Apple will offer the iPad 2 in two configurations, the $399 price is for a 16GB Wi-Fi only model. A 16GB Wi-Fi and 3G model (available on either AT&T or Verizon) will sell for $529. The iPad 2 will continue to be available in either black or white.
This isn't the first time Apple has continued to offer older versions of its products. When the iPhone 4 was released in 2010, the iPhone 3GS continue to be available for $99 (and later $49). After releasing the iPhone 4S, an 8GB version of the iPhone 4 became available for $99.
Secondary Market Value Expected to Slide
The price of used iPad 2 devices is also likely to drop as gadget enthusiasts rush to sell their current devices in preparation for adopting the newly announced model.
After and leading up to the iPad 2 announcement last year the resell price of the original iPad dropped significantly. Ebay, for instance, charted more than a 20% decline in the price of the iPad within the three months leading up to the iPad 2 release.
Some resell sites have already noticed an increase in the number of customers who are now looking to sell their iPad 2 devices.
NextWorth, a company that buys and resells electronics saw a 760% increase in the number of requests to sell used iPads in the five hours following Apple's invitation to Wednesday's press conference. Gazelle, a similar service, saw a 500% increase in trade-ins during the same timeframe.
The new iPad has 2048 x 1536-pixel retina display, a 5-megapixel camera and 1080p video recording. It is available March 16 starting at $499.
Those new specs are a far cry from the laser beams and flying car that Mashable's Alex Fitzpatrick said would still fail to convince him to buy a new iPad instead of an iPad 2.
Will you also be opting for a cheaper iPad 2 instead of an new iPad? Let us know in the comments.
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