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Why the iPad Air could be a major cash cow for Apple

Published Nov 5th, 2013 12:50PM EST
Apple iPad Air BOM

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Apple’s margins could get a welcome boost from the iPad Air. AllThingsD reports that research firm IHS has done a bill-of-materials analysis for the iPad Air and has concluded that it’s actually cheaper for Apple to manufacture than the third-generation iPad was when it first came out in 2012. In total, IHS says that it costs Apple around $274 to make the base version of the iPad Air, or about $42 less than it cost to manufacture each third-generation entry-level iPad.

The reason for this, says IHS, is that other than a more expensive display and the A7 processor, the iPad Air doesn’t have too many new components and Apple can now buy those older components at a lower cost than it could in 2012. This means that the iPad Air could potentially be very lucrative for Apple since it’s still selling the device starting at $500 and IHS estimates that its gross margins on the Air will range from 45% on the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model to 61% on the 128GB LTE model.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.