Here's When to Expect the iPad 12 to Launch

[Böhme417]

I wanted to get an A16 but it’s not very appealing after the price increase. The M1 iPad Pro I’m using still works very well.

I know. If you could find it on a good sale, the base model could be had for like 279. Now, you’d paying 449 for the exact same device. 🤯 Insane.

 

[Populus]

I thought it was quite unlikely for Apple to put an A19 in the iPad, but if they are delaying it for spring 2027, then I guess it’s more likely… hopefully!

 

[Siliconguy]

It's kind of crazy that Apple is still selling a tablet with a nearly 4 year old chip and 6 GB of RAM at that price, and will likely continue to for another 8 or so months. The base iPad used to feel like a good value for folks that just wanted a basic tablet for content consumption.

It still is, and best of all it's AI free.

 

[FeliApple]

Even if the price was lower I can’t fathom going from an m1 iPad Pro to a base iPad model .

I have both the M1 Air and the A16 iPad and both are completely fine.

The non-laminated display is a non-issue, imo.

 

[FeliApple]

It's kind of crazy that Apple is still selling a tablet with a nearly 4 year old chip and 6 GB of RAM at that price, and will likely continue to for another 8 or so months. The base iPad used to feel like a good value for folks that just wanted a basic tablet for content consumption.

Completely disagree with your implication.

I use my iPads for content consumption.
I have an A16 iPad. How is it a poor value or inadequate for that?

 

[Luftkopf]

As much as I want a 13” iPad, it doesn’t look likely that I’ll be able to afford one for a while yet. So my realistic goal will be to afford this one, whenever it actually launches.

I don’t give two hoots about the screen not being laminated, but it would be nice if it did get the A19. Regardless of whether it gets the A18 or A19 though, it’s a massive upgrade from my iPad Air 2.

 

[M3Stang]

Sure glad I got mine new for $250 back in March. Almost held out due to the “rumored” one, but I have had 4 months of use out of it daily. It’s true when people say, if you need a machine now, buy it.

 

[FeliApple]

As much as I want a 13” iPad, it doesn’t look likely that I’ll be able to afford one for a while yet. So my realistic goal will be to afford this one, whenever it actually launches.

I don’t give two hoots about the screen not being laminated, but it would be nice if it did get the A19. Regardless of whether it gets the A18 or A19 though, it’s a massive upgrade from my iPad Air 2.

How’s your Air 2 faring?

A base iPad, even if just a spec bump, would be a massive upgrade! Like I said, I have the A16 and I really like it.

 

[Luftkopf]

How’s your Air 2 faring?

A base iPad, even if just a spec bump, would be a massive upgrade! Like I said, I have the A16 and I really like it.

It does surprisingly well if you stick to old apps. It works well as a music stand with a page turner pedal for when I play bass, or when running the app to run or digital desk. Unfortunately, the engineering docs I need to pull up on it have gotten exponentially larger, and it bogs down, sometimes giving up completely.

I’ve heard the A16 is good. If I’d had the money I’d have got one, so hopefully I can afford the next version!

 

[FeliApple]

It does surprisingly well if you stick to old apps. It works well as a music stand with a page turner pedal for when I play bass, or when running the app to run or digital desk. Unfortunately, the engineering docs I need to pull up on it have gotten exponentially larger, and it bogs down, sometimes giving up completely.

I’ve heard the A16 is good. If I’d had the money I’d have got one, so hopefully I can afford the next version!

I think that it’s great that you can find some use for it! Hopefully even after you upgrade you can continue to use it in some capacity if that’s what you choose.

I have a 9.7-inch iPad Pro (probably my favourite iPad ever), and since it runs iOS 12 there’s a part of my content consumption requirements that just doesn’t work, but enough works so as to make it a good sporadic iPad, so it still sees some use. Battery life is still rather fine barring the loss vs iOS 9 (30%), so it can be used for about 10.5 hours of light use, perfectly fine. I have certain tasks for it though. For example, web browsing is tough.

The A16 is good so you should have no problem with the 12th-gen. Here’s hoping you can get it!

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Get rid of the camera wart on the base models, at least!

 

[EugW]

How’s your Air 2 faring?

A base iPad, even if just a spec bump, would be a massive upgrade! Like I said, I have the A16 and I really like it.

It does surprisingly well if you stick to old apps. It works well as a music stand with a page turner pedal for when I play bass, or when running the app to run or digital desk. Unfortunately, the engineering docs I need to pull up on it have gotten exponentially larger, and it bogs down, sometimes giving up completely.

I’ve heard the A16 is good. If I’d had the money I’d have got one, so hopefully I can afford the next version!

I find the iPad Air 2 quite laggy in many apps with the latest compatible iPadOS, but it does do better with older apps. I upgraded to the A10X iPad Pro with 4 GB RAM way back in 2019 and then to an OLED M4 iPad Pro with 8 GB RAM in 2024. However, my kids still use the iPad Air 2s for video streaming. I was going to get my kids A18 iPads with 8 GB RAM when it comes out but I may hold off. The pricing is quite high now, and for more demanding apps the kids now tend to use their iPhones anyway, an iPhone 16e with A18 and 8 GB RAM, and an iPhone 12 Pro Max with A14 Bionic and 6 GB RAM. The iPhone 16e is fast. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is reasonably fast, and way, way faster than the iPad Air 2, but it's a step down from the iPhone 16e.

 

[Luftkopf]

I think that it’s great that you can find some use for it! Hopefully even after you upgrade you can continue to use it in some capacity if that’s what you choose.

I have a 9.7-inch iPad Pro (probably my favourite iPad ever), and since it runs iOS 12 there’s a part of my content consumption requirements that just doesn’t work, but enough works so as to make it a good sporadic iPad, so it still sees some use. Battery life is still rather fine barring the loss vs iOS 9 (30%), so it can be used for about 10.5 hours of light use, perfectly fine. I have certain tasks for it though. For example, web browsing is tough.

The A16 is good so you should have no problem with the 12th-gen. Here’s hoping you can get it!

Yeah, after I upgrade it will live on as the mobile control surface for the digital desk. It's going to keep being useful until it dies.

 

[M4irmidnight]

I have both the M1 Air and the A16 iPad and both are completely fine.

The non-laminated display is a non-issue, imo.

Id hate to lose the thinner bezel as well. Not to mention going to the slower Usb c port, cheaper pencil, 60hz etc

 

[Samplasion]

I know. If you could find it on a good sale, the base model could be had for like 279. Now, you’d paying 449 for the exact same device. 🤯 Insane.

I bought it from a friend for the low price of 270€, (approx. $308) and for that price I think it's a steal. At $449, it loses much of its appeal.

 

[Steves Padawan]

i Bought basic A16 year ago for 410€ with tax, 6gb ram isnt enough even for basic use, so 8 will be obsolete soon too

now it is for 489€

 

[Happy_John]

It does surprisingly well if you stick to old apps. It works well as a music stand with a page turner pedal for when I play bass, or when running the app to run or digital desk. Unfortunately, the engineering docs I need to pull up on it have gotten exponentially larger, and it bogs down, sometimes giving up completely.

I’ve heard the A16 is good. If I’d had the money I’d have got one, so hopefully I can afford the next version!

Yep. I still regularly use my iPad mini 4 - it’s running iOS / iPad os 15, but is sluggish, but I use it exclusively as an ebook reader, as the size is perfect for that.

Older tech is absolutely fine if you’re realistic about the use cases for it.

 

[Happy_John]

i Bought basic A16 year ago for 410€ with tax, 6gb ram isnt enough even for basic use, so 8 will be obsolete soon too

now it is for 489€

I strongly disagree with this, because you really need to add “for my use cases”, or “for me”.

It’s up to users themselves, and their use cases, to say how much memory and o the r minimum specs they need.

Pressuring people to spend more money than they need to, by buying equipment specced higher than their needs, is unfair.

Don’t fearmonger and don’t be an unpaid assistant to Apple’s upselling marketing team.

 

[Luftkopf]

Yep. I still regularly use my iPad mini 4 - it’s running iOS / iPad os 15, but is sluggish, but I use it exclusively as an ebook reader, as the size is perfect for that.

Older tech is absolutely fine if you’re realistic about the use cases for it.

I’m about to press my old iPhone 8 Plus back into service as a baby monitor. I don’t like the disposable mentality, and Apple makes these things quite well. You can get a lot out of them if you want to.