Apple may soon upgrade its most affordable iPad with A18 chip and AI features, details here

Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch a refreshed version of its entry-level iPad. The new iPad could reach the market as early as April or May 2026. The upcoming model is expected to come with a notable internal upgrade. This new iPad was widely anticipated during Apple’s recent launch week, which started on March 2 and introduced a wave of products such as MacBook Neo and the iPhone 17e. However, the device was noticeably absent.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new iPad is on track to launch in the first half of 2026, with its release expected to coincide with the iOS 26.4 update. In simple terms, once Apple rolls out the software update, the new iPad is likely to follow very shortly after.

Apple’s next iPad with the A18 chipset and AI features

Apple’s upcoming iPad may feature the Apple A18 chip, replacing the current base model’s A16 processor. This shift is expected to deliver improved performance and efficiency, but more importantly, it is said to enable support for Apple Intelligence.

This could mark a bump up in Apple’s upcoming lineup, as the entry-level iPad has so far been the only device in Apple’s lineup without access to its AI-powered features. With this update, Apple Intelligence is said to reach the company’s most affordable tablet for the first time.

Users can also expect smarter tools such as enhanced Siri capabilities, writing assistance, and AI-driven features—although some of these may roll out fully with later software updates.

Despite the chip upgrade, the new iPad is expected to remain largely unchanged externally. Reports indicate that Apple will stick with the existing design, continuing a pattern seen across its recent iPad and Mac updates.

Alongside the upcoming entry-level iPad, Apple has already refreshed its mid-range tablet lineup with the launch of the iPad Air powered by the M4 chip. It is available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes and starts at Rs 64,900 for the Wi-Fi model, while the 5G-enabled variant is priced from Rs 79,900 in India.

The headline upgrade is clearly performance. Apple claims the M4-powered iPad Air delivers up to 30 per cent faster performance compared to the previous generation and up to 2.3 times improvement over older M1-based models. The device features an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, along with increased unified memory, enabling smoother multitasking and improved efficiency.

In addition to the processor upgrade, Apple has introduced new in-house connectivity components, including the N1 Wi-Fi chip and the C1X modem for cellular variants.