Apple iPad mini tear-down: It cost only $188 to build

Apple’s latest tablet, the iPad mini, which costs a whopping $329 for a basic 16GB model with Wi-Fi only, cost only $188 to make, according to a tear-down by research firm IHS ( formerly iSuppli). According to AllThingsD, if one were to look at the additional cost of producing the 32GB and 64GB, model, If 16GB of memory goes for $15.50, then it follows that 32GB adds only $31 in additional cost, and $62 for 64GB. The profit that Apple makes on the iPad mini therefore, is a cool $90 for the 32GB version and $162 per unit on the 64GB model, according to the AllThingsD report. [caption id=“attachment_515305” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Phil Schiller with the iPad mini. Reuters[/caption] An iFixit display tear-down had revealed that Apple once again went with Samsung in its display manufacturing. However the IHS tear-down also states that LG Display and AU Optronics supplied the display components. Key features of the iPad mini include: a 7.9 inch (diagonally) screen with screen resolution of 1024×768 pixels making it around 163 pixels per inch. It has a dual-core A5 processor chip, a 1.2 megapixel FaceTime camera with HD and a 5 megapixel camera. It is 4G LTE enabled as well. As far as battery is concerned, the mini has 10 hours life if you’re just on Wi-Fi and around 9 hours if you’re using a data connection. It also comes with the new Lightning conductor.