Apple is holding an education event next week, and we expect to see new low-cost iPads and education software, as the company tries to win back students and teachers from Google (Chromebooks) and Microsoft (Windows PCs).
According to Bloomberg's sources, Tuesday's event at Lane Technical College Prep High School in Chicago will Apple's return to the education market, with the announcement of cheaper iPad, while a cheaper MacBook laptop is also reportedly in the works.
In an invitation to the Chicago event, Apple said it will introduce "creative new ideas for teachers and students."
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also issued a report that predicts Apple Pencil shipments will double this year. and that the new new 9.7-inch iPad expected to be unveiled next week will work with Apple Pencil.
Apple currently supports Pencil on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and both versions of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Kuo believes that larger iPhones will eventually work with Apple Pencil as well, but that is not expected to happen this year.
Apple declined to comment.
Devices running Google's operating systems on Chromebooks or Android tablets held 60 percent of mobile computing shipments to American students, and Windows PCs had 22 percent, according to data from the third quarter published by Futuresource Consulting.