Apple is working on updates for its low-cost iPad, but it hasn’t been updated since 2022. As an entry-level product, the iPad doesn’t get much attention and isn’t often the focus of rumors, but we’ve heard a little about what’s coming to iPad 11.
design
Apple overhauled the look of the iPad in 2022, introducing a 10.9-inch all-display design and Touch ID power button, so no further design changes are expected at this time.
Apple will likely stick with the 10.9-inch display and iPad Air-like design, but new colors could arrive. Current colors include silver, yellow, pink, and blue. iPad already has a USB-C port and will continue to support USB-C Apple Pencil.
A series chip
The current 10th generation iPad is powered by the A14 chip, which was first used in the iPhone 12 lineup, but it’s becoming obsolete. Apple is working to bring Apple Intelligence to all of its devices, and iPad 11 may have an A17 Pro chip or an A18 chip to support that feature.
Of course, adding Apple Intelligence support also requires more memory. Also, the iPad is currently limited to 4GB, which may make it too expensive for Apple to offer that functionality while remaining affordable.
The A17 Pro or A18 chips offer a big leap in performance along with Apple Intelligence, significantly increasing processor speed and possibly improving battery life due to improved efficiency.
Other updates
Apple has updated most of its products to Wi-Fi 6E or later, so you can expect Wi-Fi 6E support even on the low-cost iPad. The current model supports Wi-Fi 6, so it is not compatible with the faster 6GHz band available on Wi-Fi 6E routers.
Fee
We haven’t heard any rumors of a price increase for iPad 11, so we expect prices to start at $349 with 64GB of storage. Apple has increased some minimum storage options in recent years, so it’s possible you could bump up to 128GB of storage without increasing cost, but nothing has been rumored.
Apple currently only sells iPads in 64GB and 256GB configurations.
release date
The entry-level iPad will be refreshed in late 2025.
bloombergMark Gurman said that Apple is working on a new Magic Keyboard accessory for the lower-cost iPad and iPad Air, expected to be released by mid-2025.
Purchase advice
If you’re planning on buying a lower-priced iPad and don’t mind waiting, we recommend holding off on the newer model as it’s expected to have a major processor improvement. The current version is two years old at this point, and the chip inside is even older. If you wait for updates, you’ll get the most out of your money. That said, if you need a low-cost tablet right away and don’t care about Apple Intelligence, it’s still a good time to buy.
