The newest 10.2-inch iPad was announced in September with an updated chipset and the same $329 price. But if rumors are true, the tablet could soon be replaced with an even cheaper option.
The 10.5-inch iPad may offer Touch ID and cost $299
Chinese website CNBeta (via iMore) has reason to believe Apple is developing a new entry-level iPad for release in Spring 2021 with a Touch ID home button and the A13 Bionic chipset, which was used inside the iPhone 11 line. The existing iPad uses a 10.2-inch form factor, but with the next model Apple is going to adopt a larger 10.5-inch design that’s presumably based on the iPad Air (2019). As a result of these improvements and despite the size increase, customers can expect a thinner and lighter body.
All of this will be available at $299 in the United States, per the report, slightly cheaper than the existing $329 price point.
Does this rumor line up with previous 2021 iPad leaks?
The upgrades mentioned above definitely line up with what you’d expect from the next entry-level iPad upgrade, but make sure to take everything with a nice pinch of salt.
More reliable sources have claimed Apple is working on an all-screen mini-LED iPad for release in 2021, something this report contradicts. Furthermore, it would be an odd move to upgrade the iPad less than 9 months after introducing the current one.
But perhaps Apple has plans for two entry-level iPad models next year rather than one. After all, the all-screen mini-LED display could increase costs, so that iPad may land at a higher price point, hence the existence of a cheaper entry-level tablet.
