31st May 10
Europeans out of pocket as US gets iPads cheaper
by Natasha Redman
A study has found that yet again, European consumers seeking the latest hot piece of technology should shop around – and not just at home. The best deals on Apple’s iPad are likely to be found in the United States. As so often seems to be the case, British and European shoppers seem destined to shell out more for their high-tech wares than people in most other parts of the world.
Now that Apple has launched the iPad globally, CommSec, the share-trading unit of Commonwealth Bank in Australia, was able to survey retail prices for different models and specifications of iPad in key markets around the world. Typically, the iPad was found to be between 20% and 25% cheaper in the USA than in the UK or Europe.
The cheapest version of the iPad, which comes with 16GB of internal storage and wireless networking but no 3G, costs the equivalent of $620 in the UK. American consumers can snap one up for as little as $499. That’s a difference of $121.
Move to the top of the iPad range, however, and the difference is even more eye-watering. The all-in 64GB model, which comes with Wi-Fi and 3G, can be bought in the USA for $829. Brits will want to put the kettle on and find a comfy chair before looking at their bill for the iPad with knobs on. They’ll have to pay the equivalent of $1,010, or an extra $181. The prices for iPads in other European countries, as well as Japan and Australia were generally about midway betweenA study has found that yet again, European consumers seeking the latest hot piece of technology should shop around – and not just at home. The best deals on Apple’s iPad are likely to be found in the United States. As so often seems to be the case, British and European shoppers seem destined to shell out more for their high-tech wares than people in most other parts of the world.
Now that Apple has launched the iPad globally, CommSec, the share-trading unit of Commonwealth Bank in Australia, was able to survey retail prices for different models and specifications of iPad in key markets around the world. Typically, the iPad was found to be between 20% and 25% cheaper in the USA than in the UK or Europe.
The cheapest version of the iPad, which comes with 16GB of internal storage and wireless networking but no 3G, costs the equivalent of $620 in the UK. American consumers can snap one up for as little as $499. That’s a difference of $121.
Move to the top of the iPad range, however, and the difference is even more eye-watering. The all-in 64GB model, which comes with Wi-Fi and 3G, can be bought in the USA for $829. Brits will want to put the kettle on and find a comfy chair before looking at their bill for the iPad with knobs on. They’ll have to pay the equivalent of $1,010, or an extra $181. The prices for iPads in other European countries, as well as Japan and Australia were generally about midway between the world’s highest and lowest.
the world’s highest and lowest.
A study has found that yet again, European consumers seeking the latest hot piece of technology should shop around – and not just at home. The best deals on Apple’s iPad are likely to be found in the United States. As so often seems to be the case, British and European shoppers seem destined to shell out more for their high-tech wares than people in most other parts of the world.
Now that Apple has launched the iPad globally, CommSec, the share-trading unit of Commonwealth Bank in Australia, was able to survey retail prices for different models and specifications of iPad in key markets around the world. Typically, the iPad was found to be between 20% and 25% cheaper in the USA than in the UK or Europe.
The cheapest version of the iPad, which comes with 16GB of internal storage and wireless networking but no 3G, costs the equivalent of $620 in the UK. American consumers can snap one up for as little as $499. That’s a difference of $121.
Move to the top of the iPad range, however, and the difference is even more eye-watering. The all-in 64GB model, which comes with Wi-Fi and 3G, can be bought in the USA for $829. Brits will want to put the kettle on and find a comfy chair before looking at their bill for the iPad with knobs on. They’ll have to pay the equivalent of $1,010, or an extra $181. The prices for iPads in other European countries, as well as Japan and Australia were generally about midway between the world’s highest and lowest.
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