Apple 9.7-Inch iPad Could Be Launched At Cheaper Rates In 2018

Apple is planning to launch its most affordable 9.7-inch iPad in 2018, according to a new report. The tech giant will reportedly announce a new version of the regular-sized iPad at a price point of $259 (roughly Rs. 16,700). This is even lower than the $329 (roughly Rs. 21,200) price tag of the 9.7-Inch iPad launched in March this year - which at that point was its cheapest full-sized iPad.

In 2018 Apple is apparently going to go even lower - DigiTimes is reporting that the 9.7-inch tablet will get a price cut to around US$259, The current model starts at US$329, so that's a drop of more than 20 percent. The report does not provide details on whether the $259 iPad will replace or accompany the 2017 9.7-inch iPad. In the second case, the newer model might just be a slightly toned down version (specification-wise) of the current iPad with a similar design and camera sensor. If true, this will be the most affordable full-size iPad from Apple.

According to Gadget360, this new iPad will reportedly be manufactured by Apple supplier Compal Electronics and is expected to launch in the second half of 2018. Apple is said to be looking to target affordable Android tablets by offering users a cheaper option to switch to iOS.

Moreover, apart from the regular consumers, the upcoming iPad will also look to attract industrial and service sectors, last week's report adds. While the standard 9.7-inch iPad looks to get cheaper in 2018, Apple's iPad Pro may get costlier if recent reports suggesting they'll come with slimmer bezels and Face ID facial recognition are true. KGI Securities analysts Ming-Chi Kuo said a couple of months ago that the iPad Pro models next year will feature a TrueDepth camera and Face ID, as seen in the latest iPhone X.