Milanesi argued that in the short run, at least, the $30 difference between the predicted $299 and the actual entry price of $329 "doesn't matter" to consumers.

"If the fact is that for that $30 I get a richer experience and access to all the dedicated apps, I think consumers are discriminating enough to see that difference," Milanesi said. And Apple, starting at a higher price, can always lower it, something much more difficult to do for vendors at the low end that try to raise prices.

"They're going out to get those people who are willing to pay the money," Milanesi said. "When, in six months or whenever, the second generation comes in, then they can cut the price of [this] tablet."

Gartner has estimated that Apple will sell approximately 8 million iPad Mini tablets before the end of the year.

The iPad Mini will ship Nov. 2, starting with the Wi-Fi model, in 34 markets, including the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the U.K. The cellular-equipped iPad Mini will ship about two weeks after that, Schiller said.