Apple's New Low-Cost iPad May Support Apple Pencil

Apple's new low-cost 9.7-inch iPad may have support for the Apple Pencil, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The company is expected to unveil the tablet on Tuesday at an education focused event in Chicago.

Shipments of the Apple Pencil could rise to 9 to 10 million units in 2018 "given that the new low-cost iPad may support Apple Pencil", says Kuo.

Strong demand for low-price 9.7-inch iPad in 2017. iPad shipments hit 43.8mn units in 2017, well above the 35mn units forecast by the market at the beginning of the year. The primary driver was the low-price 9.7-inch model, whose selling points are competitive pricing and a significantly larger panel than those of six- to seven-inch smartphones (iPad mini was a flop because it was replaced by large-screen smartphones). In a bid to strengthen its selling points and to differentiate it more from low-price Android tablets, the new low-price 9.7-inch iPad (starting mass production in 2Q18) will likely support Apple Pencil.


Possibly giving weight to the prediction, the invitation for Apple's "Let's Take a Field Trip" looks like it may have been drawn using the Apple Pencil. The new tablet is rumored to cost around $259 and could account for more than 70% of all iPad shipments in 2018.

Kuo also suggests that Apple might add Apple Pencil support to future iPhones, the likelihood of which "may increase with future iPhone screen size being enlarged."

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[via MacRumors]