In all the hype over the Apple iPad, you'll likely have discovered that the price of the fabled device starts at $499. But how much does it really cost Apple to buy the materials and manufacture the device? Just $259.60, according to research firm iSuppli. However, as iSuppli's comparitive data on other tech devices reveals, the mark-up on an iPad is relatively low:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Apple's costs as percentage of retail price: 52%
Apple iMac Core Duo desktop computer
Retail price on release: $1,299
Cost of manufacturing and materials: $898
Most expensive single component: Microprocessor ($265)
(These estimates do not account for keyboard or mouse)
Apple's costs as percentage of retail price: 69%
Retail price on release: $499 (of which AT&T pays $300)
Cost of manufacturing and materials: $173
Most expensive single component: 8gb flash memory card ($22.80)
Apple's costs as percentage of retail price: 34%
Palm Pre
Retail price on release: $300 (of which Sprint pays $100)
Cost of manufacturing and materials: $170.02
Most expensive single component: Touchscreen ($39.51)
Palm's costs as percentage of retail price: 56%
Retail price on release: $599
Cost of manufacturing and materials: $187.75
Most expensive single component: memory card ($35)
Google's costs as percentage of retail price: 31%
All figures from iSuppli
-
Millet: Life on the Land – an 'absorbing' exhibitionThe Week Recommends Free exhibition at the National Gallery showcases the French artist's moving paintings of rural life
-
Scientists are speeding up evolutionUnder the radar Proteins can evolve in minutes
-
Crossword: August 29, 2025The Week's daily crossword
