Nexus 7 2013, Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 Gear for Hefty Price Cuts to Better Compete with $300 iPad Mini – Report
Good news for Android tablet lovers! Tops brands such as the Nexus 7 from Asus-Google and Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 could soon see significant discounts and buyers can thank the first iPad Mini for that.
Pushing down these tablet's price points will be inevitable, according to DigiTimes, as Android tablet makers need to offset the likely impact of Apple's recent decision to scale down the Mini's starting price from $330 to $300.
The move was made immediately after the tech giant has unveiled the Retina iPad Mini 2, which is up for grabs for a pricey $400.
The likelihood is, many consumers will skip the new Mini version but instead of considering Android alternatives, their attention will focus on the original small iOS slate, which has now become the cheaper iPad Mini.
In order to mitigate the expected huge numbers of migration from popular 7-inch and 8-inch Android-powered tablets, manufacturers will have to downgrade their price points for their products.
The Tab 3 8.0, for example, debuted with a starting price of $300. To parry the expected cheaper Mini threat, Samsung will have to offer a better price to convince holiday shoppers that Android is the way to go, said the Taiwanese publication.
While the Sammy slate is better in hardware specs, the iPad Mini enjoys a stronger following and is miles away from the Tab 3 variant in terms of overall sales. The only way it can make a dent in the market currently ruled by the Mini is the Tab 3 to offer an deal that is hard to refuse - lower price.
The same goes for the Nexus 7 2013 edition, analysts said. Currently, asking price of the stock Android tablet, on Jelly Bean 4.3 at the moment, in basic configuration is $230, which is already cheaper than the iPad Mini.
It is possible, however, that Google will decrease the price tag a bit more, likely reflecting the $200 introductory price of the first Nexus 7 that was rolled out in late 2012.
The price adjustments, DigiTimes said, is set to take effect soon with November as the earliest target date, just in time for the avalanche of sales promos that normally are dangled during the Black Friday.
The event falls on Nov 29 this year.
It was unclear if other manufacturers on the Android platform will observe the same price cutbacks but the likelihood is, they will, the same report said.
Lower prices for the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and the Nexus 7 should take effect by mid-November 2013 or some few days prior to the expected iPad Mini 2 with Retina release date, which according to Apple will happen later in the month.