If you thought the entry-level iPad was destined to always lag behind in performance, think again. A fresh report from Macworld has just dropped some tantalizing details about what Apple has in store for 2026, and it looks like the budget-friendly tablet is about to get a serious performance boost.
Back in the earliest years in iPads history where Apple only offered one iPad, the iPad usually gets the latest chip as the flagship iPhone, but that changed when Apple revived moniker-less iPad and repositioned it as an entry-level model with a lower starting price. To keep costs down, Apple uses chips from previous-generations. Here’s a brief history of which chips the previous generations of the base iPad used:
- iPad (5th generation, 2017) – A9 chip, originally introduced on the iPhone 6s in 2015.
- iPad (6th generation, 2018 & 7th generation, 2019) – A10 chip, originally introduced on the iPhone 7 in 2016.
- iPad (8th generation, 2020) – A12 chip, originally introduced on the iPhone XR/XS/XS Max in 2018.
- iPad (9th generation, 2021) – A13 chip, originally introduced on the iPhone 11 series in 2019.
- iPad (10th generation, 2022) – A14 chip, originally introduced on the iPhone 12 series in 2020.
- iPad (A16, 2025) – A16 chip, originally introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022.
According to internal code spotted by Macworld within early iOS 26 builds, Apple is planning to equip the 12th-generation iPad with the A19 chip. Yes, the same processor is found in the iPhone 17. This would be a departure from Apple’s usual strategy of handing down older chips (like the A16) to its base models. The report also suggests this new iPad will jump to 8GB of RAM. With an estimated 50% speed increase over the current model, the “budget” iPad might soon perform like a flagship. Since the current base iPad features the A16 chip with 6GB of RAM, this makes it the only iPad in the current lineup that does not support Apple Intelligence, so having the A19 chip will finally enable the base iPad to support those AI features for the very first time. The iPhone 17 is already at its peak value, so the A19 chip will make the base iPad a far better value than ever before. Note that the current base iPad has the binned A16 chip, so it’s still possible that the A19 chip on the next iPad will be binned as well.
Both the 2026 base iPad and the next-generation iPad Air are rumored to include Apple’s proprietary “N1” networking chip. This in-house silicon is designed to handle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth duties, replacing third-party components.
The report indicates iPad Air will be receiving a steady, reliable update to the M4 chip. Codenamed J707 and J708, this updated Air will likely arrive alongside the new base model in early 2026, potentially around the usual spring window.
Would an A19-powered base iPad convince you to purchase or upgrade? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Stay updated with the latest news on this by downloading the Appleosophy App from the App Store or by visiting our website.
