Apple reveals UK iPad prices

Apple has revealed that the iPad, which will go on sale in the UK on 28 May, will cost £429 for the basic version all the way up to £699 for the top of the range 64GB device with both Wi-Fi and 3G network access.

Apple will open its website for pre-orders of the iPad from Monday next week. Alongside the UK, the device will also be available on 28 May in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland.

In the past, Apple has come in for criticism for the difference between the prices of its products in Europe compared with the US. In the US the basic iPad costs $499, which at the current pound-dollar exchange rate is £338. Apple points out that there are different, and higher, taxes in Europe – the prices it is quoting include VAT – as well as increased transport and other costs.

Apple's price for the 16GB version of the Wi-Fi only iPad is £429 (including VAT) while the 32GB version is £499 and 64GB is £599. For the Wi-Fi and 3G version of the iPad, the 16GB device will be £529 (including VAT), the 32GB device £599 and the largest 64GB Wi-Fi and 3G iPad will be £699.

O2, Orange and Vodafone will all be offering mobile data plans for UK consumers who buy the 3G-enabled iPad, but details have yet to be released.

Source: Guardian Technology