When the first tablet was released by Apple there was quite the buzz around it. The product soon became a must have for all the gadgets enthusiasts. Some competitors had dismissed it as just another fad and yet others started to work on their own tablets in earnest. Having the first mover advantage and owing to the huge marketing success, the first iPad was not about price but innovation. Fast forward to 2013, and there are dozens of tablets now available in the market with some really exciting features. Apple still is seen as the leader when it comes to innovation but that perception is fast eroding thanks to the hard work of the competitors. The next battle for Apple could be in the price arena.

Apple has for some time now banked largely on its brand name. It seems to have lost the edge in the smartphone market. Samsung, with the largest share in the smartphone market, is rolling out bigger and better phones into the market. The other companies are not too far behind, Motorola Moto X with its voice feature and customization has made people to sit up and take notice. Nokia is focussing on the camera in the phone - their flagship Nokia Lumia 1020 comes with a 41 MP camera.

Will the tablet market go the same way as the smartphone market for Apple? It may seem to be so. Apple has had a standard when it comes to its pricing strategy. This time around there could be some surprises in store as Apple is rumoured to bring a less expensive iPhone 5C to the market. The pressure from the other less expensive smartphones seems to be showing on Apple. Increasing the size of the screen is a no go area for Apple as it will look to be copying Samsung. This could severely damage Apple's image. The only area Apple is left to compete in is the features and the price.

The iPad 5 is rumoured to be slimmer and narrower than the iPad 4. Apple should jump onto the customization bandwagon and offer the device in bright colours. The price tag could start from $ 600. There is still little news regarding the hardware and specs but an 8 MP camera at the back is expected. But unless Apple comes out with some really good features, customers will be forced to look at other cheaper options in the now saturated tablet market.