In the second half of 2024, Apple will release a new, less expensive iPad

According to some recent information, the Cupertino-based tech giant Apple might debut a low-cost iPad next year. The information comes from a Taiwanese report that includes details about the company’s product development and resource allocation plans.

BYD is a key iPad assembler based in China. According to Nikkei Asia, in an effort to move new product introduction (NPI) to Vietnam, the company is closely associating with BYD. NPI describes the process by which Apple collaborates with suppliers to design and develop new goods in order to guarantee that they can be manufactured correctly at a new facility. Apple has never before relocated NPI resources for a fundamental device to Vietnam.

The report indicates that the test production of the new iPad model will begin next year in mid-February. It will be an 11th-generation, low-cost iPad model that will debut in the second half of next year. The “iPad” is Apple’s entry-level mainstream iPad, starting at $449. It was last updated in October 2022 and features a bigger display, a USB-C port, an A14 Bionic chip, a 12MP camera, and more.

Currently, there are no details on what new features will be included in the 11th-generation model. However, there is hope that it might arrive with processor and camera upgrades. It was previously believed that Apple was developing a cheaper iPad model. The 11th-generation iPad is anticipated to appear in 2024, but a more precise date has not been leaked.

The company has shifted iPad production to Vietnam as part of its strategy to diversify the supply chain and reduce its dependency on China. On the other hand, when it comes to hardware manufacturing, China has served for several years as a main production hub. In addition to this, the company is even sharing some NPI resources with India for the iPhones.