Cheapest places in the world to buy an iPad; India ranks 5

India is the fifth cheapest place to buy an iPad compared to 45 other countries according to Australian consultancy CommSec.

After accounting for the value of each country’s currency, CommSec ranked the cheapest and most expensive place to buy the last-generation 16GB Wi-Fi iPad with Retina Display.

The CommSec series began in 2007 as a variant of The Economist’s Big Mac index. The idea is that the same good should trade broadly at the same price across the globe if exchange rates are adjusted.

According to the index, the iPad 2 is most expensive in Argentina and costs $1,094.11, Brazil is second ($791.40) and Denmark is third ($725.32).

Let’s take a look 20 countries where iPad 2 is the cheapest.

China

Rank: 20

Price: $602.52

Apple released its first iPad was in April 2010 and it is now in its fourth generation.

…

Chile

Rank: 19

Price: $602.13

Microsoft had previously tried its hand at tablet computers but the product didn’t take off. When Apple launched iPad, it revolutionised the tablet market.

…

Russia

Rank: 18

Price: $596.08

Most consumers use iPad to shoot videos, take photos, play music, and browse the Internet.

…

Mexico

Rank: 17

Price: $591.62

The first generation iPad established the design of the tablet. For example, its size, the placement of buttons and camera, and so on. Apple has stuck to this design ever since.

…

South Korea

Rank: 16

Price: $576.20

Second-generation iPad featured faster processor, front camera, and better display.

…

South Africa

Rank: 15

Price: $559.38

In the third generation, Apple added Retina Display, a 5-megapixel camera, HD 1080p video recording, voice dictation, and 4G, other than pumping up the hardware.

…

Canada (Montreal)

Rank: 14

Price: $557.18

Compared to its predecessor, the fourth generation iPad maintains the Retina Display and features new and upgraded components such as the Apple A6X chip, and the Lightning connector.

...

Philippines

Rank: 13

Price: $556.42

Apple also released a cheaper and smaller version of the device called iPad mini. It was introduced alongside the fourth generation iPad. This tablet is 7.9 inches compared with iPad’s standard size of 9.7 inches.

…

Vietnam

Rank: 12

Price: $554.08

iPad was usually released in three capacity options for storage: 16, 32, or 64 GB of internal flash memory. In February this year, Apple introduced a 128 GB model.

…

US (California, post tax)

Rank: 11

Price: $546.91

Apple had actually started working on iPad before the iPhone but had temporarily halted the research upon realising that the idea would work just as well in a mobile phone.

…

UAE

Rank: 10

Price: $544.32

On the first day of availability, Apple managed to sell 300,000 iPads. By May 3, 2010, Apple had sold a million - this was in half the time it took to sell the same number of first generation iPhones.

…

Taiwan

Rank: 9

Price: $538.34

After the success of iPad, many other manufacturers got into making tablets. Most of them used Android operating system (OS).

Google’s OS has managed to dent the sales of Apple, as it grows in popularity. Microsoft, however, was not able to make any significant mark in the tablet market despite being a pioneer.

…

Thailand

Rank: 8

Price: $530.72

In the first weekend of sales, Apple reported that it sold a total of 3 million units of iPad Mini and fourth generation iPad.

…

Singapore

Rank: 7

Price: $525.98

The next generation iPad could get the Touch ID scanner according to reports. Apple introduced the new technology in iPhone recently, which gives user access to their smartphone by scanning their fingerprints. And is also used to authorise payments.

...

Brunei

Rank: 6

Price: $525.52

The iPad is assembled by Foxconn, which also manufactures Apple's iPod, iPhone and Mac Mini, in its largest plant in Shenzhen, China.

…

India

Rank: 5

Price: $512.61

Since the introduction of iPad, tablet market has grown exponentially and has eaten into the sales of computer manufacturers. Laptop and personal computer makers have been reporting lower sales since many quarters.

…

Australia

Rank: 4

Price: $506.66

The iPad was selected by Time Magazine as one of the 50 Best Inventions of the Year 2010.

…

Japan

Rank: 3

Price: $501.56

Within 90 days of its release, half of the Fortune 100 companies started provinding the device to its employees.

Some companies are adopting iPads in their business offices by distributing or making available iPads to employees.

…

Hong Kong

Rank: 2

Price: $501.52

The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved the iPad for in-cockpit use to cut down on the paper consumption in several airlines. In 2011, Alaska Airlines became the first airline to replace pilots' paper manuals with iPads, weighing 0.68 kg compared to 11 kg for the printed flight manuals.

…

Malaysia

Rank: 1

Price: $473.77

The iPad has also been called a revolutionary tool to help children with autism learn how to communicate and socialise more easily.