Why purchase expensive smartphone when tablets are cheaper?

[MacMane]

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]

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]

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.

 

[spillproof]

I can't stick 7 to 9 inches in my pocket.

 

[mrsir2009]

But, but, but... then we'd have to combine it with a feature phone 😱

 

[SpyderBite]

The reason I bring this up is because the newest iPhone retails for $499 without contract, but nexus 7 $199.

Actually, the iPhone 4s with 16gb is $649 unlocked. Perhaps you meant the 16gb iPad which retails for $499?

 

[aziatiklover]

Dont know if cereal!? It is like saying why ppl would buy a small luxury apartment instead of buying big house for cheaper.

 

[jojoba]

I can't stick 7 to 9 inches in my pocket.

This. Plus, eight inches is a bit much to stick to your ear while you're on the phone.

 

[old-wiz]

um....some of us need a phone?

I can't stick a tablet in my shirt pocket either.

 

[darngooddesign]

You have a valid point and some people have gone iPad/dumb phone. But many others want both because having a smartphone is convenient.

 

[aleni]

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.

 

[flyguy206]

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

 

[Redjericho]

My iPad + iPod Touch + dumb phone, costed me the same as an iPhone would have costed.

 

[MacMane]

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+.

 

[Virinprew]

Because phone is something you need and you can take it everywhere. Tablet is good to have but not necessary.

 

[edk]

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.

 

[Json81]

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+.

Small size high performance has always been more expensive.

 

[wordoflife]

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.

 

[Wrathwitch]

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.

 

[aristobrat]

I think I'm being misunderstood.

while 3.5-5 inch phone with same specs, sometimes less powerful specs $499+.

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]

Small size high performance has always been more expensive.

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.

 

[lazer155]

You have a valid point and some people have gone iPad/dumb phone. But many others want both because having a smartphone is convenient.

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]

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+.

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... 🙂

 

[Detrias]

Who pays that much for a smartphone? I'd bet less than 1% of folks in the US buying a smartphone pay that price.

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.

 

[takeshi74]

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+.

A lot of comments above still apply. Apples and oranges.