Intel makes processors, not laptops, tablets, or phones. So the company doesn’t actually get to decide what price PC or phone makers will charge for its products — but it can certainly set guidelines.
And according to information obtained by Fudzilla, that’s exactly what the company is doing. Intel plans to release its first low-power processors for phones and tablets this year and the company’s latest netbook chips are already shipping.
So how much does Intel think companies should charge for devices using those chips?
• $199 to $299 for smartphones
• $199 to $299 for netbooks
• $399 to $499 for tablet
Those prices would make certainly make Intel Atom-powered mobile devices competitive with phones and tablets with ARM-based chips. The Apple iPad, for instance, has a starting price of $499.
Intel’s recommended netbook pricing is interesting. When the first Intel Atom processors hit the market in 2008, PC makers were charging $400 or more for netbooks. I still have an Asus Eee PC 1000H that I paid nearly $600 for, since it was one of the first models with an Atom chip and a 10 inch display (up until then 7 and 8.9 inch screens were the norm).
We’ve come a long way since 2008, and many companies are already pricing their netbooks at $299 or below. It looks like Intel is fine with that… and the company will presumably price its chips low enough to allow partners to turn a profit even when selling mini-laptops for mini-prices.
