New Base iPad Planned Specifically for Apple Intelligence

Adrian Mühlroth

August 14, 2025, 11:25 am | Read time: 2 minutes

Currently, the basic iPad is the only Apple device that does not yet support the AI suite Apple Intelligence. So far, the hardware simply isn’t sufficient to run the demanding applications. Now, leaked programming code suggests a more powerful successor.

iPad Needs New Hardware for Apple Intelligence

Apple introduced the 11th-generation iPad in early 2025. Even then, the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and even iPad mini already supported Apple Intelligence. The basic iPad uses an older A16 chip and comes with only 6 gigabytes (GB) of RAM. However, the minimum requirements for Apple AI are an A17 Pro and 8 GB of RAM.

Aaron Perris, a contributor at the online publication “MacRumors,” has reportedly found a hint of new iPad hardware in leaked Apple programming code:

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According to this, the basic iPad is expected to get the A18 chip, which we already know from the iPhone 16. If this leak proves true, Apple is likely to equip the iPad with AI capabilities. Although there is no information on the size of the RAM, a jump to 8 GB seems plausible. For the current iPad, Apple had already increased the RAM from 4 to 6 GB compared to its predecessor.

When Will the iPad with Apple Intelligence Be Released?

As early as July, “Bloomberg” published the code names for the various iPad models: J581 (Wi-Fi) and J582 (Cellular). Externally, the new tablet is not expected to differ from the current version.

According to the report, Apple plans to launch the new iPad as early as the beginning of 2026. Possible dates are March or April. The 11th-generation iPad was released in March 2025. Typically, Apple uses iPhone chips that are two to three years old for the iPad to keep costs down. The A18 will also have been on the market for two years by 2026.

In the past, Apple released new iPad models annually. However, there was a three-year gap between the 11th and 10th generation iPads. The price has remained unchanged at 399 euros for the past three years.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.