BlackBerry Playbook matches iPad2 price

So Research in Motion has finally announced the pricing of their BlackBerry Playbook tablet and guess what, they’ve actually matched the prices of Apple’s iPad2 WiFi line-up — starting with $499 for the 16GB model.

The BlackBerry Playbook will be out in store shelves by April 9, across the US and Canada.

The 32GB and 64GB models will retail for $599 and $699, respectively.

RIM BlackBerry Playbook
7â€³ capacitive display @ 1024Ã—600 pixel
BlackBerry Tablet OS
Cortex A9 1GHz dual-core CPU
1GB RAM
Dual HD cameras (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing)
1080p Full HD video recording
HDMI port
WiFi 802.11n
Bluetooth 2.1

The initial release in the US/Canada will hopefully be followed by an international release, although RIM originally stated they expect it to be somewhere around 3rd quarter of 2011. The BlackBerry Playbook will compliment BlackBerry handsets by pairing with the device and synchronizing contents with it.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

23 Comments

lolipown says:

14 years ago

Interesting strategy by RIM. It’s definitely an option for that price.
- Reply
Jonaflormicfren says:

14 years ago

I want the color and name of this gadget. http://jonaflormicfren.blogspot.com/
- Reply
Messie says:

14 years ago

“The world’s first and only professional grade tablet is here”

(Shows a pic of the BB Playbook with a racing game on)

<3 the irony =D
- Reply
ed says:

14 years ago

but it wont be available here yet… so iPad still wins.
- Reply
Gumz says:

14 years ago

kailan pa yan sa darating Pilipinas…
- Reply
ogago says:

14 years ago

do you think it has the phone capability like the galaxy tab?
- Reply

Messie says:

14 years ago

nope. a 3g version may come (though I think it will be more of a BIS version), but I doubt it will be able to make calls and texts like a regular mobile phone. BB definitely wants to draw a line between a BB phone and a BB tablet.

lolipown says:

14 years ago

Looks like the new galaxy tab models are aiming for $499 and $469 price bins as well.
- Reply
Ethan Tremblay says:

14 years ago

does it have a 3g model?
- Reply
Harley Son says:

14 years ago

well, with all these price drop for the well known tablets, i will need to wait a quarter to for the prices to settle down.

patience is really a virtue!
- Reply
Messie says:

14 years ago

Commenters from international tech sites have been rambling at why this is still priced at $499 despite the 7″ screen and wifi only connectivity. Ipad2 is priced at $499 with a 9.5″ screen, Samsung’s 10″ is set at $499, and the 8.9″ is at $469. Everybody thinks that this is quite overpriced.

This may be the case if only size matters. Given the specs above, BB playbook has advantage in its camera and bluetooth connectivity. Hmmmm.. parang iyun lang.

At the end of the day, consumers win pa rin, kasi prices are going down while specs are going up. Good deals are coming right?
- Reply