Amazon is reportedly looking to launch a $50 tablet. The device will feature a 6-inch screen and go on sale in time for the holiday shopping season, according to “people familiar with the matter” cited by The Wall Street Journal.
It’s not a huge stretch to see Amazon slashing the price of its tablets even lower than they already are: After all, the online retail giant has always played a margins game. Amazon’s 6-inch tablets currently start at just $79 for the Kindle and $99 for the Fire HD.
The $99 price tag includes advertisements, though consumers can opt to pay $114 for a version without ads. It’s not clear if the $50 version will include ads, but it’s certainly possible.
Amazon clearly wants to attract buyers looking for the best bang for their buck, but that’s a dangerous game to play. Most tablets are already quite affordable, but a $50 option would mean taking even more shortcuts in terms of screen quality, durability, and battery life.