If Amazon does, in fact, enter the tablet market with a low cost Android tablet this fall they might be able to change the playing field to a lower margin one where Apple would be less able to compete. Could a low cost Amazon Android tablet present one of the first serious contenders to the iPad? Based on the latest Retrevo Pulse Report, it appears that consumers are ready to buy a low cost tablet and are very keen on one from Amazon.
Consumers Want a Less Expensive Tablet
Every time Retrevo asks consumers what would get them to buy a tablet, low price comes out on top of the list. In the most recent study, almost half (48%) of respondents said that $300 was the price point that would get them to consider an Android tablet over an iPad. Apple has traditionally been able to command a price premium for quality devices but if someone like Amazon who thrives on low margins can move the playing field, Apple may find it harder to command high prices.
iPad Vs. Android – Retrevo Asked: Would you consider buying an Android tablet with similar features over a base model $499 iPad?
- 79% of people would if it cost less than $250
- 48% of people would if it cost less than $300
- 31% of people would if it cost less than $400
There’s Still Hope for an iPad Competitor
Despite the fact that the Apple iPad continues to dominate the market it appears more consumers are willing to consider an Android tablet and many more are undecided. When this Retrevo Pulse study asked consumers about buying a tablet this year half as many said they were planning on buying an Android tablet as an iPad with half again indicating some other tablet.
Which of these manufacturers would you seriously consider buying a tablet from?
- 55% said Amazon
- 38% said Dell
- 38% said Samsung
- 31% said Motorola
- 31% said HP
- 24% said RIM
- 21% said Barnes & Noble
Going to Be an Interesting Season for Tablets
The latest rumor out of Cupertino says we might see a widescreen high resolution iPad possibly called the iPad HD sometime this fall. With a high resolution display showing up second (28%) on the list of important tablet features (behind price) if Apple bumps up the resolution in the next generation iPad it could continue to lead the market.
What are people planning to buy? Of people planning on buying a tablet this year:
- 50% said they were planning on buying an iPad
- 21% said they were planning on buying an Android Tablet
- 10% said they were planning on buying some other kind of tablet
- 19% said they were planning on buying more than one of these choices
Source: Retrevo.com
