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Why purchase expensive smartphone when tablets are cheaper?

M

MacMane

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 1, 2009
127
0
Orlando, Fl
The reason I bring this up is because the newest iPhone retails for $499 without contract, but nexus 7 $199. And if the iPad mini or 7.85 inch iPad is real (which I hope not), im assuming it's going to be $199-$299, which is still cheaper than a new iPhone, or galaxy s III, or galaxy nexus. So why are smart phones more expensive than tablets? And why have a $499+ smartphone when tablets are same price or even cheaper, has same specs or higher specs.

I do own a new iPad and a smartphone that I bought on contract for $199, and the nexus 7 or kindle fire can do way more than my $199 Samsung galaxy smartphone.
 
Abazigal

Abazigal

Contributor
Jul 18, 2011
19,548
21,988
Singapore
The nexus is reportedly being sold at break-even rate, which explains which it seems so cheap, compared to an iphone with a 75% profit margin. This means the cost of making an iphone is ~$200, on par with the nexus. :)
 
Jessica Lares

Jessica Lares

macrumors G3
Oct 31, 2009
9,612
1,056
Near Dallas, Texas, USA
Because they both do things differently, and obviously you can't have both of them on hand at the same time. You could make the same argument with smartphones/feature phones and why have the smartphone when you have a laptop that does the same thing.
 
aleni

aleni

macrumors 68030
Jun 2, 2006
2,560
858
having an iPad 3g and a dumb phone might work for some people, but if you're going for a dumb phone and a nexus 7 tablet which doesn't have cellular connection, then you're pretty dead outside. u can't use internet every time because u depend on a public WiFi access.
 
F

flyguy206

macrumors 6502a
Aug 5, 2008
583
0
Because people don't want to carry around a device that big. Most people don't follow tech news so the nexus 7 is something that the avg person has not even heard of. People that love tech will buy both
 
M

MacMane

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 1, 2009
127
0
Orlando, Fl
I think I'm being misunderstood. I understand the need for having a smartphone and a tablet simultaneously. I am stating that tablets are more powerful than smartphone in some cases, while also being cheaper. 7-10 inch Tegra 3, 1gb ram, ips screen tablet $199-399, while 3.5-5 inch phone with same specs, sometimes less powerful specs $499+.
 
V

Virinprew

macrumors 6502a
Apr 24, 2012
774
404
Because phone is something you need and you can take it everywhere. Tablet is good to have but not necessary.
 
E

edk

macrumors regular
Apr 12, 2006
112
0
it's artificial pricing points, that's all.

If the tablet market would allow them to sell at 499 - 799, they would.

The phone market is supported by carriers that take part of the phone cost - its built into the pricing of the phone. Apple might be happy to sell the iphone for 399 new - but then it would screw up the contracts with the carriers ... just wouldn't work.
 
J

Json81

macrumors regular
Jan 9, 2012
110
85
MacMane said:
I think I'm being misunderstood. I understand the need for having a smartphone and a tablet simultaneously. I am stating that tablets are more powerful than smartphone in some cases, while also being cheaper. 7-10 inch Tegra 3, 1gb ram, ips screen tablet $199-399, while 3.5-5 inch phone with same specs, sometimes less powerful specs $499+.
Click to expand...

Small size high performance has always been more expensive.
 
wordoflife

wordoflife

macrumors 604
Jul 6, 2009
7,564
37
Well simply, most carriers subsidize the pricing of the phone so you don't pay _that_ much. Whether you get an 'expensive' iPhone or entry level Android, you still pay the same monthly tarrif.
 
W

Wrathwitch

macrumors 65816
Dec 4, 2009
1,303
55
There is no way in hell that I will carry around anything bigger than the SSGS3.

I require a phone and going out on a date or a nice evening out, I can't fathom having to carry a bigger purse just to stuff a tablet in it!

Also I would feel really stupid putting a tablet up to my head as a phone, which is why again that I will never go bigger than the SSGS3 for phone device.
 
A

aristobrat

macrumors G5
Oct 14, 2005
12,292
1,403
MacMane said:
I think I'm being misunderstood.
Click to expand...
while 3.5-5 inch phone with same specs, sometimes less powerful specs $499+.
Click to expand...
Who pays that much for a smartphone? I'd bet less than 1% of folks in the US buying a smartphone pay that price.

The Nexus 7 doesn't have cellular connectivity, does it? So if you're traveling about with a dumb phone and a Nexus 7, you wouldn't have any connectivity when you wander away from a WiFi hotspot, would you? That's a pointless setup for a lot of people.
 
whooleytoo

whooleytoo

macrumors 604
Aug 2, 2002
6,607
716
Cork, Ireland.
Json81 said:
Small size high performance has always been more expensive.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Plus any phone-specific circuitry/components. It wouldn't surprise me if making a phone requires additional patent licenses as well which a tablet wouldn't incur. All of which add to the cost.
 
L

lazer155

macrumors regular
Jul 5, 2010
150
0
darngooddesign said:
You have a valid point and some people have gone iPad/dumb phone. But many others want both because having a smartphone is convenient.
Click to expand...

I have in a way done that. I have a dumb phone and an ipodtouch 4th gen. The main reason it is not an iPad is because the iPad isn't as easy to carry around. However, I could defiantly see why someone would go iPad and dumb phone. It is in a way cheaper along with a larger screen size bonus but convienence is sacrificed.
 
BFizzzle

BFizzzle

macrumors 68020
May 31, 2010
2,443
0
Austin TX
MacMane said:
I think I'm being misunderstood. I understand the need for having a smartphone and a tablet simultaneously. I am stating that tablets are more powerful than smartphone in some cases, while also being cheaper. 7-10 inch Tegra 3, 1gb ram, ips screen tablet $199-399, while 3.5-5 inch phone with same specs, sometimes less powerful specs $499+.
Click to expand...

because its a lot more expensive to make those parts smaller. Think about it. Youre cramming the same power as a tablet into a little space. Smaller CPU, Smaller GPU, smaller Motherboard, etc. While still maintaining the same speed as the larger one.... Plus on top of that im sure its a lot harder to assemble something so tiny.. thus taking longer to make, thus paying more money to have the same amount built... :)
 
D

Detrias

macrumors member
Jan 11, 2011
68
0
aristobrat said:
Who pays that much for a smartphone? I'd bet less than 1% of folks in the US buying a smartphone pay that price.
Click to expand...

You must be kidding lol, yeah only like 1% of folks pay that, cause the rest get raped on their service fees and pay as much as twice as that during their contract.
 
T

takeshi74

macrumors 601
Feb 9, 2011
4,974
68
MacMane said:
I think I'm being misunderstood. I understand the need for having a smartphone and a tablet simultaneously. I am stating that tablets are more powerful than smartphone in some cases, while also being cheaper. 7-10 inch Tegra 3, 1gb ram, ips screen tablet $199-399, while 3.5-5 inch phone with same specs, sometimes less powerful specs $499+.
Click to expand...
A lot of comments above still apply. Apples and oranges.
 
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