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Can we expect to see a price drop?

applemike

applemike

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 6, 2008
480
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The current iPad starts at £429 here in the UK

I was wondering, are we likely to see a price drop now that the launch and hype is over? or does apple tend to maintain prices until the next generation, or until a redesign or change in the product?

Cheers in advance
 
I really wouldn't expect a price drop until 2nd generation, if then.

The iPad is pretty cheap actually when you consider what iPhones have always sold for without contract.
 
It's very rare for Apple to drop the prices between product updates but they will be altering all their prices on the 4th January 2011 when VAT goes up to 20% :(
 
I would not even consider a price drop when Apple has clearly sold more than enough iPads to warrant their price point. Many think it's overpriced (me included even as an owner) but there are enough sales to show that the price is just right.
 
I dunno - my take is that there may be slight price drops in time for Christmas. But I think it would e more likely that there will be an "added value" offer (free or reduced price accessories with an iPad purchase). But again, this won't be until maybe 3-4 weeks out from Christmas. At least that's how I'd play it.
 
Given Apple's track record for the past 2 or 3 years, personally i expect a price INcrase.

The new 2011 iPad... from the magical price of... £550

The new 2012 iPad... from the magical price of... £650

Am i cynical?
 
Aegelward said:
Given Apple's track record for the past 2 or 3 years, personally i expect a price INcrase.

The new 2011 iPad... from the magical price of... £550

The new 2012 iPad... from the magical price of... £650

Am i cynical?
Click to expand...

If the iPad remained identical then we could expect price drops. But if you want upgraded models with new and improved features annually then you're going to have to pay for them.

There are more factors than profit margins that drive the prices of goods - there's inflation and taxes (especially in your case with VAT going up soon), and the rising cost of production. Sure, the bits themselves may be getting cheaper if subject to "economies of scale", but labour isn't - you've not only got the rising cost of manufacturing labour (Foxconn was just the start), but all the R&D boffins, the marketing jocks, programmers, accountants, lawyers, security guards, maintenance personell etc. etc. etc. who all tend to get an annual wage increase.

Now if unicorns **** out iPads and all they needed as a reward was cuddles and puppy dreams, then yes, you would have a reason for being such a Negative Nancy.
 
It's possible, but in the short term not likely. A typical Apple pattern would call for:

  • Another iPad model, maybe the 7" version of rumors
  • New version of existing iPad

The small iPad will become the "cheaper" iPad. The new version of the existing iPad will retain the same price but have more features.

Eventually, as with the iPod, you'll probably see a whole family of iPad devices at various price levels, one of which is going to be priced competitively with the knockoffs.
 
Doubtful...consider that the only real competition in the near term will be the Samsung Tab and it is being priced higher than an iPad or have an associated carrier contract. Everything cheaper than the iPad is nowhere near competition for either product.
 
I believe that it will eventually come down in price after the second generation is released. That's the way it was with nearly every iPod, and I see the iPad more as an iPod then Mac. Go back to the very first iPod touch, it was $499 for 32GB, no speaker, no volume rocker, less ram, etc. I expect better features at the same or less price point.
 
If you ask me, $499 iPad is already a good value. However, come next spring, maybe 8GB wifi only 1st Gen iPad for $399....
 
coolwater said:
If you ask me, $499 iPad is already a good value. However, come next spring, maybe 8GB wifi only 1st Gen iPad for $399....
Click to expand...

I agree on the $499 price point being a good value but at the same time I think its just a little to high for some people to take the plunge. If a smaller iPad does come out I assume thats the crowd it will be aimed at.
 
coolwater said:
If you ask me, $499 iPad is already a good value. However, come next spring, maybe 8GB wifi only 1st Gen iPad for $399....
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I don't expect this to definitely happen, but I definitely could see it happening.

Alternatively a new 7" iPad might have a starting price of $399 as well.

But I don't really see how iPads will possibly go any lower. Maybe with the exception of the 1st gen 7" iPad going down to $299 when the 2nd gen 7" iPad comes out. But that is probably just wishful thinking... considering how iPod touches range from $229-$399.
 
I doubt there will be a decrease in price since demand is exceeding supply. What business sense would it make to make less money? Apple will soon be producing 3 mill iPads a month which should hopefully satisfy the Xmas market.
Also Apple still has to release the ipad in more countries.

It is going to be interesting to see what happens next year especially if Apple introduce the 2nd generation iPad.
 
Usually Apple just makes products better for the same price, a drop is very rare like the one on the iPod touch.

For example is a MacBook Pro with 2GB ram 2.4 GHz and 250GB HD cost $1700 they would not lower its price through time, but they would turn that MacBook Pro into a 4GB ram 2.53 GHz and 320GB HD.

The same has been done with iPhones, the new ones gain the same price as the old and come with more features.

The iPod touch stayed so much time (about 2 years) with little changes so they had to lower its price.
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
Alternatively a new 7" iPad might have a starting price of $399 as well.
Click to expand...

Creating a 7'' iPad is very unlikely because this would mean that a new iOS software must be created and developers must update all of their apps to work on the new iPad.

Its taken Apple more than 5 months to release 4.0 (really 4.2) for iPad just because it is bigger than the iPhone and can't use the same software, why bother with a new product and have the same problems?

This is my opinion.
 
ssdeg7 said:
Creating a 7'' iPad is very unlikely because this would mean that a new iOS software must be created and developers must update all of their apps to work on the new iPad.

Its taken Apple more than 5 months to release 4.0 (really 4.2) for iPad just because it is bigger than the iPhone and can't use the same software, why bother with a new product and have the same problems?

This is my opinion.
Click to expand...

Actually the current ipad ios would fit easily into a 7" screen so there is no need for that. They didn't take 5 month for 4.2. They took over a year and the problem was and still is that they had to build it from scratch, unlike the iphone ios which had a couple of years to progress they had to hurry like a m.....


But seriously its very unlikely. The profit margin is amazingly low for a apple product, especially the low end wifi is only about 40%, usually for apple they start at 50%. Still i will only buy it if the 7" has that liquid metall drippin like water and is light as a m.......



But till den i gotz ma candy paint iPod Touch :)
 
ConnorJack said:
iPad WiFi 16GB:

$499 in the US
$665 in the UK
Click to expand...

$499 in GBP is about £320, then add on the 20% VAT so another £65

makes £385, then add on the fact apple hates the UK and must add another 10% because we speak funny.

btw where abouts in the NE are you?
 
ssdeg7 said:
Creating a 7'' iPad is very unlikely because this would mean that a new iOS software must be created and developers must update all of their apps to work on the new iPad.

Its taken Apple more than 5 months to release 4.0 (really 4.2) for iPad just because it is bigger than the iPhone and can't use the same software, why bother with a new product and have the same problems?

This is my opinion.
Click to expand...

Nah. IMO the 7" screen is close enough in size to the 9.7" that it'd only be a matter of scaling. I don't think they would have to redo anything... Maybe a couple of minor tweaks. just close the gap between the icons on the home screen and things like that. keep the same res as the 9.7 so all apps run identical just a little bit smaller. Leave devs the option to customize for the smaller screen if the UI doesn't work well on a slightly smaller screen... but I think most will be fine.

My preditiction: In november, the announcement of 4.2 will be alongside the announcement of a 7" iPad.

And I mean android seems to work fine on screens varying from 3.5" to 5" to 7" to 10"...
 
A price increase is 100% definite on 1st January 2011, when VAT goes up ANOTHER 2.5% thanks to our stupid Tory government.

Apple NEVER drops prices on it's main products between refreshes... EVER.
 
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