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Apple Scrapped Plans to Launch Low-Cost iPad With Plastic Design and Keyboard

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Apple reportedly scrapped plans to launch a low-cost iPad with a plastic body and a plastic keyboard included in the box for below $500, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

10th Gen iPad Feature Fanned Pink
Writing in his Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple had "internally considered launching an ‌iPad‌ with a plastic back and plastic keyboard" that would ship in the same box for below $500. "The idea was seemingly abandoned, but that was probably Apple's only real hope of ever giving Chromebooks a run for their money in most schools," Gurman added.

It's unclear if the scrapped plastic ‌iPad‌ would have come as the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌, announced last week, or another distinct ‌iPad‌ model. The new 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ joins the ‌iPad‌ lineup as the newest entry-level ‌iPad‌ with the A14 Bionic chip, iPadOS, and an all-screen design. The new ‌iPad‌, however, does not support the latest Apple Pencil and does not have a laminated screen.

At $449, the new ‌iPad‌ is more expensive than the ninth-generation entry-level ‌iPad‌ that remains in the lineup for $329 but is cheaper than the iPad Air, which starts at $599. The new ‌iPad‌, alongside the M2 iPad Pro, will begin arriving to customers this week on Wednesday, October 26.

Tags: Bloomberg, Mark Gurman

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Top Rated Comments

firewire9000 Avatar
firewire9000
44 months ago
When I read plastic and Apple in the same phrase, I get black and white flashbacks of the iPhone 5c and the white Macbook and then I get PSTD again.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gonsawa_ Avatar
gonsawa_
44 months ago
The keyboard on the box makes total sense nowadays. This isn’t 2010 anymore, it’s time to put more accessories in the box
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RSB96 Avatar
RSB96
44 months ago
If by making an iPad Air 4 with an unlaminated, sRGB display they are not able to sell it under $400, I think the problem is Apple itself.

Currently the iPad 10 is still an iPad Air 4 (from 2 years ago) with worse specs. And it still has a high price. With the iPads, it shows a drift at Apple about what an iPad should be. They don't know how to approach the product and forget that people who bought the entry-level iPad did so because they wanted a good tablet experience that lasted 6/8 years without problems and was inexpensive.

That for a redesign, to adapt it to current designs, it is 100 dollars more expensive (in euros, almost 200), I find it shameful, because really, design aside, it is still a small evolution of the iPad 9.

I still think Apple should segment their ranges in 3/4 product lines.

SE range. With products with older designs, but updated internally. iPhone SE, Apple Watch SE, iPad SE, MacBook SE (iPhone Xr design, Apple Watch S4 design, iPad Air 4 design, MacBook Air M1 design).

I believe that this access range should have "affordable" prices as a way to hook people to get into Apple. The iPhone SE for 450/500 euros, the Apple Watch for 250/300 euros, the iPad SE for 300/350 euros and the MacBook for 900/950 euros.

"Standard" range. With the latest technical specifications and current designs. iPhone 6.1" and 6.7" (with ProMotion), Apple Watch, iPad 8.9" and 11" (I consider that here the Air and the 11" Pro should converge into one, with ProMotion in both models), MacBook 13" and 15", iMac.

These should be priced as usual by Apple (up to inflation in Europe). iPhones between 800/900 euros (depending on size), Apple Watch for about 400/450 euros, iPads between 550/650 euros (depending on size) and Macs about 1200/1300 euros.

Pro range. With improved technical specifications and better materials: iPhone Pro 6.4", Apple Watch Pro (stainless steel), iPad Pro 12.9" and 14.9" (dynamic island, less bezels), MacBook Pro 14" and 16", Mac Pro (instead of Mac Studio).

In this case, prices should be like the current ones, about 1100/1200 euros for iPhone, Apple Watch about 700/750, iPad about 800/1000 euros and MacBook Pro and Mac Pro around 1800/2000 euros.

Ultra range. The best, with the best in durability, cameras, power and general specifications. iPhone Ultra 6.9", Apple Watch Ultra, Mac Ultra (instead of Mac Pro).

Obviously here the prices, so expensive. iPhone around 1400 euros, Apple Watch 1000 euros, and Mac Ultra about 3000 euros.

So I think it would be a more orderly and coherent range at Apple.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lococroco Avatar
lococroco
44 months ago
I‘ve been ready for such an iPad since 2013. Although I love my iPad Pro, lighter and cheaper is music to my ears. And iPhone 5c was one of my favorite iPhones.

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Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
videosoul Avatar
videosoul
44 months ago

I don’t know any creative or professional who prefers an iPad over their MacBook.
Illustrators who use the Apple Pencil? I’ve seen this being done by professional illustrators in ways they wouldn’t be able to do with Apple’s laptops.

Tablets (including iPads) are also commonly used in warehousing, distribution, quality control, pilots use them… etc etc.

Places where are a handheld device bigger than a phone is useful.

Then again, none of those (except perhaps the illustrator) need advanced features really.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
K
kk200
44 months ago

When I read plastic and Apple in the same phrase, I get black and white flashbacks of the iPhone 5c and the white Macbook and then I get PSTD again.
iphone 5c failed not because of plastic but the wishful price like this year's iphone 14.

If Apple really sells plastic iPad with keyboard under $500, The most other iPad series would be doomed.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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