iPad 3 Release Wednesday: Will New Apple Tablet be Pricier, Cheaper or Same?

By Shruti Hirur | March 04 2012 9:05 AM

Apple, the tech giant, will unveil its tantalizing next-generation tablet, dubbed iPad 3, on March 7. Speculations about the features of the iPad 3 are rampant and if they are to be believed then one can expect the best features in it. The most anticipated features to be included in the iPad 3 are Retina Display, Quad Core processor, a better camera, 4G LTE and a bigger battery. But the tentative factor is iPad 3’s cost, which nobody has been able to confirm so far.

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Earlier, according to MacRumors, information about iPad 3's cost has been showed in a Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo. The comparison between the iPad 2 and iPad 3 is made in terms of the price. It reveals the hike in the price of the iPad 3, which is about $70 to $80. If the price list is to be believed, then an iPad 3 price would begin with $579 for 16GB with Wi-Fi. It would cost $679 and $779 for a 32GB and 64GB with Wi-Fi versions respectively.

The iPad 3 is expected to come up with Retina Display that will produce high resolution pixels of 2048x1536 and a bigger battery for a faster performance. It can also bump up with the 4G LTE connectivity. So the upgraded technical specifications could be the reason behind the price hike of iPad 3.

According to DigiTimes, however, Apple is likely to release a cheaper tablet with a smaller 7.85-inch screen. Amazon Kindle Fire costs $199 and DigiTimes has suggested that Apple may release low cost tablets that could be a powerful competitor to Amazon's tablets. If the iPad 3 comes with a low price point, it will delight the Apple fans, who cannot afford the expensive iPad.

However, the latest rumor is that Apple will neither hike nor lower the price of its iPad 3. Interestingly, the latest rumor claims the price of the iPad 3 will remain the same as the iPad 2's current non-discounted cost. According to 9To5Mac, Apple wil unveil its iPad in six different versions (depending on storage space and wireless option) and the price point across the board will remain the same as the current iPad 2 models. it means the cost for 16GB, 32GB and 64GB W-Fi only iPad 3 will be $499, $599 and $699 respectively. And, people who would like their new iPad to be both Wi-Fi as well as 3G/4G-enabled, will have to pay $629, $729, and $829 for 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models.

We’ve gotten word that iPad pricing is going to be the same across the board as the current iPad 2 models which should be no big surprise given Apple’s history – they rarely raise prices, 9to5Mac said. It means you can probably sleep easy, knowing that the new iPad won't cost you more.

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