Apple has lowered the price of the 16GB and 32GB iPad 2 by US$50 to US$449 and US$549, respectively, paving the way for the launch of its next-generation iPad which is expected to be launched at a company event on March 7.

Although iPad 2 has already been released for close to one year, since the product is still leading its competitors in terms of technologies by about half to one year, although Apple is only reducing prices by US$50, demand from consumers is still expected to rise.

With Apple reportedly set to release an 8G iPad 2 at a price range between US$349-399, it should place even more pressure on non-Apple tablet PC players.

Article translated by Joseph Tsai