Vita breakdown reveals $159 materials cost

With pseudo-PS3 graphics, two touch panels, two cameras, and a number of other unique hardware features, the Vita seems high-tech enough to warrant its $250 price point. But how much does it cost to make?

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Vita's graphical capabilities will be unrivaled when it launches next month. With pseudo-PS3 graphics, two touch panels, two cameras, and a number of other unique hardware features, it certainly seems high-tech enough to warrant its $250 price point. But how much does it cost to make?

That's what UBM TechInsights wanted to answer when it tore open a system and analyzed each of the individual components. According to UBM's Jeffrey Brown, the total cost of materials for the 3G-enabled system is about $159.10.

The breakdown bills each component as such:

  • Display and touchscreens: $50
  • Battery: $3.60
  • Cameras: $3.50
  • Wi-Fi/BT/GPS: $3.50
  • NAND: $6.00
  • SDRAM: $9.25
  • Processor: $16.00
  • BB+XCR: $16.25
  • Non-electronic: $11.00
  • Other: $30.00
  • Supporting materials: $10.00

Eurogamer notes that the raw material cost of manufacturing a 3DS at launch was about $101 per unit.

While it's tempting to think that Sony will pocket about $140 of profit for every 3G system sold, there are many other factors to consider when establishing a price. The $250/300 price tag must also include a cut for the retailer. The teardown price also doesn't include the cost of labor, R&D, marketing, distribution, and more.

What is clear that Sony won't necessarily be losing money on each unit sold--unlike the devastating manufacturing cost of the PS3, which had Sony losing hundreds of dollars for every $600 machine purchased.

Should Vita face the same muted response the 3DS did at launch, will Sony be able to consider a price drop? "They likely don't have much room for a price cut at a profit, so my best guess is that they will stick with the introductory price for the wi-fi model at least for a year," analyst Michael Pachter told Eurogamer. Sony "will reduce price only when the cost to build drops."

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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  • reply
    January 20, 2012 7:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Vita breakdown reveals $159 materials cost.

    With pseudo-PS3 graphics, two touch panels, two cameras, and a number of other unique hardware features, the Vita seems high-tech enough to warrant its $250 price point. But how much does it cost to make?

    • reply
      January 20, 2012 8:07 AM

      I think I'll be waiting a little while for the price drop then - it has some great launch titles but not enough to interest me. Still got some gaming left on my PSP so I'll be sticking with that for a while.

    • reply
      January 20, 2012 9:40 AM

      I'm gonna wait until the storage prices are less rape-y.

    • reply
      January 20, 2012 9:46 AM

      What was the final word on your PSP physical games and playing them on Vita?

      • reply
        January 20, 2012 10:03 AM

        IIRC it was a "not going to happen" and you'd have to rebuy them from the store.

        • reply
          January 20, 2012 10:48 AM

          Wasn't there a re-purchasing some games in digital format for cheaper if you have them physically thing?

          • reply
            January 20, 2012 10:50 AM

            I have no idea how they'd manage that but maybe, regardless it's a pain in the ass and I don't think I'll be supporting them.

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