Apple to Launch New Low-Cost 11-Inch iPad in the Spring

[MacRumors]

Apple will launch a new 12th generation entry-level iPad in the spring of next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple is said to have two versions of the entry-level 11-inch iPad in development, codenamed J581 and J582. These could refer to different storage capacities – in which case, Apple may be planning to drop the existing lowest capacity option. The current iPad 11 is available in 128, 256, and 512GB capacities.

Based on the report, the next-generation low-end iPad model will look like the current version but include a faster chip, but there is no word yet on which chip it will use. The iPad 11 features an A16 processor.

Apple is reportedly aiming to launch the new devices in March or April 2026, suggesting a fast turnaround. The current editions, which start at $349, went on sale last March.

Article Link: Apple to Launch New Low-Cost 11-Inch iPad in the Spring

 

[kiranmk2]

Really don't understand the decision to launch the recent iPad with an A16 chip rather than an A18. The only possible reason I can think if it that the US foundry churning out A16 chips that need to go somewhere, but if that model is going to be replaced with an AI-capable A18 model a year later, would it not have been better to launch the A18 model this year and leave it in place for 2 years and be able to say with the launch of the iPhone 17 that all Macs, iPads & iPhones were now capable of running Apple Intelligence?

 

[Sanmi]

Make it stop please
Think of the earth

 

[klasma]

Really don't understand the decision to launch the recent iPad with an A16 chip rather than an A18. The only possible reason I can think if it that the US foundry churning out A16 chips that need to go somewhere, but if that model is going to be replaced with an AI-capable A18 model a year later, would it not have been better to launch the A18 model this year and leave it in place for 2 years and be able to say with the launch of the iPhone 17 that all Macs, iPads & iPhones were now capable of running Apple Intelligence?

It's more likely they needed the available supply of A18 chips for the iPhone 16 and 16e this year. And there's the matter of cost. It's also possible that the next iPad will use the A17 Pro, like the iPad mini.

 

[darngooddesign]

Apple is going to have the iPad 12 and 12e. LOL

I doubt Apple can make the 12e $100 cheaper without also reducing storage like the iPhone 16e is compared to the 16, but imagine a $250 iPad.

 

[Phonzoxd]

Would shock me if they went with sn A18. Since itll be exactly one year since ipad 11, so a16 to a17.

Plus a17 can do AI.

 

[threesixty360]

I’d love to know how many iPads they are shipping? If you think about it, if the iPad division brings in similar revenue to the mac division but the asp is so low there must be selling at least 2 or 3 iPads for every mac.

Doesn’t that make it apples focus for their future computing platform and not the mac? The market share for computing devices puts iPads way in front no?

 

[darngooddesign]

I’d love to know how many iPads they are shipping? If you think about it, if the iPad division brings in similar revenue to the mac division but the asp is so low there must be selling at least 2 or 3 iPads for every mac.

Doesn’t that make it apples focus for their future computing platform and not the mac? The market share for computing devices puts iPads way in front no?

If they bring in similar revenue then neither is in front.

Apple will focus on both platforms.

 

[TechRunner]

What about a base 12.9" for $449? That would slot into the lineup pretty nicely.

 

[bluecoast]

Regular iPad gets apple intelligence!

Form a queue!

…Ummm anyone?

Oh you’re all buying the current A16 iPad on sale from Amazon.

 

[Warped9]

The iPad 10th gen was the odd one given it went about two years before being replaced with the current 11th gen (A16). So a 12th gen next spring would be getting things back on track for an annual refresh.

 

[threesixty360]

If they bring in similar revenue then neither is in front.

Apple will focus on both platforms.

I think market share matters as well though.
As that builds a market for software and services. A company can sell the same software to 3 ipad users for every 1 mac user etc

 

[darngooddesign]

I think market share matters as well though.
As that builds a market for software and services. A company can sell the same software to 3 ipad users for every 1 mac user etc

People have been predicting the deprioritizing of Macs since the iPad Pros came out, yet here we are with almost yearly Mac updates.

 

[NMBob]

Will it be innovative at that point to add a home button, earphone jack and bezels, or would that be too soon?

 

[Rafagon]

I can see it already. About a month from now, "New Low-Cost 11-inch iPad May Not Launch in the Spring After All."

 

[b0nd18t]

I got the current model prime day deal. I’m predicting price bump as with everything else.

 

[darngooddesign]

I can see it already. About a month from now, "New Low-Cost 11-inch iPad May Not Launch in the Spring After All."

Thats the danger of basing your reality on rumors instead of facts.

 

[ignatius345]

Make it stop please
Think of the earth

If you're looking for a little good news:

4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment

In the past two years, without much notice, solar power has begun to truly transform the world’s energy system.

www.newyorker.com

...people are now putting up a gigawatt’s worth of solar panels, the rough equivalent of the power generated by one coal-fired plant, every fifteen hours.

 

[ignatius345]

Thats the danger of basing your reality on rumors instead of facts.

Haha, I started to make a joke about how there should be a site called macfacts.com, and when I put that in my browser, it resolved to good old everymac.com 🤣

 

[threesixty360]

People have been predicting the deprioritizing of Macs since the iPad Pros came out, yet here we are with almost yearly Mac updates.

Mac doesn’t have to diminish. It has an important role being that it allows for very low level software and hardware integration (i.e. you could write a driver for any hardware device etc.). But 90% of users dont need that low level ability. So in some ways it’s a wasted effort to maintain that level of openness for only 10% of your user base. They could spend their time enriching the features that matter to the 90%, hence iPadOS.

My point is that it’s going under the radar that iPads are becoming the defacto personal computer for lots of people. I think apple changing iPadOS to multi tasking more, for every model, even the low $300 ones, is showing us that Apple are pushing to move the iPad from general purpose tablet to personal computing tool.

And that should eat somewhat into the MacBook Air sales. I’m sort of guessing that someday they make an MacBook form iPad with a clamshell that signals this transition to ipadOS being their low cost computer for the mainstream.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

And, in another few weeks “They may NOT!”

In the future, things will happen. I don’t know what things will happen, but, as my livelihood depends on you coming back to view my content, watch my ads OR subscribing to my newsletter, you will find that I type and post stuff CONSTANTLY based on a spreadsheet I have here that gives me a formula of what to type about and when to drive the most engagement.

 

[racerhomie]

I’d love to know how many iPads they are shipping? If you think about it, if the iPad division brings in similar revenue to the mac division but the asp is so low there must be selling at least 2 or 3 iPads for every mac.

Doesn’t that make it apples focus for their future computing platform and not the mac? The market share for computing devices puts iPads way in front no?

Both have their places in the market. iPadOS 26 is also bringing macOS features to iPadOS. So both have bright futures

 

[Rokkus76]

What about a base 12.9" for $449? That would slot into the lineup pretty nicely.

It would be an instant buy for my needs.

 

[UltimaKilo]

Will likely be a RAM and processor boost for AI.

 

[staypuftforums]

Proper external display support?