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If I understand this correctly you can now purchase an iPad Mini which is smaller than the original iPad but costs around the same price. Is this a joke?
Some IT journalists, myself included, wrote in September that the iPad Mini would be offered at around the same price as other tablets, ie., around the $250 mark. Apparently, we have been greatly misinformed.
I am very fond of Apple products and for 2 months I was eagerly awaiting the release of the iPad mini. I knew it would come without a camera but the upside was that it would be more aligned with competitor’s prices. So when I received an email from Apple last month announcing the iPad mini was now available for pre-order, I got very excited…that was until I clicked on the link to discover that the starting price of the iPad mini is $329 for 16GB, $429.00 for 32GB and $529.00 for 64GB – and these prices are only for the Wi-Fi system.
If you want the option of Wi-Fi + Mobile which allows you to connect to the internet over Wi-Fi as well as mobile networks, well the prices are even more outrageous. 16GB $459.00, 32GB for $559.00 and 64GB for $659.00 (all prices are in Australian dollars, it’s a little bit higher than the American dollar).
Maybe Apple should stop smoking the carpet because they are offering a smaller product than the iPad and which is only a bit larger than an iPhone 5, expecting people will pay $659.00!
I am sure there are still some Apple fans who will rush out to buy it. But my advice to you is before going to an Apple store or online, take a deep breath, take a pause, sip your favourite coffee/tea and ask yourself: “Will my life really improve with an iPad mini?”
You can buy an iPad2 from $400.00 with 16GB and the new iPad with retina display costs $499 for 16GB. So why would you buy the iPad mini at a starting price of $329.00? And of course, don’t get me started on the price list for iPad accessories!
I have a MacBook Pro 15-inch and an iPhone 5. But I refuse to spend $329.00 for a basic iPad mini when for the same amount of money I can purchase a full sized tablet from one of Apple’s competitors.
Let’s get real Apple. With most of the world still recovering from the Global Financial Crisis, we all need to keep a careful watch on our money.
About Frederique Bros
Frederique (Freddie) is the founder of Women Love Tech, where she blogs about all things technology related including computer, social media, apps and much more. An experienced Graphic Designer originally from France, Freddie is now settled in Sydney, Australia with her French Bulldog Oscar.