Apple’s next-gen ‘budget’ iPad said to keep Home button, Touch ID, and 3.5mm headphone jack

“Rumors from Asian suppliers aired Friday suggest Apple’s 7th generation iPad will sport an enclosure design identical to the current 9.7-inch iPad, complete with Touch ID biometric authentication and a headphone jack,” Mikey Campbell reports for AppleInsider.
“Citing sources who conduct business through Alibaba, Mac Otakara reports Apple has no plans to revamp the design of its 9.7-inch ‘budget’ iPad, a model manufactured with the education market in mind,” Campbell reports. “The rumor is in line with predictions from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in February said the low-end tablet would hit market with a 10.2-inch screen. Whether Apple intends to increase the size of iPad’s chassis, or squeeze the larger display into the 9.7-inch version’s enclosure, remains to be seen.”
Apple’s sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad (2018)
 
Campbell reports, “As with last year’s refresh, the 2019 iPad will reportedly retain older technology like Touch ID, presumably in a bid to lower build costs.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Make sense to keep the entry-level as affordable as possible, especially for the very cost-conscious education market.
As the entry-level “full-sized” iPad, the price will, of course, be key. Currently, Apple is selling the 6th-gen. A10 Fusion-powered 9.7-inch iPad in silver, gold, and space gray, at these prices (to non-education consumers):
• 32GB Wi-Fi: $329
• 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $459
• 128GB Wi-Fi: $429
• 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $559
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s 10.2-inch 7th-gen. iPad (2019) preview – March 4, 2019