Updated: read our complete iPad review.
Apple has announced via its UK website it will be shipping the 3G version of the iPad in April for the UK.
This means the official UK version of the iPad will first land in late March, and barely days later will be followed by the better specified but more expensive 3G iteration.
Jobs said at the time of launch that the iPad data plans internationally would be announced in June or July, so it must mean that a deal to provide data in the UK has been struck sooner than expected.
iPad UK price
Apple has decided to keep the iPad's UK price point close to its chest, stating only that the cost of the iPad will be 'announced', but it is expected to start around £400.
A number of networks, including Orange, O2 and Vodafone, have been tipped to provide the data, which will be enabled through microSIM cards - different to those seen in your average mobile.
This means that users on a decent price plan for their phone won't be able to just buy a 3G iPad and then just put their mobile SIM in whenever they want to surf the net.
We're awaiting more news on who will be supplying the iPad data in the UK - and just how much that will cost too.
Your comments (5) Click to add a new comment
sjk1000
March 26th 2010
5. If the release date is to be on a Saturday, as was the case in the US, and the pre-order date 3 weeks and 1 day before this, Apple UK's late April deadline either means
Pre-orders Friday 26th March for a Saturday 17th April release, or pre-orders Friday 2nd April for a Saturday 24th April release.
Unless Apple slip their deadline out, and assuming there's some marketing sense to the 3weeks 1day period, that either makes the pre-orders today or next Friday. I go with the latter
Cool
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morituri
March 16th 2010
4. Thanks for the info barneyboy ! Now if the folks at apple let us now the complete costs it would be nice...
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wigwam_salesman
February 1st 2010
3. In Apple's defence, our retail price includes 17.5% VAT. Also, shipping costs have doubled in recent month from China to the UK (mind you they will also have gone up for China to the USA). Domestic shipping costs are a lot higher here (fuel is more expensive than in the USA). Economies of scale come into play as well, the USA is a much bigger market for Apple. However much it seems like we are being ripped off you can be pretty sure that Apple makes roughly the same profit margin here as in any other market.
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barneyboy
February 1st 2010
2. technoprobe - not really sure i understand your comment. £400 is not "an insult" and you clearly do not understand the pricing differences between the US and UK. Prices in the US are net of tax, so to be added to the $499 is sales tax. The prices arent quoted inclusive as sales tax differs from state to state.
In the UK prices are inclusive of vat. If the conversion rate is say 1.5 dollars to the pound then you get £333. Add on the VAT and you come to £391.
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technoprobe
February 1st 2010
1. £400 considering the conversion rate touches nowhere near that in terms of american retail prices is an insult. Kudos apple, for passing on the discounts you afford to american customers to the EU.
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