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iPad Ipad base model 2026

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Pepsi123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
A new Ipad base model with A19 and laminated display would be a dream. I can live with 60 Hz refresh rate, but an iPad without laminated display in 2026 is a shame. Good for kids bla, bla...I just want a good iPad for everyday use, like light gaming, Netflix, social media etc.
I hope Apple might surprise us next week :apple:🤞🙏
 
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It's about time apple offer some decent for their "cheaper" models. At least 8GB of RAM so that it can handle basic stuff a cheap laptop can do. Still surprised that Apple launched the A16 iPad with only 6GB of RAM.
At least A18 with 8GB RAM.
 
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I'm not, 8GB RAM would also have made the A16 iPad closer to the Air. The need to up the Air to 12GB before giving 8GB to the base would explain why the Air will soon have had 3 refreshes in less than 2 years. Suppose it will be simpler if the Air and Mini are both on the same generation most of the time.
 
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*~Kim~* said:
I'm not, 8GB RAM would also have made the A16 iPad closer to the Air. The need to up the Air to 12GB before giving 8GB to the base would explain why the Air will soon have had 3 refreshes in less than 2 years. Suppose it will be simpler if the Air and Mini are both on the same generation most of the time.
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They should have pushed the Air up to 12GB years ago, same thing with the Pro, 16GB should have been standard.
I know they want to offer something for everyone but some of their HW releases, especially the iPad, is just sad from a RAM perspective.
The iPad 9 with 3GB of RAM and the iPad10 with 4GB of RAM is just sad. Both from a user experience perspective and lifespan of the device (updates).
 
I had the A16 base model for a few months this year. it was great for basic browsing, light games, and watching netflix/youtube. Anything beyond that it struggled. I would try to use it for work-related things like teams calls and once i had that open and outlook at the same time i would notice it started to struggle. I sold it on ebay and took advantage of the sale Target had on the M3 iPad Air $449 back in December. Very similar in design but the laminated display and ability to push it further is nice.
 
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Seems we are indeed getting the A18 and 8GB of RAM on the iPad 12. Unless they add ProMotion to the iPad Air (for me personally, I care more about the low frame rates to save battery than 120Hz) and 256GB base storage, it's going to be a hard upsell.
 
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TheBeverage said:
Seems we are indeed getting the A18 and 8GB of RAM on the iPad 12. Unless they add ProMotion to the iPad Air (for me personally, I care more about the low frame rates to save battery than 120Hz) and 256GB base storage, it's going to be a hard upsell.
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Seems like we aren't getting a new base iPad at all...
 
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Strange...I would have though Apple would be very keen to get the new base iPad out so they can say all their current Mac/iOS/iPadOS offerings support Apple Intelligence.
 
Well this is a disappointment. All I needed this year is a base iPad, for a specific purpose (I have a Pro for heavy lifting), and was going to order as soon as it was announced. The current A16 would suffice but I know if I were to order it a new one would be introduced as soon as my return window expired. Guess I'll hold off a little longer.
 
mar58 said:
Well this is a disappointment. All I needed this year is a base iPad, for a specific purpose (I have a Pro for heavy lifting), and was going to order as soon as it was announced. The current A16 would suffice but I know if I were to order it a new one would be introduced as soon as my return window expired. Guess I'll hold off a little longer.
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My best guess would be since the 12th gen isn't being released now, we probably won't be seeing it until the Fall. Either in September alongside new iPhones, or its own announcement in October.
 
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mar58 said:
Well this is a disappointment. All I needed this year is a base iPad, for a specific purpose (I have a Pro for heavy lifting), and was going to order as soon as it was announced. The current A16 would suffice but I know if I were to order it a new one would be introduced as soon as my return window expired. Guess I'll hold off a little longer.
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This. It was the year we were finally going to get my kid his own NEW iPad for his March birthday (he's been using hand-me-downs all his life) and now I don't really want to get him a new Air because I think its overkill for the price but I don't want to get him one that has an A16 chip in it and have it be obsolete super fast comparatively.
 
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What are the chances they announce it in the next few weeks/months, or is it really certain that it won’t be before the fall?
 
I could have understood the lack of iPad update if they had stinged on the Air's RAM instead of the Macbook Neo's (as you don't want a base iPad with the same RAM as an Air) but given 8GB is effectively vacant...

They still sell a mini with 8GB but realistically there is nothing to upsell those users to like there is iPad -> iPad Air, so making the mini look poor value at this point shouldn't hurt. Expect the base iPad with the Mini 8 then?
 
joeblow7777 said:
At this point your guess is as good as anyone else's.
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Agreed. But there is still a chance it could be introduced in an April event or at WWDC, presumably along with upgraded iMacs, Mac minis, and Mac Studios (all needing spec bumps to existing chips).
 
There is also a chance that something that is merely a spec bump, as the iPad would be, is released in a press release (the Mini 5 is an example of this.) If people don't know about it and buy an Air instead, that's better for Apple.
 
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BMox81 said:
Anyone else tired of having to guess when Apple will release new products? Lol
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Maybe. But that is one reason for this site to exist.

Other than major software releases (WWDC) and iPhones (was fall; going forward will be fall and spring split between the different models), everything else seems does seem to be a guess.
 
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