Apple updated the iPad mini last week with the A17 Pro chip and support for Apple Intelligence. But that was all there was to the announcement. The base model iPad did not receive a refresh. This has been expected for some time, but it’s still a bit puzzling. The current base iPad is over two years old, so why would Apple keep it so old?
iPad basic history
Apple introduced what is now called the entry-level iPad in 2017. Although the current model is the 10th generation, the product line’s lower price point began with the 5th generation. After the iPad Air was introduced in 2013, the iPad 4 was eventually discontinued, leaving a large gap between “iPad” updates.
With the new iPad (5th generation), Apple has set out to develop a product that will serve the masses, especially the education sector. Skipping the latest chipsets, laminated displays, and Apple Pencil support, we stripped away all the bells and whistles and stuck to the pure essentials. The amount of storage was also limited, at just 32GB. But at $329, it was a great value.
Apple updates this product every year, with the 6th generation adding Apple Pencil support and a new chip, the 7th generation adding a larger display, and the 8th generation adding new chips, faster charging, and more features. Added more storage and faster chips. 9th generation center stage camera.
Another year has passed since then, and the 10th generation has seen the biggest overhaul in the history of the iPad base model. We’ve inherited the latest iPad design language, added some fun colors, and switched to USB-C. However, it kept the older chipset, non-laminated display, and no Apple Pencil 2 support, still sticking to the original formula. Since the Apple Pencil 1 used Lightning, you still had to go through a weird adapter to utilize the Apple Pencil 1. , the iPad 10 used USB-C.
Why skip updates?
The current base iPad is over two years old. It currently has an A14 chip, but it was about two years old when it was released. Apple typically equips the base iPad with a chipset that’s about two years old with each refresh. And I think that might be why there’s no new iPad.
Apple makes Apple Intelligence a key part of all new product marketing, so they probably don’t want to ship new products without it. If history is to be followed, the current iPad 11 refresh will have an A16 chip, which will not be compatible with Apple Intelligence.
Sure, it could have an A16 chip and 8GB of RAM, but I doubt Apple would want to optimize Apple Intelligence for even lower-end hardware, especially if it’s only for one device.
With the iPad’s current price of $349, it’s unlikely that Apple will be able to put a chipset newer than the A16 into the device. Additionally, the iPad mini 7 uses the A17 Pro rather than the A18, so Apple probably doesn’t want to put too much strain on the capacity-limited second-generation 3nm process. It is not practical to include the latest chips in the cheapest products.
All things considered, refreshing the base model iPad with support for Apple Intelligence is probably not likely to happen this year. That’s why Apple held off on updating its most popular iPad for the second year in a row.
iPad 11 release date
Given all this, you may be wondering when the base iPad model will actually be refreshed. It was originally scheduled for this fall, but that didn’t happen in the end. Display analyst Ross Young then said that panel shipments were starting this month, suggesting a spring release. Bloomberg’s Mark Garman also corroborated the same timing in a recent report.
During the same spring product release cycle, Apple will launch an improved iPhone SE, new iPad Air models, and an upgraded iPad keyboard. Around the same time, Apple is also aiming to release its 11th generation entry-level iPad, codenamed J481 and J482, the people said.
So, we are considering releasing it next spring. At that point, iPhone 16 production will likely be reduced, freeing up capacity to use the last-generation A18 chip in Apple’s most popular iPad. This enables Apple Intelligence, but it’s a bit strange for the base iPad to have a better chip than the iPad mini, so we’ll probably see another refresh next fall as well.
In any case, the iPad mini uses a leftover A17 Pro chip that was binned during the production of the iPhone 15 Pro, so it’s in limited supply. You’ll probably update your iPad mini soon if you want. Given the fact that the base model iPad has significantly more capacity than the iPad mini, I doubt it will follow the same A17 Pro strategy.
summary
All in all, it seems very likely that Apple skipped a refresh of the base iPad, as the lack of Apple intelligence would probably have a negative impact on the optics. Either way, the refresh won’t happen until sometime next year. That means Apple will be selling an almost three-year-old product with a five-year-old chipset when it finally gets updated.
This is very concerning for long-term support of the software, but it seems to be our reality. Meanwhile, Apple will enjoy additional iPad Air sales from customers interested in the Apple Intelligence feature set but on a budget.
What do you think about Apple seemingly going all-in on Apple Intelligence? Let us know in the comments.
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