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Thinking about buying Apple’s cheapest iPad? You might want to hold off. Apple is already working on a 12th-generation model, and while it won’t be a huge leap forward, there are a few upgrades worth waiting for.
Here’s everything we know so far.
Design: Don’t Expect Big Changes
So far, there’s been no chatter about a fresh design. That means the next budget iPad will probably keep the same look we have now: an 11-inch edge-to-edge screen, thick bezels, and Touch ID built into the side button.
The last real design refresh came with the 10th-generation iPad, which gave the tablet a more modern feel to match the iPad Pro and iPad Air.
Keep in mind, this is Apple’s most basic tablet. It only comes in one size, and at 7mm, it’s actually the thickest iPad Apple makes. The screen is a Retina LED display, but it skips a few nice-to-have features found on pricier models: no ProMotion (smoother scrolling), no P3 wide color, and no lamination (which makes the screen look crisper and closer to the glass).
On the bright side, the budget iPad comes in fun colors, currently blue, pink, silver, and yellow, and we might see some new shades down the road.
Everything else, from the cameras to the USB-C port to Apple Pencil support, is expected to stay the same.
A Faster Chip (and Apple Intelligence)
Here’s where things get interesting. Rumor has it the next iPad will run on either Apple’s A18 or A19 chip. Both are built on a 3-nanometer process, meaning they’re faster and more efficient than the A16 chip in the current model.
But the biggest deal? Apple Intelligence. The current A16 chip can’t run Apple’s AI features, but the A18 and A19 can. That alone makes this a meaningful upgrade for anyone who wants the latest smart features on a budget.
The new chips also bring better gaming performance, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic graphics. There’s one catch, though: Apple Intelligence needs more memory. The current model has 6GB of RAM, so Apple will likely bump that up to 8GB.
Faster Wi-Fi? Maybe.
Apple recently rolled out its own wireless chip, called the N1, starting with the iPhone 17 and later the iPad Pro. This chip may make its way into more devices going forward.
Why does it matter? The N1 supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread (used for smart home gadgets). The current budget iPad is stuck on Wi-Fi 6, so getting Wi-Fi 7 would mean faster speeds and access to 6GHz networks for the first time. Bluetooth 6 would also be a step up from the current Bluetooth 5.3.
That said, don’t get your hopes up too high. Leaked code suggests Apple may keep the N1 chip for its higher-end devices only. If that’s the case, the budget iPad might miss out.
An Apple-Made Modem for Cellular Models
For folks who want cellular connectivity, there’s more good news. Apple has been building its own modem chips, the C1 and C1X, which already appear in some 2025 iPhones and iPads. The next budget iPad could get one too.
The perk? Apple’s modems are more power-efficient than the Qualcomm chips they replace, while still delivering similar performance. That could mean better battery life on cellular models.
How Much Will It Cost?
Prices went up recently. After Apple’s June price hike, the current 11th-gen iPad now starts at $449 for 128GB of storage, which is $100 more than before. Apple blamed rising memory costs, and since those costs haven’t dropped, the 12th-gen model will likely start at the same $449.
When Will It Launch?
Originally, Bloomberg reported that Apple would update the iPad sometime in 2026. But the latest word is that we probably won’t see it until early 2027 at the soonest.
The Bottom Line
The 12th-gen iPad won’t reinvent the wheel, but the jump to a newer chip (and Apple Intelligence support) makes it a solid reason to wait if you’re not in a rush. If faster Wi-Fi and an Apple modem make the cut, even better. Just don’t expect a lower price tag.
We’ll update this post as more details roll in.