Microsoft plans $400 Surface tablets to fight iPad

Tablets are a declining market but it seems Microsoft is still interested in enlarging its marketshare. Bloomberg reports the Redmond giant hopes to take on Apple's iPad with a new line of cheaper Surface tablets. Expected to be launched in the second half of this year, the new lineup is expected to start at about $400.

The new Surface tablets will reportedly have 10-inch screens, rounded edges, and USB Type-C. The report says these lower-end models will be 20 percent lighter than the Surface Pro, but they will have a battery life of just four hours.

Anonymous sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the new Surface tablets will feature a processor and graphics solution from Intel, and they will run Windows 10 Pro. There will be models with 64GB and 128GB of storage, and editions with LTE connectivity.

Microsoft is also planning cheaper accessories, including lower-budget versions of its keyboard cover, stylus, and mouse.