Phil Schiller Defends $329 Price Tag for the iPad Mini

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Posted October 24, 2012 at 8:02pm by Shalom Levytam

Phil Schiller defends the $329 starting price tag for the iPad mini in comments made to Reuters.

Google's Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD start at $199 so Apple has priced its smaller tablet at quite a premium over its rivals.

Reuters asked Phil Schiller, Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing at Apple, whether it could be too expensive for cost-conscious shoppers.

"The iPad is far and away the most successful product in its category. The most affordable product we've made so far was $399 and people were choosing that over those devices," Schiller said.

"And now you can get a device that's even more affordable at $329 in this great new form, and I think a lot of customers are going to be very excited about that," Schiller said.

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Phil Schiller Defends $329 Price Tag for the iPad Mini

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Alex Richards - October 28, 2012 at 9:49pm

$329 is a little too high of a price to be competing with other 7" tablets. And it's not like the iPad mini is way superior in performance than the rest. It's pretty much the same. Also, I didn't like how he said "I think people will be excited about that". What if he's wrong and people won't be that excited once they get to play with it first hand? I'm not saying that it sucks, because I haven't messed with it. It would be unfair for me to say that.

spectorga - October 28, 2012 at 5:05pm

Hey, I can afford it, so I'll buy it because I LIKE the product. $100 difference won't break me in my life time. If you are so cost conscience, find a better job.

ATV3SUX - October 25, 2012 at 7:23pm

There is an up-side. When it gets jailbroken, people can get the iPad-to-iPhone conversion from cydia and finally have the iPhone bigger than the S III. No more complains about iPhone size vs. Samsung size.

European - October 25, 2012 at 4:51pm

In Germany for example the iPad mini starts at 329€ including 19% sales tax AND a two year warranty by law. With today's exchange rate it's about $ 426. Don't complain about 329$!

Jackie - October 25, 2012 at 4:02pm

I agree on anything Apple makes.

DarkKent - October 25, 2012 at 3:10pm

This is disappointing. This is the Same ipad i have from march 7... but not retina display and same cameras same A5x... u know what that means, in 6 months there will be a new ipad mini with retina display and a A6 chip. smh. ugh. now im a big apple fanboy but this im not feeling... U mean to tell me they couldnt squeeze that new shit into the mini smh. i could only see this for kids as they are so intuitive with them... STOP WATERING DOWN SUPERB CRAFTSMANSHIP

Awayze - October 25, 2012 at 11:09am

In the UK, the iPad mini is only £269, its MUCH cheaper than the iPad 2 and 3 and you get more features in it such as Siri and better cameras compared to iPad 2 in a smaller package which is pretty good value.

Thagodfath3r25 - October 25, 2012 at 10:17am

The upcoming 32gb Nexus 7 for $199 sounds more and more tempting...... Apple must drop these ridiculous prices. $250 sounds more reasonable.

Lov3 - October 25, 2012 at 7:18am

This price for High class people, if not high class then don buy it . Don at here complaint about out it, LV gucci , Prada , burberry why no people complaint about it.

hbsjr - October 25, 2012 at 4:55am

I got Pantech Element tablet 8" and works great without restriction unlike iOS.. I got it for $250 without contract.. iPad mini can't beat that.

Jones - October 25, 2012 at 4:12am

This is too high. No way. 329$. no. Maybe 250$ then I'll look at it.

chinmi - October 25, 2012 at 3:47am

most of the iFanboys who comment in here will still buy this anyways.... ha ha ha..... $329 sounds reasonable.... if they make it cheaper then the exclusivity of the device is lost cause everybody will buy it, everybody will use it, and it's just gonna be a "common device"....

steve jobs - October 25, 2012 at 3:42am

hey phil, "what you said is nonsense"... i told you guys not to build this project...

phil - October 25, 2012 at 5:22am

Whatever fan will buy. If you aren't happy. Don't buy.

Steve jobs - October 25, 2012 at 7:43am

I wont buy it anyway coz i hv ipad3

Nestie - October 25, 2012 at 2:36am

This is sickening! I have the iPhone 5 and it's a big disappointment!

cciev - October 25, 2012 at 2:32am

people will still buy this even if its $1000

Copperhead - October 25, 2012 at 2:43am

Absolutely true 100%

proxel - October 25, 2012 at 12:03am

where did you get the marketing results so you would know $329+ taxes and up to $650 would be "ok" to compete with android devices? so the marketing pricing was done among rich people only? wealthy people so to say?

Copperhead - October 25, 2012 at 2:48am

This is so true. I can not buy this because its basically the same price as its normal larger version. I also thought it was going to be between 100-299 price rang... Boy I was so wrong on that one. I'm gonna buy the Nexus 7. - it's more affordable for me. Thought the capacity size is small and not 64-gigs or higher.,

City023 - October 24, 2012 at 10:33pm

It is disappointing that for $50 more, I can get an iPad with more features and retina display. iPad should of started at $199 then greater for the more gigs and 3G or wifi/3G.

No the prices - October 24, 2012 at 11:16pm

Dude there is no retina display on the iPad 2. That is the one for $399. It has a 1024x768 resolution just like the mini. The 3rd generation has the retina and goes for $499

Jay - October 25, 2012 at 1:19am

Refurbished iPad 3 at 379.00

allo - October 24, 2012 at 8:58pm

They typed the price with the Mini. The guy's thumb couldn't reach the other side of the screen so he improvised and used his left hand....

Simon - October 24, 2012 at 8:49pm

Should have been $279 tops for the 16gig wifi model.

nekton - October 24, 2012 at 8:25pm

My problem with it is the missing GPS in the wifi-only models. This means apps with downloadable maps like citymaps2go cannot be used. Apple is dropping the ball in the mapping ecosystem.

farpthor - October 24, 2012 at 8:56pm

Wait for the iPad mini 2.

gg - October 24, 2012 at 9:39pm

NO iPad has GPS on the wifi only model. Only the cellular model. Do your research

Tergel - October 25, 2012 at 12:34am

What good would GPS do on a wifi only tablet? How on earth would you use it outside of wifi range?

Jim James - October 25, 2012 at 1:46am

Sorry to burst your bubble, but GPS doesn't require WiFi or cellular data. Only does if you need a data connection to load maps. But if app comes with maps preloaded, you don't need data.

Tiktok - October 27, 2012 at 1:36am

You're making a general statement. Yes, GPS does not need WiFi nor cellular data to work. However your statement is positively false as it pertains to the Apple devices. You can have a map preloaded on your iDevice but you'll need GPS on your device to tell your current location on that map. However, on WiFi only devices, there is no GPS since the GPS functionality is on the chip that comes with the WiFi/Cellular function.

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