Microsoft gunning for Apple’s iPad with cheap Surface tablet

Microsoft is taking aim at Apple and the iPad with a new tablet set to be released later this year, according to Bloomberg.

The report suggests there are “lower-cost Surface tablets” in development. While there will be several variants of the same tablet, Microsoft will promote just one model that’s less expensive than its flagship hybrid. The Redmond-based company wants to cut into Apple’s sales that have been booming for years. Starting at around $400, the new Surface tablet could do just that.

In order to bring its price down, the new Surface tablet will reportedly ship with tweaks. It’ll have a 10-inch display, which is smaller than the 12-inch display found on the Surface Pro (2017). Microsoft is also set to round the edges. Overall, the tablet should be 20% lighter than its bigger sibling.

Both charging and data transfers will be merged into a USB-C port. As of now, there isn’t a single Surface device featuring that form of connectivity. So this would be a first for Microsoft.

However, battery life should be reduced. The report says this tablet will run four hours fewer on a single charge. Microsoft is forced to make such a concession to get the Surface smaller and cheaper. It’ll still call on Intel to supply the processor and graphics unit, likely integrating the latter into a power-efficient chip.

Microsoft won’t bundle a keyboard with the tablet, and that’s standard. The company’s always resisted including a much-needed accessory with its hybrids. The base model should have 64GB of storage, but you can pay extra for 128GB. An LTE-ready model, too, will be available.

No matter the model you choose, you’ll get a Surface-style kickstand in addition to Windows 10 Pro.

Article source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/2018/05/16/microsoft-surface-cheap-tablet-ipad/