As part of Apple’s week of product announcements earlier this month, many were hoping to see an update to Apple’s cheapest iPad, alongside iPad Air, MacBook Neo, and the other MacBook refreshes. However, the whole week came and went – with no new base iPad.
Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has a launch update – and the product is still on track to launch relatively soon.
In today’s edition of the Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman gives us an update on when to expect a new version of Apple’s cheapest iPad:
Since last year, Apple had been on track to launch a refreshed version of the entry-level iPad in the first half of 2026. The product has long been on the road map for a release in the iOS 26.4 time frame, which runs until May. The big change to the new model is a move from the A16 to A18 chip, which means a faster device and one that supports Apple Intelligence — for better or for worse.
iOS 26.4 release cycle doesn’t necessarily give us an exact month to go off of. However, given the fact that iOS 26.4 already reached release candidate stage last week, we’ll probably see the update debut by the end of the month.
That gives all of April for the product to launch, though it could also slip into May depending on supply chain variables.
What’s new with iPad (A18)
The current base model iPad equips the A16 chip from the iPhone 14 Pro lineup. This new model, as the title suggests, will bump it up to the A18 from the iPhone 16 lineup. That’ll yield notable performance gains, but more importantly, it’ll introduce support for Apple Intelligence.
There won’t be a ton for Apple Intelligence before the release of iOS 26.5, where the company is expected to finally make good on some of its key WWDC24 promises for Siri. Nonetheless, this’ll bring AI capabilities to Apple’s cheapest iPad – one of the only products in Apple’s lineup that’s been missing the capability.
Apple will also potentially introduce the in-house C1 modem and N1 networking chip to the budget iPad, though rumors aren’t super concrete in that regard.
So yes, for the most part, Apple’s A18 iPad refresh is just that – a chip upgrade.
Wrap up
I’m fine with the new iPad being a minor refresh. Sure, it’s boring – but the product does its job remarkably well.
That said, MacBook Neo highlighted a pretty big flaw with the base iPad. If you buy the Magic Keyboard Folio alongside the base iPad, you’ll be paying a total of $598 – just one dollar shy of MacBook Neo.
Even if the iPad itself isn’t changing a lot, I’d love to see Apple give some attention to the keyboard that launches alongside the iPad. A $349 iPad going alongside a $249 keyboard doesn’t seem super sensible.
Is there anything else you’d like to see come to Apple’s cheapest iPad? Let us know in the comments.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
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