A teardown of the iPad Mini has revealed that the device, which Apple sells for $329, costs around $188 to build.
Conducted by IHS, the teardown found that the 16GB Wi-Fi model costs about $188 to build. The 32GB and 64GB models cost an additional $90 and $162 to create, respectively.
As well as the cost of the tablet's components, the teardown also revealed some of the device's component suppliers. Both LG Display and AU Optronics supplied Apple with the 7.9-inch touch-sensitive display components, costing around $80, which equates to about 43 percent of the device's total material cost.
IHS' teardown also confirms that South Korean chipmaker Hynix Semiconductor supplied the flash memory. Elsewhere, Japan's Elpida created the system memory, which costs Apple around $15.50.
Cirrus Logic provided the iPad Mini's audio chip, with STMicroelectronics manufacturing the accelerometer. However, it remains to be seen which company provides Apple with the tablet's camera.
Despite its rivalry, a recent teardown conducted by iFixit found that Samsung remains the manufacturer of Apple's A5 processor found in the iPad Mini.
Contact Us for News Tips, Corrections and Feedback
Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
-
dj1001 the screen was half the devices cost and yet is nowhere near the quality of the competitors, kinda sounds like apple didn't get the best pricing possible.Reply -
izmanq looking at the specs, i think it should be cheaper than 188 USD :p but sold it a lot more than competition, just for crapple fan to waste their money :pReply
-
abbadon_34 "The 32GB and 64GB models cost an additional $90 and $162 to create, respectively."Reply
Somethings doesn't sound right, through it is Apple turn to get screwed -
invlem Apple has always made significant margins on their products, why should they lower the price if people are happy to buy it regardless? Just good business.Reply -
ta152h This device should be selling for $269. It's good enough to command that premium over the $200 devices, but $329 is milking their fan base.Reply
I agree with Apple on one thing, 7" tablets are a shade too small. 7.9" is really as small as they should be. But, not for $129 more. -
ipwn3r456 Better price than the iPhone... the iPhone can be build around the same price as the iPad mini, but they charge it so much.Reply -
aggroboy Dj1001the screen was half the devices cost and yet is nowhere near the quality of the competitors, kinda sounds like apple didn't get the best pricing possible.If it sells like hotcakes again, then they got the pricing right.Reply -
halcyon I went my local Apple Store this evening and it was jam packed. I didn't know what all the commotion was but it was the Mini. I picked one up...and looked at it. Cute but I just wasn't impressed with the display after using Retina Displays and other great screens (like my SGS3, etc.) I did walk out with a 4th gen iPad. It is so much faster than my Asus Transformer Pad Infinity that it almost doesn't make sense. I'm returning the Asus w/in the next couple of days. Its performance leaves quite a bit to be desired and that's too bad.Reply
...I think the Mini is overrated but the iPad 4 is very very fast. Web pages load instantly, always render the desktop editions (unlike my SGS3 and Infinity). What it lacks in customability it makes up for in performance.
Don't take my word for it, go see for yourself.