Phil Schiller Defends iPad Mini Pricing Decision

[tann]

Got to hold it, feel it, use it, only then you'll appreciate how much extra you get for your money. Honestly people whining please just don't spend money on it and go elsewhere for your micro tablets!

 

[currentinterest]

Some one may have pointed this out, but my guess is that Apple's data indicate the iPad 2 was outselling the 7 inch tablets at $399, and feel some people would like a smaller iPad. That is, $329 is the price of an iPad that happens to be a concentrated version of the larger one, not the price of a cheap tablet with an odd aspect ratio.

 

[charlituna]

Apple is charging a premium price for a product stuffed with old technology.

'
Some folks would say that that is just the Apple status quo. Aren't all their product 'stuffed with old technology'

 

[macs4nw]

No need to price it lower when they are going to sell more than they can make anyway

The price is fair. It's the lowest entry price for a new iPad. Apple doesn't race to the bottom on price. They're in business to make money.....

And Apple should sell it at cost why? Apple are in it to make a profit.

Stop talking about hardware people. This iPad is far superior when it comes to quality compared to anything else out there. AND, nothing is even remotely close to the app store ecosystem; that alone is with an extra 30-100 IMO.

Agreed.

If $329 was all the cheaper Apple wanted to get with their iPad line, why didn't they just lower the price of the aging iPad 2 by $70? It's absurd to me that $70 is all that separates the iPad 2 from the iPad Mini.

Phil Schiller's explanation does make sense if you consider the iPad2's internals are pretty much the same as the Mini's, other than the improved Face Time camera, so the $70 diff would be mostly on account of the size. Also the Mini's perceived sharpness should be higher; same amount of pixels on a smaller screen. 163 ppi vs 132 ppi. It has been suggested that APPLE may discontinue the iPad2; that would make total sense.

.....go have fun with the Kindle Fire. The two don't even compare, and Apple knows it. THAT'S why it's $329.

Probably.

.....Apple had a unique opportunity to effectively close the door on its competitors and it chose not to.

That 'door' is already firmly shut, but it's up to the competition to open it again. It seems the only way they can do it is by selling pretty well at cost.

 

[milo]

What other choice did they have, if they wanted it to be 7.9 inches and run all iPad apps with no changes? A retina display? It would cost a lot more than $329, be thicker, heavier, run hotter, and wouldn't have 10 hours of battery life.

If they went 720 resolution, they could letterbox apps with no changes, and many apps would be easy to update (especially things like web, photo, books, etc). It's hard to buy that higher resolution is either too difficult or too expensive when cheaper products have retina.

Let's not forget, they're still selling the 4th gen ipod touch with 326ppi and 16 gigs of storage for $199.

 

[RobertMartens]

The irrelevant iPad mini will FLOP.

Mark my words again: after a flurry of holiday sales, no one will really care about a device that is absolutely redundant/badly priced between a highly-capable, 4-inch Touch/iPhone and the normal iPad.

You said 'mark my words' You are betting against Apple? Let me know how that works for you.

 

[iAK]

16 Gig iPad Mini is Not a Smart Buy.

F U Phil.

16 gigs on an iPad mini will be used up VERY quickly... out of the box you're starting with approx. 12 Gigs...AND when you download an app, you are downloading EVERY configuration of that app... you will be downloading RETINA data for a NON RETINA display.

Buying a 16 Gig iPad mini is NOT a good move. You will be sorry.

 

[charlituna]

Nexus 7 - higher ppi, NFC, more RAM, quadcore, GPS, $100 less expensive...

IMO, ****** software, very very limited service options etc. So not worth the 'discount'

 

[Orlandoech]

The amount of spoiled apple fanboys here is pathetic. Gotta love first world problems.

 

[rendevouspoo]

Bloody Nexus isn't even worth $99. Overpriced bit of cheap plastic.

Please, let the adults talk. That 'bloody' Nexus is running the most impressive phone os in the market right. That cheap plastic is getting rave reviews from everyone using it. At least, try one for yourself instead of blindly saying idiotic things.

 

[lesiu]

In Poland ""the cheapest"" ipad mini costs ... 500 $ ...
it's a robbery ...

470 $ to be precise (including 23% VAT tax)
similar as in France/Germany and other euro driven countries

=> +50$ dollars for Apple for each iPad sold in Europe

 

[lilo777]

ArtRage, GarageBand, Procreate, Inkpad, Pages, Numbers, iMovie, Keynote, Textastic, iDraw, iTunes U, OmniGraffle, iPhoto, Bento, Omni Outliner, Diet Coda, Intaglio, Freeform, TouchUp, iTeleport, ReBirth. The list goes on and on (including more games than Android). Where is the equivalent list of Android apps truly AS GOOD as these? Not “hey, it’s in the same category... we’ll count it” but truly as good? The only Android app that I have seen approach that level is Photoshop Touch. Reviews of performance on Android have been poor, but it may be good on some. So there’s one.

Where are the rest of the great apps on Android? Where are the Android-ONLY great apps? I’d need something in return if I’m going to give up all the great iPad mini apps.

Throw in a bigger screen, 16GB storage (not 8), lack of malware, FULL restore when you get a new device, and much better construction, and you have a great deal. An Android device may be a bit cheaper but delivers FAR less.

Obviously, we all wish the mini were free though

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[Hakone]

Pricing would meet the supply/demand of the product so I don't think they'll be hurting.

For the people complaining, just go buy the alternatives.

 

[Xiroteus]

Reminds me of another subject all together, sometimes an item is not over priced everyone else is just selling it for too little. Personally I would just go with a full iPad. I know that depends on the size you want.

However cheaper is always going to be appealing and I would likely look what would work best for me.

 

[charlituna]

Phil Schiller can make all the comments he wants, but it's still too expensive for me and I won't be buying one. I already have an iPad 3 (thanks for making it obsolete so quickly, Apple!),

The ipad 3 still works just fine so no it's not 'obsolete' at all. Unless you define everything by you having the latest and greatest and the moment it isn't it becomes crap. In which case, you are the issue, not Apple

 

[nickpro]

How about they can't undercut the iPod touch.....why are we arguing about this?

this is the EXACT reason it was priced at $329. end of story, case closed.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

I disagree, even without discounts on the full size iPad, I see no reason to get a 7.9" unit with a price difference of $70. They will probably stay on shelves during the holidays. Market will dictate the price - they'll be forced to reduce to $299 or lower.

That's silly. These things are going to fly off the shelves.

 

[aerok]

And, unfortunately, these are some of the reasons the irrelevant iPad mini will FLOP.

Mark my words again: after a flurry of holiday sales, no one will really care about a device that is absolutely redundant/badly priced between a highly-capable, 4-inch Touch/iPhone and the normal iPad.

Yesterday's launch was Apple doing what it does WORST: following the competition instead of setting the bar higher through leadership and innovation. Well, at least the new iMac still gave us a glimpse of TRUE novelty (although still evolutionary) at Apple.

I think that the iPad Mini will sell extremely well at the expense of Ipad2/4 sales. If it were priced lower, Apple could've snatched sales from amazon/Google but at $329, I believe it will only lower sales of their other products, including the new iPod Touch.

 

[charlituna]

I already have an iPad "mini."

That's what she said

(sorry but it had to be done)

 

[Rogifan]

The initial hands on take from the Verge said Fire and Nexus feel like toys compared to iPad mini. Schiller shouldn't be talking about price. Defending a price to the media never looks good.

 

[hundleton1]

I just don't get the problem with the price. The is no other company that can produce a product like the iPad or or iPad mini at the hardware quality AND service quality Apple offers. I would not believe this whole component cost BS as that does not cover all the huge associated costs of supplying and supporting the products around the world.

Yes droid is cheaper but do they have a store you can walk into and get advice, problems fixed.

Your paying for Apples great experience and support.

You want cheap buy the Kindle and when you have a problem lets see how you get on.

If you don't get the difference in these products then Apple is not for you.

 

[gnasher729]

he can defend it all he wants, but the fact remains - it's a smaller version of an ipad 2, which is two generations old.

Only because Apple released a new iPad on the same day (which some people are actually complaining about as well; it is just incredible). If there had been no new iPad, it would be the previous generation.

And the iPad 2 is $100 cheaper than the iPad 3 because it is a previous generation; the iPad Mini is $70 cheaper than the iPad 2 because it is smaller, ergo an iPad Mini with all the iPad 3 or iPad 4 features would have cost $429. Also, there is a reason why the iPad 3 is heavier than the Mini, so the Mini wouldn't have been 310 gram with all those features.

 

[rendevouspoo]

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....owned

 

[Yamcha]

Not happy with the iPad Mini pricing, the Nexus 7 is a much better deal at $199, It may not be made of Aluminium, but It's important to keep in mind It's also $130 cheaper.

Specifications
7” 1280x800 HD display (216 ppi)
Quad-core Tegra 3 processor
1GB Memory
Back-lit IPS display
1.2MP front-facing camera
Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

It even has higher pixel density, so the text and images are going to be noticably sharper then the iPad Mini..

Whats more is the Nexus 7 is running JellyBean, so the experience is very iOS like... And the Android Market is pretty huge, more then sufficient for the vast majority of users..

 

[charlituna]

1. Apple could have dealt a death blow to Amazon & Google with the proper pricing of the iPad mini. Instead, Apple gave them a Christmas gift with Apple's blessing. Makes no sense.

The full size iPad was killing them already, and this mini likely will also. Because it's not just about the price.

2. Why would anyone buy the iPad mini when they can get a REAL iPad for only $70 more? Makes no sense.

Because this isn't just a price thing. If it was then they wouldn't be making the Mini at all, they would just lower the price on the full sized iPad.

Some folks, like kids, are more comfortable with a smaller device. Apple saw that need and is trying to answer it.