The latest iPad 11 rumors indicate Apple’s next-gen budget tablet will look quite familiar but benefit from internal upgrades. The wait for a new budget tablet from Apple now stretches well over two years, but the iPad 11 is finally drawing near.
Here’s what to look forward to from the affordable tablet expected to launch by spring.
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iPad 11 rumors: The same, but faster
iPad revenue grew 15% year-over-year during the holiday shopping quarter, and Apple CEO Tim Cook partially credited the budget iPad 10 for the increase. That’s somewhat surprising considering the tablet launched in 2022. It clearly harbors enduring appeal.
An “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude could explain the minimal changes rumored for the upcoming iPad 11. Rumors point to the primary enhancements to be internal, including upgrades to the processor and RAM so the tablet can run Apple Intelligence. This suite of AI-powered features currently includes tools that tweak users’ grammar and images. Plus, Apple Intelligence’s Image Playground can generate cutesy pictures based on user prompts.
The chip inside the iPad 11 almost certainly will be Apple’s A17 Pro — the same processor popped up in the iPad mini 7 to give that model Apple Intelligence. For perspective, the current 10th-generation iPad runs an A14 Bionic from 2020, so the A17 Pro would bring a significant speed boost. Just don’t expect an M-series processor, as Apple reserves those for pricier tablets. RAM should double from 4GB to 8GB, again to accommodate Apple Intelligence.
Just don’t expect a full external redesign. The current model brought a larger, 10.9-inch screen, USB-C and other enhancements while kicking out the Home button. Rumors indicate iPad 11 will keep that design.
Coming soon-ish
Information leaking out of Apple indicates that the speed-boosted iPad 11 will hit the market by April. Theoretically, it could be the mystery product Tim Cook promised to launch this Wednesday, but that’s considered unlikely.
The previous enry-level iPad launched at $449 before Apple permanently dropped the official price by $100 last spring. The next-generation model could well debut at the lower cost, or it could go back to the higher one. iPad 11 rumors remain quiet on this.
In the meantime, both Amazon and Best Buy offer 20% off deals on the iPad 10, reducing the cost to $279.
Although no longer the newest budget iPad, the 10th-generation model still offers good performance in a modern, all-screen design.
- Cool modern design
- Big 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display
- 12MP front and back cameras
- Wi-Fi 6 for fast streaming
- Limited 64GB storage
- No Apple Intelligence
