While the US$499 (€347) price tag for the base iPad model has helped Apple garner up a reported sales figure of 9.2 million units already, the fastest selling tablet on the market has a growing threat from low-cost Google's Android offerings.
When it comes to Android tablets, you can grab them from as low as US$100/€70 (Archos Arnova) to the higher end Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
In order to curb the growing threat of cheaper Android tablets, Apple is reportedly working on lowering the cost of its iPad in order to compete with the growing threat.
As DigiTimes reports:
"Apple is now more willing to adopt IC solutions from Taiwan-based IC design houses as it is adjusting the cost structure for iPad tablets in order to compete with an array of tablet PCs to be launched by rivals in the second half of 2011, commented the sources."
Given that DigiTimes mentions that it plans to compete against rivals from the second half of 2011, if the iPad 3 does make its fabled September release date, then we may finally see an iPad model start from below the US$499 price tag.
And even if it isn't below the US$499 price tag, you can expect the iPad 2 to take a dip when next-gen iPad 3 debuts.
On a side note, Apple is reportedly working on a cheaper iPhone model as well dubbed the iPhone 4S.
More on this as it develops.
Source: GizmoCrunch
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