Earlier this year Apple unveiled a new 9.7-inch low-cost iPad, a new report today claims Apple is planning an “even cheaper” version of the tablet for launch during 2018.
The current 9.7-inch iPad which starts at £339/$329 features Apple’s A9 chip alongside a 10-hour battery life and 8MP rear camera. From the beginning Apple made it clear that their intention with the scaled down 9.7-inch device was to make iPad “even more affordable” for use at home, in school, and for work.
According to Digitimes, Apple plans to begin selling the 2018 9.7-inch iPad in the $259 price range, creating a bigger differentiation between iPad and iPad Pro. – The device would be manufactured by Compal Electronics and ‘may arrive in the second quarter of 2018’, according to the report.
At this stage no technical specifications have leaked, however it’s likely that if a new model was planned for next year Apple would only make minor tweaks to the existing internal technology.