> Google’s Nexus 9 goes up for pre-order on October 17th, and should hit the shelves on November 3rd. The 16GB model will go for $400, the 32GB for $480, and a 32GB model with LTE built in will set you back $600.
You need to keep in mind that the flash storage baked onto devices is of an entirely different class to the flash storage you buy on a USB key or something. Phone storage has to perform well (it's where the OS lives) as well as survive the lifetime of the phone with near constant use 24/7. They need something a bit higher quality than what you're used to so the price is higher.
The extra cost is a subsidy for the 16gb version.