Following reports this week that Apple plans to remain "nimble" on iPad pricing should it face slow launch sales, iSuppli, a market research firm has released their estimates of the per-unit production cost of each iPad configuration, giving us an idea of just how low Apple can go and still make a profit.

iSuppli, who monitors the electronics industry and manufacturing trends, found that the lowest configuration of the iPad, the 16GB Wi-Fi only model, could cost Apple as little as $229.35 to manufacture, yielding a per-unit profit of roughly $269.65. The report goes on to detail estimates for material, packaging, and production costs for each variation of the iPad, with the most expensive model, the 3G-enabled 64GB model, costing approximately $346.15 to produce.

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Curiously, iSuppli's estimates suggest that the 3G-enabled variations only cost Apple another $30 to produce. As the iPad's pricing structure currently stands, the addition of 3G connectivity will cost consumers an extra $129.

Clearly iSuppli's estimates are based on market analysis and not actual rates detailed by Apple, but even if their figures are just ballpark estimates, it seems Apple's profit margins for the iPad could be fairly significant. www.ign.com