Amidst reports that Apple will introduce the iPad 3 next week, a survey of consumers not planning to purchase an iPad shows that 20 percent would buy an iPad 2 if Apple were to continue to sell the device and offer it for $100 less.
RBC Capital Markets conducted a survey of 1,100 consumers at the end of 2011 about their tablet buying plans. Among those who indicated they were not planning to buy an iPad 2 in the next 90 days, 20 percent indicated they would be “likely” to buy Apple’s second-generation tablet if it were sold for $399 and up.
Apple currently offers the entry-level 16GB WI-Fi only iPad 2 for $499, but suggestions have been made that Apple could continue to offer its second generation model at a lower price after the introduction of the iPad 3 to the market. The company already does something similar with its iPhone lineup, offering the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 alongside it’s flagship iPhone 4S.
Analysts believe that by offering the iPad 2 at a reduced price, Apple would not only expand the available market for the device, they could also head off lower-priced competitors, such as the Amazon Kindle Fire, which is offered at $199.
Apple officially announced next weeks event where it is expected to unveil the third gen iPad. The keynote begins at 10 AM PST, Wednesday, March 7th.