Apple skipped updating its cheapest iPad this year (and last year as well), leaving it with the more than four-year-old A14 chipset. They lowered the price from $449 to $349 earlier this year, but we should finally see a real makeover next spring. Here’s what you can expect:
apple intelligence
The next generation of entry-level iPads may support Apple Intelligence, but it’s unclear which chipset will be used. Given the fact that the first generation 3nm process is more expensive, it will likely be an A18 chip. Apple is probably only using the A17 Pro chip in the new iPad mini because there was a readily available binned chip left over from the iPhone 15 Pro manufacturing process.
That means you’ll get features like Notification Overview, Image Playground, Genmoji, all-new Siri, ChatGPT, and more on the new iPad. If it launches next spring, Apple should have released all Apple Intelligence features by then.
Other upgrades
iPad 11 may support new connectivity standards such as Wi-Fi 6E (or Wi-Fi 7) and Bluetooth 5.3. This is a step up from the current entry-level iPad’s Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, which enables things like lower latency.
Apple is also working on a new low-end Magic Keyboard for the iPad, which could be supported on the iPad 11. This will likely be a more traditional keyboard design rather than the folio style that the iPad 10 currently uses.
Apple Pencil Pro may also be supported. There are no rumors suggesting this, but Apple may update the magnet placement to enable Pencil Pro support. When Apple released the iPad 10 in 2022, the Apple Pencil 2 couldn’t work with the landscape front camera.
However, Apple would also need to add a wireless charging coil, which could end up costing more. Let’s take a look.
release date
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Garman, Apple does indeed plan to release the iPad 11 next spring, alongside the iPhone SE, iPad Air, and others.
Starting in 2022, it will have almost the same design as the current version, but will be faster. This model is scheduled to be released in the spring at the same time as the new iPhone SE and iPad Air.
Assuming nothing changes, Apple’s lowest-end iPad will be 2.5 years old by the time it finally gets a refresh.
Are you excited about the upcoming entry-level iPad? Let us know in the comments.
Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Threads, Instagram
FTC: We use automated affiliate links that generate income. more.
