After a historic lull where there were more than 12 months between releases, 2024 has been a very good year for iPad releases. The iPad mini just got an update, iPadOS 18 just shipped last month, and Apple released the new M4 iPad Pro, M2 iPad Air, and Apple Pencil Pro this spring. And then we also launched Final Cut for iPad 2.0 and Logic. Pro for iPad 2.0 is the best choice.
While all of these new iPad products are making a fuss inside our 2024 homes, there’s one product that’s getting a lot of attention from outside. It’s a standard 10th generation iPad. It was originally released in 2022 and did not receive a second-generation update, so it looks like it will be included in Apple’s upcoming update plans.
But when we summarize some recent developments, there is one logical conclusion we can reach. That means the standard iPad won’t be updated this year. Here’s why I think we’ll have to wait until next year for the 11th generation iPad.
iPad mini (A17 Pro) is coming to the 2024 party
The fact that Apple announced the new iPad mini on its own is a big indicator that no iPad updates are coming. When the 10th generation iPad was announced, it featured major changes, including the front-facing camera moved horizontally, a larger 10.2-inch display than the 9th generation model, and the elimination of the home button. . We don’t expect any drastic changes in the next iPad – chip updates, maybe some new colors, and that’s it. So the 11th generation iPad would be a great product to be released at the same time as the new iPad mini with slightly better specs. But that didn’t happen.
The 10th generation iPad was a major overhaul of Apple’s budget tablet, so we don’t expect the next update to include many new features.
The 10th generation iPad was a major overhaul of Apple’s budget tablet, so we don’t expect the next update to include many new features.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The 10th generation iPad was a major overhaul of Apple’s budget tablet, so we don’t expect the next update to include many new features.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Before the new iPad mini was released, there was speculation that it would be announced at the same time as the new M4 Mac, which is reportedly coming soon. So while it’s possible that Apple will release the next iPad with an M4 Mac, it seems unlikely.
Changes for 10th generation iPad in the UK and Europe
In Europe and the UK, the new iPad mini does not come with a charger. This not only mandates the use of “common standard ports” but also ensures that “charger sales are separated from electronics sales and new chargers are not necessarily included in electronics sales.” This was done to comply with the laws of the Union. Reduce e-waste by purchasing new devices. We saw the same thing with the iPad Air and iPad Pro released earlier this year.
Along with the iPad mini, Apple removed the charger from the box of the 10th generation iPad in these regions, effectively changing the manufacturing process for the tablet. If Apple plans to introduce a new model this year, it would be much easier to replace the 10th generation iPad with a new 11th generation iPad without a charger, rather than reconfiguring the bundle. This suggests that Apple has no plans to release a new model anytime soon.
Need more proof? Apple has also reduced the price of its 64GB 10th generation iPad to £329 in the UK, a £20 reduction on the previous price. In addition, the EU price of the same model has increased from 429 euros to 399 euros. This is aggressive pricing for a product heading into the holiday season, and not a product that will be replaced in a matter of weeks.
In the U.S., the 10th generation iPad still comes with a charger and the price hasn’t changed, but Apple doesn’t intend to launch the new model in just one region.
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Inside the iPad box in the US (top) and UK (bottom).
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No Apple Intelligence support
The main reason we were looking forward to the 10th generation iPad update is because of Apple Intelligence. The new AI feature set cannot run on devices with less than 8 GB of unified memory. Additionally, the 10th generation iPad’s A14 Bionic chip only has 4 GB of RAM. When Apple Intelligence begins rolling out in the coming weeks, 10th generation iPads will not be part of it and will be the only iPads that don’t support AI features.
Apple’s entry-level iPhone SE also doesn’t support Apple Intelligence. Rumor has it that next spring there will be a major redesign and an upgrade to the A18 chip. The 11th generation iPad may also be updated at the same time, which would bring Apple Intelligence to both of Apple’s lower-end models. Alternatively, Apple could leave the lower-end iPad as the only tablet that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence as a way to steer people to other models.
Either way, one thing is clear. That means we’ll have to wait until at least 2025 for a new iPad.
