Microsoft to produce $400 Surface Tablets to compete with the Apple iPad?

According to a report published on Wednesday, Microsoft plans on competing with Apple in the low-cost tablet market with a line of Surface Tablets. Microsoft's slates would cost $400, higher than the $329 Apple asks for the sixth-generation iPad. The new Surface Tablets will reportedly feature 10-inch screens and rounded corners, like the iPad. The report adds that the new tablets will be equipped with a Type-C USB port, feature 9.5 hours of battery life and will be powered by Intel processors.

Microsoft's last low priced iPad challenger, the Surface RT, was launched in 2012 with the less powerful Windows RT operating system installed and an Nvidia chip inside. It did not sell well, and Microsoft decided to focus on the Windows 10 Pro and Intel powered Surface Pro models. That, in turn, led Apple to develop its top of the line tablet, the iPad Pro. During its fiscal second quarter, Apple sold 9.1 million iPad units compared to the 725,000 rung up by Microsoft during the same time period.

The new Microsoft Surface Tablet is expected to feature models with 64GB and 128GB of storage, and is said to be powered by the same Windows 10 Pro OS found in the Surface Pro. It will supposedly come with a kickstand. The report adds that Microsoft will introduce new lower priced accessories for the new devices, including cheaper versions of the Surface Pen, the QWERTY-equipped Type Cover and a mouse.

source: Bloomberg