iPad Mini vs. Kindle Fire HD: $329 for iPad Mini or $199 for Kindle/Nexus?
The battle is on for who has the best tablet in the consumer arena.
Apple's iPad Mini has been announced and competitors such as Google's new Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire HD are looking to stake their claims for tablet dominance.
One of the biggest factors driving consumers' decisions this holiday season is the price.
The new gadget by Apple has a base price of $329 making it the least expensive tablet the company has made.
In an interview with Reuters, Apple's marketer Phil Schiller talked about the Mini after it was announced on Tuesday.
"The iPad is far and away the most successful product in its category," said Schiller. "The most affordable product we've made so far was $399 and people were choosing that over those devices. And now you can get a device that's even more affordable at $329 in this great new form, and I think a lot of customers are going to be very excited about that."
To Apple, the tablet game is about quality and that will drive customers to pay for their brand.
But Google and Amazon are offering quality services as well under more consumer friendly prices at around $199.
The iPad Mini lives up to its name as a 7.9 inch display with a lighter, thinner frame. Amazon's Kindle Fire HD measures at 7 inches along with Google's Nexus 7's 7 inch.
One of the biggest factors in the eyes of consumers will be the apps. Apple has kept its place as king of the app hill by offering thousands specifically designed for their iPads. However, the Kindle Fire runs a version of Google's Android operating system which gives access to apps available from Amazon. While it may not be as many as Apple, it may be enough for users.
Amazon and Google have yet to beat Apple's iPads in sales, but higher price tag on the Mini may drive away potential customers. It's too early to see if the Mini will dominate sales this holiday season or if it'll be beaten back by worthy adversaries.
