Google has always made sure that its products remain affordable despite premium features. The company has been successful with its Nexus 7 program. The devices offered premium components and functionality without raising the price tag. It appears the internet giant wants to replicate that success with its upcoming Google Glass. According to the Wall Street Journal, parts of the upcoming wearable device cost less than $80. Can Google pull off a good glass bargain?
Google Glass has a $1,500 price tag at the moment. Nonetheless, the internet giant may be able to save some more according to recent estimates. According to an analysis by TechInsights' Teardown.com business, examining Google Glass components placed the overall cost of the parts at $79.78.
A spokesman from Google called out the estimate from Teardown.com saying that it is "absolutely wrong." The spokesman did not comment further about the matter. Points of arguments may be related to physical limitations when the pair of glasses is considered.
For instance, the Glass display measures a few millimeters wide. However, the glass comes with high resolution. It may require a special process and technique to design it thus the higher price tag. Teardown.com, on the other hand, estimated the glass and touchscreen around $3 only.
Teardown clarified that they provided rough estimates. The results were based on a quick analysis. The company will likely change the results once it conducts a more thorough investigation.
"Now that the Glass is part way through the full Deep Dive Teardown analysis we will have a better understanding of what each component costs," Thomas Gallant, spokesman from the company, clarified in an email.
Considering the size of the device including the special methods or processes required to tailor the components, people should expect the costs of these components to increase. Google has also been producing components in California - the area may be more expensive than other regions.
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