Apple raises two-year-old iPad's prices in India - Times of India

NEW DELHI: Apple has shocked its buyers in India who were expecting that older iPad models will get a price cut when the prices of the new models are announced. Instead of slashing prices of the two-year old iPad 2 and last year's iPad mini, the Cupertino-based manufacturer has increased the prices of the two models.

At the launch event for the new iPads in the US a month ago, Apple had announced that the fourth-generation iPad will be discontinued and only the 16GB versions (both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + cellular) will become the entry-level tablet models.

Now, it has listed the iPad 2's Wi-Fi variant at Rs 28,900, up Rs 4,400 from its price tag before the prices of new iPads were revealed. The model had received a price cut in March last year when the new iPad hit the Indian market. Its Wi-Fi and cellular model is now available at Rs 37,900, compared to its previous price tag of Rs 32,900, an increase of Rs 5,000.

iPad mini's Wi-Fi and cellular model now costs Rs 30,900, up Rs 1,000 in comparison to its earlier price. Apple has, however, not revised the price of its Wi-Fi-only version; it still costs Rs 21,900 and remains the cheapest iPad model in Apple's portfolio.

Apple had recently slashed the price of its Macbook Pro laptops in the US by $200, but price tags for the machines remained unchanged in the Indian market.

The rather large difference between the India and global prices of Apple products is due to the weak performance of the rupee in the global arena. However, by raising the prices of products with old technologies, the company risks alienating many consumers, especially since it is seen as an expensive brand in the country.

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