A rant free look at UK iPad prices
By Davey Winder in Editorial
Posted in Business, hardware, Apple on
So iPad pricing for the UK has been announced ahead of pre-orders being taken for the 28th May sale day, and somewhat predictably cries of ‘rip off Britain’ have rung out from much of the technology media. But are the prices really that out of step with the USA?
Well, let’s have a look at the facts rather than simply jerking of the knee. Here’s what an Apple iPad will cost in the UK:
The entry level WiFi only version is £429 for the 16GB version, £499 for the 32GB device and £599 for a 64GB iPad. Move to the other end of the scale with devices that add 3G to the mix and you are looking at £529 for the 16GB iPad, £599 for 32GB, and £699 for the range topping 64GB model.
All of those prices include VAT, and for me that’s the important part. So while a basic entry level iPad will cost you around £340 ($499) by the time you add VAT it starts to level out a bit at £399. On top of that you have to then factor in the cost of UK trading which, my international retail pals assure me accepted as being in the region of 7 percent. That brings the price up to £427 which is just a couple of quid difference, hardly a right royal rip off if you ask me.
Too many folk appear to have completely missed the ‘including VAT’ element of the pricing announcement, not to mention that US pricing does not include local sales taxes which have to be added, and instead have jumped to the usual conclusion that Apple is just ripping us off on this side of the pond, which is a shame.
So, am I going to be buying one? No.
Is the price putting me off? Yes.
But that’s just because I can’t justify spending £700, plus another data plan, for a bigger version of the iPhone that I’m already quite happy with. OK, I appreciate that the iPad is actually a lot more than that, but you can see where I am coming from. When my iPhone data plan contract has expired, and Apple has released the second generation iPad devices with the bugs ironed out and additional functionality built in, I’ll be in the queue with my wallet open faster than an MP filling in an expenses claim.
Rated: 73.33% (3 votes)
Loading ...Comment by Michael W - May 11, 2010 on 9:27 am
Just another bit of kit that seems to generate an “I want one” reaction in lots of people.
I dont want one,dont even know what it does so dont care what it costs,I will leave it to all the suckers out there to spend their dosh on yet another needless unimportant techie toy
Comment by intmarine - May 12, 2010 on 7:27 am
Too bad the world has made you so jaded Michael. The iPad will fight my in-field, client service needs quite well and replace my iPhone. I’ll save money on the phone plan, and by a MacMini for the home office instead of replacing the MacBook Pro that I now use everywhere.
I come out a winner with more appropriate tools all around.
Comment by intmarine - May 12, 2010 on 7:28 am
uhm, that was supposed to be, “The iPad will fit my in-field…
Comment by Steve Carter - May 14, 2010 on 8:51 am
When it comes to new technology, especially stuff from the Apple stable, everyone is highly opinionated before even trying the product out themselves and therefore can’t possibly come to a rational conclusion. Is the iPad too expensive? I haven’t a clue until I’ve used one for a while - if it helps me in my daily life as much as the iPhone has so far then yes it’s probably a bargain. The only scary bit is the number of so called industry professionals who don’t keep an open mind regarding technology. Speculation is one thing but being over opinionated we can do without!
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