Apple launches smaller 9.7-inch iPad Pro at Rs 49,900; adds 256GB variant, highest of any iOS device

Apple is refreshing its slumping line of iPad products by slimming down its larger "Pro" model.

In addition to the new iPhone SE with a four-inch screen, Apple has also launched a smaller version of the iPad Pro tablet at an event at the company's headquarters in Cupertino.

The new iPad Pro has a 9.7-inch display while the the original business-geared tablet has a 12.9-inch display. The smaller, new iPad starts at $599 for US customers, down from around $800 for the original. The price for an iPad Air with 16 gigabytes of storage is being cut by $100 to $399 in another attempt to spur sales.

The 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in silver, space grey, gold and a new rose gold metallic finish, and India prices start Rs 49,900 for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and Rs 61,900 for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Both iPad Pro sizes are available in offerings of 32GB, 128GB and a new 256GB capacity, the highest of any iOS device. The tablet will be available in India from early April.

Apple is hoping the iPad Pro - with a more powerful processor and camera - will give more consumers an incentive to buy a new tablet. It is hitting the market as Apple's iPad sales have been falling for several years.

Apple will begin accepting orders for the smaller iPad Pro Thursday. The device will start shipping a week later, on March 31.

Both sizes of the iPad Pro compete with several Windows 10 tablets, including Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S, which started selling last Friday for $900.

"It is a large enough display to get all your work done, but easy to carry around," said Apple vice president Phil Schiller.

Apple Pencil for the iPad Pro will be available in India at Rs 8,600 and Smart Keyboard in charcoal grey for Rs 13,900. The Polyurethane iPad Pro Smart Cover and Silicone Cases for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro are available for Rs 3,700 and Rs 5,200, respectively.

The new iPhone SE, launched at the same event, has a 4-inch (10-cm) screen and starts at $399 (Rs 39,000 in India). It represents Apple's second bid for the crowded mid-tier market after an unsuccessful foray three years ago. Orders start on Thursday, and the phone will be available next week.

The smaller, cheaper iPhone is aimed at new buyers, especially in markets such as India and China.

The company also showed off new wristbands for the Apple watch at Monday's event.

Before the launch at Apple's leafy Cupertino, California headquarters, Chief Executive Tim Cook defended the company's refusal to comply with a US court order to unlock an iPhone belonging to one of the shooters in a December attack in San Bernardino, California.

Apple has a responsibility to protect customers' data and privacy, Cook said, adding that Apple "will not shrink from that responsibility." His statement was greeted by applause from the audience.

The tech company's dispute with the US government has become a lightning rod for a broader debate on data privacy in the United States. The company is set to square off against the US government at a court hearing on Tuesday, likely the first round in a long legal fight to avoid being forced to decrypt the iPhone.

Apple also announced a new scheme it called 'Liam' to take apart old iPhones and reuse the materials.

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(With inputs from agencies)