Best Buy is expanding sales of the Apple iPad to more than a thousand retail stores in the United States beginning Sept. 26.

The big box retailer currently carries the iPad online and through Apple Shop locations within 673 Best Buy stores. The expansion will put both the Wi-Fi version of the iPad and iPad 3G in all of its 1, 093 retail stores.

“Technology is becoming more and more personal, and our customers say they really value visiting a Best Buy store to touch and try the iPad for themselves,” said Wendy Fritz, senior vice president of computing at Best Buy, in a statement.

The iPad will sell at Best Buy starting at $499.99 for 16GB + WiFi, and $629.99 for a comparable model with 3G connectivity. Best Buy is also expanding its lineup of iPad accessories to coincide with the iPad expansion.

On Monday, Apple announced the Wi-Fi version of the iPad would launch in China on Friday, Sept. 17, with further international launches planned for later this year. The iPad in China is selling for CNY3988 for 16GB, CNY4788 for 32GB and CNY5588 for 64GB, about $589, $708 and $826, respectively.