If you thought you could get around buying the more expensive iPad Pro and still enjoy the same Apple Pencil features, you’d be sorely mistaken. However that could change soon because according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple could be getting ready to unveil a cheaper 9.7-inch iPad that will come with Apple Pencil support.
Apple is expected to host a field trip event in Chicago in the coming week and Kuo believes that Apple could use the event to unveil a new tablet. This would be a change of pace for Apple who typically announces new products at scheduled events like WWDC or at their iPhone event in the later part of the year.
However Kuo claims that Apple might use the field trip to announce a new, cheaper iPad, along with a new keyboard accessory. He also claims that Apple might be getting rid of the iPad mini lineup as the demand for mini tablets is being replaced by larger smartphones. Given the lack (or lackluster) upgrades that Apple has made to the iPad mini in recent times, we suppose this doesn’t come as a complete surprise.
Take it with a grain of salt for now, but if price was one of the reasons you’ve held back on purchasing the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, maybe this new cheaper iPad could be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
Filed in . Read more about Apple Pencil and iPad.