The base-model iPad was last updated in October 2022 with the 10th generation, so it’s been almost two and a half years. We initially expected the next generation to come out last October; however, we instead just got the updated iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, so this indicates that Apple has been holding off for an update to allow the required chipset to become cheaper to produce. This can include any A-series chip with at least 8GB of RAM. If the next base iPad is going to support Apple Intelligence, it’d need to feature at least the A17 Pro, and earlier this month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed that would be the case.
However, things started to get complicated as an anonymous source on X, which has a solid track record of sharing iOS-related details, indicated that the iPad 11 would feature a chip with the identifier T8120, which corresponds with the A16 chip. In case you forgot, that chip is featured on the iPhone 14 Pro and the standard iPhone 15 models. Since those models don’t support Apple Intelligence, the iPad 11 won’t either since those devices feature 6GB of RAM. So this raises uncertainty of the final specifications for the iPad 11.
So who’ll be right? Both Gurman and the anonymous source have had an excellent track record with occasional misses; however, it wouldn’t be out of the question if multiple models of base iPad were offered at different price points.
When Apple introduced the 10th generation iPad, it started at $449, and Apple continued to offer the 9th generation model at the same starting price of $329 until that model’s discontinuation when Apple dropped the starting price for the iPad 10 to $349 last May. So since Apple wants to keep the base iPad as affordable as possible, we may see a similar scenario again. Apple could introduce two versions of the next iPad at two starting price points: a lower-end model with the A16 chip and a higher-end model with the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence. Both of those models will have some modern specs in common such as Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Apple’s first 5G modem, but the main selling point for the higher-end model is Apple Intelligence support. Apple has offered at least two variants on many of its products when it comes to internal components. This includes the MacBook Pro, the iMac, and especially the recent AirPods 4 with the higher-end model offering Active Noise Cancellation.
The iPad Air is also rumored to feature the M3 chip. We’re just a few months away from Apple’s expected launch for those iPads, so only time will tell if the speculation turns out to be true.
