Next year, Apple plans to introduce more affordable MacBook models to better compete with Chromebooks. It is expected to cost around $699 and be equipped with an A18 Pro chip and a 13-inch LCD display. While this would probably be a great product, the simple fact is that many people buying Chromebooks are targeting an even lower price point than that.
Fortunately, Apple already has great solutions for some of these possibilities. It’s the iPad combined with the keyboard settings of your choice.
This holiday season, many parents and relatives around the world will be buying their children new laptops for school, and many of those laptops will likely be Chromebooks that cost less than $500. Indeed, Chromebooks have certainly established themselves in the market. Many kids already love iPads, but many don’t realize the capabilities they can offer, especially in recent years.
set up
Apple’s cheapest iPad is the iPad (A16). Priced at $349, it features an A16 chip, an 11-inch high-resolution display, 128 GB of storage, 6 GB of RAM, an aluminum chassis, and solid stereo speakers. It’s paired with the Logitech Combo Touch, an affordable keyboard and trackpad accessory for the iPad that utilizes Apple’s Smart Connector, so you don’t have to worry about charging the keyboard, unlike most options on the market.
Currently, you can buy the iPad (A16) for $279 on Amazon during the Black Friday Week Sale, and the Logitech Combo Touch for iPad (A16) for $128. In total, that’s just over $400 for an already great budget laptop combo. That said, you can buy an Apple Pencil for $69, but a full iPad setup will cost you less than $500.
multitasking
iPadOS 26 brings a significant feature to Apple’s cheapest iPad for the first time: Windows apps.
Apple has always provided some level of windowing, especially in the form of Stage Manager. However, this was only limited to some iPads, including the A12X/Z iPad Pro, and iPads with M1 chips or newer. This means it wasn’t previously available on Apple’s cheapest iPad…
So, for example, you can now easily open multiple Safari windows or display a Google Docs window next to your email. Finally, iPadOS’ limited multitasking capabilities have begun to unlock in recent years.
pencil support
In addition to the incredibly versatile Apple Pencil, iPad also supports third-party options like Logitech Crayon. This means you can easily take notes, sketch something, annotate documents, and more. Many Chromebooks have touchscreens, but very few have premium styluses.
This can be a game changer for students.
two in one
There’s another simple benefit to using an iPad as a Chromebook replacement. That’s probably what you already love about using your iPad. Especially if you are reading this article. You can use all the iPhone and iPad apps you already love, compared to a Chromebook, which is familiar and primarily web-based. Sure, some Chromebooks support running Android apps, but it’s not a great experience.
Logitech Combo Touch also offers a nice feature that allows you to easily remove the keyboard. So when you’re not working or typing, you can keep the keyboard out of the way, use your iPad as a tablet, and take advantage of Combo Touch’s great kickstand.
faster hardware
In the end, the iPad is just better hardware.
The A16 Bionic chip is much faster than any chipset found in budget Chromebooks. Additionally, many Chromebooks only offer 4 GB of RAM, while the iPad has 6 GB. Finally, Apple’s internal storage will be much faster than the eMMC storage offered on lower-priced Chromebooks.
This means your iPad will be more responsive and will last longer before it slows down.
summary
That said, if you’re gifting a low-cost Chromebook to someone close to you, you might consider giving them an iPad and Logitech Combo Touch instead. It’s more versatile and probably offers a much better experience than a sub-$500 Chromebook.
Buy this iPad setup on Amazon (total price: $442):
Plus, you can get an extra 10% off on Logitech Combo Touch (and other Black Friday deals) with Amazon Prime Visa.
Check out exclusive free trials of Apple services.
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