iPad 12 With A18 Chip for Apple Intelligence is 'Still Coming This Year'

[MacRumors]

Apple has updated a wide range of products and accessories this month, but there is still no entry-level iPad 12 with Apple Intelligence support.

Fortunately, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said an iPad with an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence is "ready to go" and "still coming this year."

An earlier report from Macworld claimed that the iPad 12 will actually have an A19 chip.

No other major changes have been rumored so far for the iPad 12, so we expect the device to have the same overall design as the current model.

Apple Intelligence is already available on all other current-generation iPad models, including the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

Apple released the iPad 11 with an A16 chip in March 2025, with U.S. pricing starting at $349.

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Article Link: iPad 12 With A18 Chip for Apple Intelligence is 'Still Coming This Year'

 

[kiranmk2]

Don't know why this didn't come alongside the iPad Air bump a few weeks ago. Makes no sense to delay it as it won't exactly be more than a press release when it does comes.
I guess perhaps the A18 version has been dropped and an A19 version will come in September instead (hence that rumour)?

 

[realmccoy69]

I thought they would at least increase Ram to 8GB not iPad Air has 12GB , we shall see

 

[eifelbube]

Since Apple now offers an entry-level MacBook with an A-chip, why not offer an entry-level iPad with an M-chip …

 

[realmccoy69]

Since Apple now offers an entry-level MacBook with an A-chip, why not offer an entry-level iPad with an M-chip …

A chips are already more powerful than entry level M chips

 

[snipr125]

A chips are already more powerful than entry level M chips

You need to give more context here (I understand what you mean though), otherwise it may not be considered a true statement.

 

[KPOM]

Don't know why this didn't come alongside the iPad Air bump a few weeks ago. Makes no sense to delay it as it won't exactly be more than a press release when it does comes.
I guess perhaps the A18 version has been dropped and an A19 version will come in September instead (hence that rumour)?

If they are using the A18 series then they would want that capacity for the MacBook Neo initially.

 

[Homme]

Since Apple now offers an entry-level MacBook with an A-chip, why not offer an entry-level iPad with an M-chip …

I have said a lot of times here that the base iPad is not going to get any A Chip with the Pro branding in it. What makes you think that it will get the M series chip in it when base iPad is used for people who don’t wish to harness the power

 

[dandyryan]

MacBook Neo ate her up along with the rest of the iPad lineup (sans the skinny mini).

 

[macdaddy43]

Should probably just change the headline to Apple Intelligence is 'Still Coming This Year' (Maybe)

 

[EugW]

I would guess the next ipad would come with A18 and not A19 but personally I don’t care either way as both have 8 GB RAM, and that’s as much RAM as my M4 iPad Pro. It will not get either A18 Pro or A19 Pro.

My kids are both on the iPad Air 2 with A8X and 2 GB RAM, so the 12th gen iPad would be a huge upgrade.

 

[Compote]

There is no sign of Apple intelligence life .gif

 

[Corefile]

Once an iPad is EOL'd then Apple should let you load macOS on it.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I want a special Ultra iPhone with a M5 Ultra on it. A thick phone that is super fast.

 

[hagar]

Lack of Apple Intelligence Support is considered a feature. Not a disadvantage.

 

[svish]

Hopefully the colors will remain bright and will not be toned down. The entry level iPad is a good one and will be enough for a lot of consumers. Expecting to see Apple Intelligence being supported on the new model.

 

[joeblow7777]

Don't know why this didn't come alongside the iPad Air bump a few weeks ago. Makes no sense to delay it as it won't exactly be more than a press release when it does comes.
I guess perhaps the A18 version has been dropped and an A19 version will come in September instead (hence that rumour)?

So as not to split the focus on the other budget product aimed at students that launched at the same time, ie. the MacBook Neo.

 

[klasma]

Once an iPad is EOL'd then Apple should let you load macOS on it.

Or any OS you want, really.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

WWDC at the earliest. October event at the latest.

 

[ab2c4]

I wish these companies would offer a version of their devices without ai as an option. This way it could be less expensive and we wouldn’t have ai on them. Why pay for something I don’t want?

They will probably never do this though as this is one of their big current money drivers for them.

 

[EugW]

I wish these companies would offer a version of their devices without ai as an option. This way it could be less expensive and we wouldn’t have ai on them. Why pay for something I don’t want?

They will probably never do this though as this is one of their big current money drivers for them.

You don't have to turn on AI. And if you don't turn on AI, it doesn't even load the libraries. Furthermore, they don't charge you separately for either the AI features or even iPadOS.

However, Photos Cleanup is a great feature to have even if you don't want the full AI suite. We have AI turned off but have Photos Cleanup loaded on all our AI-capable machines.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Fortunately, Gurman made up some stuff! We’re so fortunate to have Gurman saying that Siri will be released in the last OS version, too. 🙂 Fortunately, Gurman made the same guess anyone aware that Apple releases products regularly would make.

 

[tyranne201]

WWDC at the earliest. October event at the latest.

2026 at the earliest. 2027 at the latest.

signed by Mark Gurman

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I wish these companies would offer a version of their devices without ai as an option. This way it could be less expensive and we wouldn’t have ai on them. Why pay for something I don’t want?

They will probably never do this though as this is one of their big current money drivers for them.

If you don’t want a device with AI on it, then don’t pay for a device with AI on it. Problem solved.

 

[harold.ji]

Don't know why this didn't come alongside the iPad Air bump a few weeks ago. Makes no sense to delay it as it won't exactly be more than a press release when it does comes.
I guess perhaps the A18 version has been dropped and an A19 version will come in September instead (hence that rumour)?

With iPad mini getting the A19 Pro and iPad 12 getting A19. Otherwise the budget iPad will for the first time use a more advanced chip than the higher-tier iPad mini.