know why people buy high capacity ipads.... What do they fill it up with? And these things are meant to be upgraded every 2 years or so since apple gimp their old hardware every few os release.

16gb for me!

OK, I'll bite...

1) People fill up their iPads with whatever they need to make it a useful & enjoyable device for them. Congrats, all you need is 16GB. Some people like to load up videos (esp for the kids), or keep photos on it as a digital photo book, music, magazines, books, apps (100-200mb apps are not uncommon these days).

2) What does the position that iPads are meant to be upgraded every 2 years have to do with what storage size one buys today? I don't see the connection there especially since Apple has kept the storage size and price points the same since the original iPad.

3) Your suggestion that Apple's gimps old hardware makes zero sense. The iPad 2 that you could buy today is the exact same one available two years ago. Apple didn't lessen RAM or change out the processor. Now, Apple does build new OSes to compliment the newest hardware, yes, but that is how you make technological progress rather than designing for the least common denominator.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)