iPad Possible Specifications - iPad 5

Nimravus said:

I hope so! Is that your guess or do you know someone inside Apple telling you this? More storage the better.

If they make 32gb the entry model, they would have to get rid of the 16gb and the starting price would be $599. I think the profit margin might not be good enough to do that yet. In my opinion, Apple doesn't respond so much to competition, t responds to cost of components. When the 32gb flash comes down in price enough, they might make it the entry level model?

Click to expand...

The 128Gb on the iPad 5 is obviously coming considering, the new model is intending to replace the previous gen. it won't make any sense for them to drop it, after just launching the 128gb. As for quantities, they wont make it in large numbers as with other sizes.

Now, as for the chance of 32gb. Here is a cost breakdown over time:

ipad 2:512MB DRAM( $7.60)+ 16GB NAND Flash memory costs($16.80): $24.4

ipad 3: 1GB DRAM ($13.90) + 16GB NAND Flash memory costs ($16.80): $30.7

ipad mini: 512MB DRAM + 16GB NAND Flash memory: $ 15.50

Looking at that trend, we can pretty much assume the prices for memory chips have fallen drastically, an a few cues are available from the iphone 5.

16GB NAND Flash memory ($10.40) + 1 GB DRAM ($10.45) = $20.85

32GB NAND Flash memory ($20.80) + 1 GB DRAM ($10.45) = $31.25

Cost for ipad 3 - 32GB : $41.50

64GB NAND Flash memory ($41.60) + 1 GB DRAM ($10.45) = $52.25

Cost for ipad 3 - 64GB : $71.10

Display + Touchscreen on the ipad mini costed $80 and battery was $13.50, while the full-size ipad display & touchscreen costed around $127 with battery pegged at $32.

Assuming that IGZO is making an appearance, and deploying the new GF/2 manufacturing process, its going to drive down both the costs of the display+ touchscreen as well as battery ( smaller capacity is being used). assuming a cost of $115 for the display& touchscreen, and a cost of around $22 for the battery, we have already seen a cost savings of around $30 for the 32GB and $ 45-50

Assuming trends, Power Management modules will drop by about a $1, while new mechanical / electro-mechanical components should drop by about $10 (from $50) and finally the processor should see a drop by $4-$5.

3G modules should drop down from $41.50 to around $37.

In total, if you look there is a total saving of around $50 on the base model itself .

Considering that Apple makes more margin on the higher capacity models & 3G models, they can easily afford to drop the 16GB and introduce the 32GB as a base model on the ipad, without hurting their profit margin.

A difference of $100 to double the capacity and a difference of $ 130 for getting 3G/ 4G, I think a 32gb base could be on offer as an entry model.

Now its a matter of waiting to find out!