Lenovo exec confirms that Windows RT tablets are going to be cheap

Lenovo's ThinkPad Tablet 2
Lenovo's ThinkPad Tablet 2 will ride high on the first wave of Windows RT tablets

More evidence has emerged that Windows RT tablets are going to priced on the cheaper side.

The latest report, this one from Lenovo North American head David Schmoock, claims that Windows RT tabs will sell generally for $200 to $300 less than tablets running the full version of Windows 8.

Schmoock pegs full Windows 8 tablets at $600-$700, putting the stripped-down Windows RT devices around $300 on the low end.

That's slightly higher than what was predicted Tuesday in a report claiming that the Microsoft Surface will sell starting at $199 when it launches in October.

But it's still pretty low

"RT will play in consumer and retail at very aggressive price points," Schmoock told Bloomberg.

"It will do well but it's going to be more of a consumer price point play to begin with."

Windows RT will come on the ARM-based version of the Microsoft Surface, with a full version of Windows 8 running on the more expensive Microsoft Surface Pro (with its x86 chip).

Meanwhile, Lenovo is set ride the very first wave of Windows RT tablets, as ordained by Microsoft and Nvidia, with the ThinkPad Tablet 2 launching in October.

Lenovo's position

It's worth noting that Schmoock may be speaking only about Lenovo's upcoming Windows 8 tablets, like the Lenovo ThinkPad 2, and not making any predictions about the rest of the industry.

But Lenovo's CEO also recently claimed that the Chinese company provides "much better hardware" than even Microsoft.

Either way, the Microsoft Surface and other Windows RT tablets will certainly attempt to undercut Apple's iPad, the current king of tablets, while full Windows 8 tablets will market as more capable devices at steeper prices.

Via TechCrunch

Michael Rougeau

Michael Rougeau is a former freelance news writer for TechRadar. Studying at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Northeastern University, Michael has bylines at Kotaku, 1UP, G4, Complex Magazine, Digital Trends, GamesRadar, GameSpot, IFC, Animal New York, @Gamer, Inside the Magic, Comic Book Resources, Zap2It, TabTimes, GameZone, Cheat Code Central, Gameshark, Gameranx, The Industry, Debonair Mag, Kombo, and others.


Micheal also spent time as the Games Editor for Playboy.com, and was the managing editor at GameSpot before becoming an Animal Care Manager for Wags and Walks.