Asus and Google reportedly are working on a cheaper version of the Nexus 7 tablet which is expected to be launched as soon as in the first quarter of next year.
The cheaper Nexus 7 is reportedly will be produced using the Glass-Film-Film technology that is expected to reduce the cost of manufacturing of the tablets and the tablet is likely to be priced around $99 or Rs 5,000 approximately.
As Digitimes reports, “The reduction in production costs may lead to a US$99 price tag for the tablet, said the sources. However, market observers suspect that Google and Asustek may not be able to release such a low priced tablet in 2013 due to limits as to how far the companies can drive down costs in their supply chain. The lower-priced Nexus 7 will most likely be priced between US$ 129-149 as a result.”
In India presently the sub-Rs 10,000 category is dominated by budget Android tablets form both organised as well as unorganised players which offer bare minimum specifications and with the entry of Google Nexus 7 at a lower price point, the whole game is in for a major change.
Asus is aiming the lower priced tablet at emerging markets and it is also being expected that the initial shipment of the tablet would hover around the 5,00,000 to 6,00,000 units at the time of release of the tablet, adds Digitimes.