The 2026 version of the budget iPad will be able to use Apple Intelligence thanks to an A18 processor, according to information leaking out of Apple. And the next Apple TV 4K refresh could feature Apple’s A17 Pro chip. The company is working on an iPad mini update with an A19 Pro chip, too.
Internal code accidentally shared by Apple revealed key details about these upcoming devices and their processor upgrades.
Low-cost iPad update with Apple Intelligence in the works
Apple leaked code, as spotted by MacRumors, points to an update for the entry-level iPad in development. Codenamed J581 and J582, the tablet will feature an A18 chip and might launch next spring. The faster SoC, which powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e, should unlock support for Apple’s full suite of AI features.
For comparison, the current 11th-generation iPad uses an A16 chip and lacks Apple Intelligence support.
Faster Apple TV 4K might arrive this year
The last Apple TV 4K update arrived in 2022, bumping the chip to an A15 Bionic. That refresh also made the streaming box 10% thinner and 50% lighter. Apple achieved this by revamping the internal layout and switching to a fanless design. Even better, despite these upgrades, the Apple TV 4K (2022) carried a starting price of $129 — $50 lower than the previous model.
Now, the Apple code leak points to another update to the Apple TV 4K later this year. It will seemingly be a minor refresh, with the streaming box getting a more powerful A17 Pro chip. The SoC debuted in 2023 on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Apart from performance improvement, the chip should enable Apple Intelligence support, thanks to its faster Neural Engine.
It’s unclear what other changes Apple has planned for the next version of its streaming box.
Next iPad mini could get a big speed boost
Apple’s next iPad mini refresh will land with a faster A19 Pro chip, reports MacRumors. The company will use the same SoC on its upcoming iPhone 17 Pro lineup. Codenamed J510/J511, the next iPad mini upgrade is unlikely to launch this year.
The current-gen iPad mini, which debuted in 2024, features an A17 Pro chip. Given that Apple typically refreshes its iPad mini lineup once every two or three years, don’t expect an A19 Pro-powered iPad mini to launch before late 2026 or early 2027.
