Apple has confirmed that the international launch is still going ahead this Friday 25th March, as planned (unlike last year), and has also finally confirmed the pricing...A very pleasant surprise is that despite the VAT rise since the original came out, iPad 2 is actually going to be
cheaper than iPad 1.
http://www.apple.com/uk/pr/library/2011/03/22ipad.html
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Apple UK
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in ... the UK on 25 March for a suggested retail price of
£399.00 inc VAT (£332.50 ex VAT) for the 16GB model,
£479.00 inc VAT (£399.17 ex VAT) for the 32GB model,
£559.00 inc VAT (£465.83 ex VAT) for the 64GB model.
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of
£499.00 inc VAT (£415.83 ex VAT) for the 16GB model,
£579.00 inc VAT (£482.50 ex VAT) for the 32GB model and
£659.00 inc VAT (£549.17 ex VAT) for the 64GB model.
iMovie and GarageBand for iPad apps are available for £2.99 each from the App Store on iPad or www.itunes.com/appstore.
The Smart Cover is available in a range of colours in vibrant polyurethane for £35.00 inc VAT or rich leather for £59.00 inc VAT. |
That actually also undercuts the Moto Xoom (£499 for 32GB WiFi, £599 for 32GB WiFi+3G).
After the VAT rise in January, the original iPad cost £439 / £510 / £612 (16GB/32GB/64GB) for the WiFi only version, and £541 / £612 / £714 (16GB/32GB/64GB) for the WiFi+3G version. The original prices under 17.5% VAT were e.g. £499 for 32GB WiFi, £599 for 32GB WiFi+3G.
Some people have moaned that we're still being screwed over compared to the US prices, but it's not really that bad when you consider that US prices are always
excluding tax.
e.g. 32GB WiFi only:
US price (no tax) = $599 = £365.80
UK price (with 20% VAT) = £479
UK price (excluding VAT) = £399.17
Still a bit more than the US, but not by a great deal at all.