Apple and Logitech announce $49 Crayon stylus and keyboard case that work with the iPad

Apple today announced a cheaper, Logitech-made stylus for its iPad family of devices called Crayon. The device, announced onstage at Apple’s iPad-focused education event in Chicago this morning, will cost $49 and join the $99 Pencil in Apple’s current stylus lineup. Alongside the stylus, Apple also announced a new rugged Logitech iPad case and keyboard combo. Logitech says the case will cost $99.99, and both devices will be available this summer in the US and only through Apple’s online education channel. The Verge has confirmed with Apple that the devices are not available to the general public and are for schools only.

Apple’s education event is centered on courting schools, teachers, and students to the iOS ecosystem, particularly as Google ramps up its Chromebook initiative with the announcement of the first-ever Chrome OS tablet (made by Acer) just yesterday. To combat Google’s growing dominance in the classroom, Apple today announced a new cheaper $299 9.7-inch iPad with Pencil support and A10 Fusion chip. ($299 is the student price, with the new iPad with Pencil support costing $329 for everyone else, just like the standard base model 9.7-inch iPad that came out last year.) Presumably, Logitech’s new Crayon stylus will also work on this device.

Update at 1:10PM ET, March 27th: Added pricing for Logitech Rugged Combo 2 case and keyboard and availability info.

Update at 1:35PM ET, March 27th: Confirmed that Logitech’s Crayon stylus and new case are not available to the general public and are for schools only.