Questionable rumor claims Apple 'considering' 2018 update to budget 9.7-inch iPad
Apple is allegedly considering a new, even cheaper "budget" iPad in 2018, priced around $259 while still retaining a 9.7-inch screen like the current $329 model, but there are reasons to believe it will simply be a price cut rather than new hardware.
The tablet could ship in the second quarter of 2018, supplier sources told DigiTimes. The people added that assembly will likely be handled by Compal Electronics, with printed circuit board orders going to Compeq and Unitech.
Specializing more in the Taiwanese electronics industry, DigiTimes has a mixed track record with future Apple product details. It's not clear how Apple would hit the $259 price target without sacrificing performance or features.
Theoretically, Apple could keep present specifications intact and simply issue a price cut -- in which case, though, it wouldn't actually be a "new" product.
While there are exceptions, Apple also often keeps products at their original price point for years while making few if any changes. The most infamous example is the Mac mini, which still costs at least $499 despite being unchanged since 2014.
An indication for what Apple plans to do with the 9.7-inch iPad might come from Apple's other budget-priced mass-market product, the iPhone SE. While Apple did recently drop the price of the iPhone SE $50 to $349, the phone has been mostly static since it launched in early 2016 -- the exception being a storage boost in March.
Similarly, the iPod touch has remained largely untouched since 2015, with Apple simply switching up storage capacity to keep it relevant.
Given that the $329 9.7-inch iPad boasts a starting capacity of 32 gigabytes, as well as an advanced A9 processor and M9 coprocessor capable of handling ARKit, it seems unlikely that Apple would feel a need to update the internal hardware or external design for a "new" model. Instead, its budget-priced iPad might see price reductions to spur sales and keep it relevant for another year on the market.
Such pricing strategies, however, would not likely be known to Apple's supply chain -- the primary source for DigiTimes scuttlebutt -- casting serious doubts on Friday's report, which could best be treated as speculation.
The tablet could ship in the second quarter of 2018, supplier sources told DigiTimes. The people added that assembly will likely be handled by Compal Electronics, with printed circuit board orders going to Compeq and Unitech.
Specializing more in the Taiwanese electronics industry, DigiTimes has a mixed track record with future Apple product details. It's not clear how Apple would hit the $259 price target without sacrificing performance or features.
Theoretically, Apple could keep present specifications intact and simply issue a price cut -- in which case, though, it wouldn't actually be a "new" product.
While there are exceptions, Apple also often keeps products at their original price point for years while making few if any changes. The most infamous example is the Mac mini, which still costs at least $499 despite being unchanged since 2014.
An indication for what Apple plans to do with the 9.7-inch iPad might come from Apple's other budget-priced mass-market product, the iPhone SE. While Apple did recently drop the price of the iPhone SE $50 to $349, the phone has been mostly static since it launched in early 2016 -- the exception being a storage boost in March.
Similarly, the iPod touch has remained largely untouched since 2015, with Apple simply switching up storage capacity to keep it relevant.
Given that the $329 9.7-inch iPad boasts a starting capacity of 32 gigabytes, as well as an advanced A9 processor and M9 coprocessor capable of handling ARKit, it seems unlikely that Apple would feel a need to update the internal hardware or external design for a "new" model. Instead, its budget-priced iPad might see price reductions to spur sales and keep it relevant for another year on the market.
Such pricing strategies, however, would not likely be known to Apple's supply chain -- the primary source for DigiTimes scuttlebutt -- casting serious doubts on Friday's report, which could best be treated as speculation.
Comments
The basic iPad for $300 and the two iPad Pros.
If you don't plan to do any work on an iPad, the basic iPad is a real bargain.
And iOS is just more fun to use than MacOS!
The problem is there is no 64Gb version.
My nephew recently broke his screen on an older IPad (64Gb) so checked...
I like the $250 price, a lot of people will buy that rather than repair the screen for $150.
The 128Gb (next step up) is $400 making repairing the screen a better option.
The IPad 10.5 (64Gb) is $600 which is pricey for a gift.
The LTE adds $129 to the price. I’m not sure why it’s so much... probably why Apple and Qualcomm are ducking it out in court.
I’d set the prices at 9.7 $250 (32Gb), $350 (128Gb) and 10.5 (64Gb) $500
If LTE was free through carriers (they eat the cost) that would make the tablets a lot more useful.
With T-mobile adding a tablet (unlimited) is $20...
This was driven home to me lately when we replaced both my wife's and my iPad Airs with a 128GB iPad (list $429 or $559 w/cellular data) and a 256GB 10.5" iPad Pro (list $799 or $929, although I got a sale deal). I don't need that much storage, but since 64GB isn't enough it had to be 256GB and the price that goes with it. I don't know why Apple even offers a 64GB Pro — that just seems pointless.
My iPad is dying, but I'm not going to spend hundreds of dollars on a two-year-old device that doesn't even do anything new. Sucks not being the target audience.
Slightly thicker for a bigger battery and TouchID.