The basic iPad could become a much smarter buy this fall: the iPad 12 will reportedly get a processor boost that will let the tablet take advantage of Apple’s new AI features.
Here’s what to expect.
iPad 12 will be a critical product for Apple
Apple’s budget iPad has long been the default recommendation for students, families and first-time tablet buyers. It’s easily one of the best on the market, at a very attractive price. But recent versions lag behind the rest of Apple’s lineup in performance and features. The iPad 12 looks poised to narrow that gap.
While rumors don’t point to a new design or premium hardware, they suggest Apple is giving its least expensive tablet the one upgrade that matters most in 2026: enough power to run Apple Intelligence.
Here’s a roundup of everything that’s rumored so far.
iPad 12 rumors point to Apple’s smartest budget tablet yet
The biggest rumored upgrade is the jump from the current A16 chip to the A18, and maybe even the A19. That change is expected to come alongside an increase to 8GB of RAM.
These hardware upgrades would allow the entry-level iPad to take better advantage of iPadOS 27, including accessing AI-powered features like Write with Siri, a vastly improved Image Playground and the new Siri AI experience. It’s a significant upgrade for a tablet that has traditionally focused on delivering the basics at the lowest possible price.
The iPad 11 drew some criticism when it launched in 2025 because it lacked support for Apple’s AI features. That was questionable last year, but a new 2026 model absolutely must have Apple Intelligence.
See also: iPad 11: Amazing value from a budget tablet [Review]
Not a redesign
While the iPad 12 internals are apparently in for a meaningful boost, don’t expect much to change on the outside. Current rumors indicate Apple will keep the same form factor introduced with previous generations, including its 11-inch Liquid Retina display, USB-C port, landscape front-facing camera and Touch ID built into the power button.
Accessory leaks also suggest the iPad 12 will have nearly identical dimensions to the current model. That means many existing cases and accessories should continue to fit, making the upgrade easier for current owners.
iPhone 12 rumors: Release date and higher price
The 11th-generation version — officially branded iPad (A16) — arrived in March 2025 so the replacement is somewhat overdue. Apple is likely holding the tablet until it has the new AI features available to justify it.
But the iPad 12 release date should finally arrive sometime this fall alongside iPadOS 12, the new operating system version that ushers in so many new Apple Intelligence features.
Apple recently raised the price of the current iPad 11 to $449 as rising memory and storage costs pushed up the cost of producing the product. That’s why the iPad 12 is expected to launch at a $449 starting price.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
