Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand Tips, App Reviews and News for the iPhone and iPad by Richard Barrow

When is iPad 2 Coming to Thailand?

Today saw the announcement of details about the new iPad 2. The release date is expected to be 11th March 2011 in America and about 25th March 2011 for 20 or so countries internationally. No news yet about an official release date for Thailand. The iPad 1 was released in USA in April 2010. We all expected it to then come out in Thailand by June 2010. Although we were able to buy marked-up versions in the grey market at MBK shortly after people in the US, we didn't get an official release of the iPad in Thailand until December 2010. Personally I think the delay was due to the problems with the Thai keyboard. As we now have an official Thai keyboard, hopefully this time we won't have to wait so long. I will post news on release dates here for Thailand as well as prices as soon as I get them.

Although we don't have the iPad 2 in Thailand just yet, they have interestingly reduced the price of iPad 1 in the Thailand Apple Store by 3,000 baht.

New Prices of iPad 1 Wi-Fi version:

• 16GB Price 12,900 Baht (originally 15,900 Baht)
• 32GB Price 15,900 Baht (originally18,900 Baht)
• 64GB Price 18,900 Baht (originally21,900 baht)

New Prices of iPad 1 3G+WiFi version

• 16GB Price 16,900 Baht (originally19,900 baht)
• 32GB Price 19,900 Baht (originally22,900 baht)
• 64GB Price 22,900 Baht (originally25,900 baht)

The iPad 2 looks really great but it doesn't really hold any surprises. It has two cameras, including front facing, so you can now do video conferencing more comfortably. It is also thinner, lighter and of course faster. One thing that is the same is the 10 hour battery life which is obviously great. Some things that didn't make it, but which might be in iPad 3, is the retina screen similar to the iPhone 4 and USB ports.

Now comes the question, are these new features enough to make me go out and buy iPad 2 once it is released in Thailand? Personally I think not. I like the idea of the two cameras but I don't think I would use it enough to justify buying another iPad. The speed is obviously good, but I think I am happy sticking with the original iPad until at least when the iPad 3 is released. If rumours are true, this might happen as early as the end of the this year. But, even if it doesn't, I think I can wait another year or so.

Now comes the question for people who have been waiting to buy their first iPad. Is it best to buy the iPad 1 now at the reduced price or wait for the iPad 2 to be released in Thailand? We don't have official prices for the iPad 2 in Thailand yet, but we are going to presume that they will be released at the same price as the old iPad 1. So, we could be looking at prices like the following. (Of course, this might change if there is a delay in the release and if there is a change in exchange rates.)

Expected iPad 2 Prices for Wi-Fi version:

• 16GB Price 15,900 Baht
• 32GB Price 18,900 Baht
• 64GB Price 21,900 baht

Expected iPad 2 Prices for 3G+WiFi version

• 16GB Price 19,900 baht
• 32GB Price 22,900 baht
• 64GB Price 25,900 baht

If you haven't bought your first iPad yet, I would actually suggest that you buy the cheapest iPad 1 version that starts at 12,900 baht and then wait until iPad 3 like me. Although the cheapest iPad 2 is expected to be 15,900 baht, we might not see it here for another 8 months if it turns out to be the same story as last time.

What about you, are you going to buy the iPad 2?