It has been rumored for years that Apple could produce a TV for its customers and those from IHS iSuppli I put some straws on the fire who keeps these rumors alive. In the image above, we present the prices of high-end televisions that in recent months have dropped significantly, reaching the point where a television that cost $1.400 in July 2010 will cost almost $400 less in July 2011. We are talking here about new televisions and not of models launched last year which after a year have lost their value and the information from iSuppli suggests that the producers lower the prices to remain competitive.
Long the chief attraction for high-end brands like Sony and Samsung, features such as 1080p high-definition resolution, 120Hz refresh rates and LED backlighting technology are now cropping up in value brands entering the market, especially in the 40- to 42-inch space. But unlike their pricey counterparts, the new upstarts boast dramatically lower pricing. For example, value brands like Apex and Element offer 40-inch 1080p/120Hz LED sets for $550 at Target and Wal-Mart stores across the United States. In comparison, premium brands with the same features are priced at about $1,100—double the price offered by the discount brands.
In the USA, the price of a high-end TV dropped by 23% in just one year, from $1.318 to $1.002, so a more than decent price for a 40-inch TV, full HD LED backlight with 120Hz refresh rate . This drop in prices could represent a favorable moment for those from Apple who could launch on the market a new TV model connected to iTunes and all the benefits offered by the online platform. Of course, the main idea would be for Apple to offer a TV cheaper than $1000 and not to launch a "premium" TV where half the price is the brand and not the functions.
A television made by Apple and sold at a decent price would be in demand on the market, especially if it allowed users to use applications from the App Store.
