Fingers crossed for October or November
Apple has released no fewer than 10 models of its regular iPad since the tablet’s initial launch in 2010.
While Mini, Air and Pro models often get most of the attention, there’s no sign of Apple ditching its standard model anytime soon.
Indeed, a new 11th-generation model possible for this year, and there are plenty of rumours regarding what to expect.
When will the new iPad (11th-gen) be released?
Though we saw new iPad Air and iPad Pro models earlier in 2024, there’s been no sign of the regular iPad 11th-gen or an iPad mini 7.
It was possible that we’d see one of those two, or maybe both, launch alongside the iPhone 16 but we only got the Apple Watch Series 10, a new Ultra 2 colourway and new AirPods.
It remains unless as to when we’ll see the next regular iPad but we hope for October or November.
However, Mark Gurman reports on Bloomberg that the latest iPad and iPad mini “won’t be coming before the end of the year at the earliest.”
How much will the new iPad (11th-gen) cost?
Here’s how previous generations of entry-level iPads were priced at their initial launch:
- 10th-gen iPad – $449/£499
- 9th-gen iPad – $329/£319
As you can see, the 10th-gen iPad was significantly more expensive than its predecessor, but that’s unlikely to be repeated.
In the same Bloomberg article mentioned above, Mark Gurman says it’ll “probably end up being a cost-reduced version of the 10th-generation model”. Assuming there are no downgrades (and a potential processor upgrade), this would be great news.
What specs and features will the new iPad (11th-gen) have?
Back in January 2023, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg hinted that the update for the entry-level iPad might not bring significant changes – just updated internals, which may only include a processor. And it still remains the most likely vision of the future.
Previously, Apple tipster Majin Bu suggested that the 11th-gen iPad would be equipped with an M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. While this is certainly an optimistic vision, it’d mean the the current iPad Pro‘s base specs (6GB/128GB) would be inferior to this cheaper device..
However, the most likely enhancement for the 11th-gen iPad is the adoption of the A15 Bionic chip, due to the tradition of equipping each new entry-level iPad with a chip that is one generation older. The 10th-gen iPad is powered by the A14 Bionic chip, making the A15 the logical choice for the upcoming model.
Majin Bu also suggests that the upcoming iPad will retain the same design as the 10th-gen model, and that accessories will maintain full compatibility.
Majin Bu is recognised for sharing rumours from various sources, including Weibo, though the accuracy of the information can vary. In the post below, he also hinted at the release of the new 11th-gen iPad in October, which we now know did not happen.
That being said, the new entry-level 11th-gen iPad might potentially see improvements in other areas, such as support for the second-gen Apple Pencil. But it’s not yet clear what else could change.
However, assuming it does arrive at the end of 2024 or later, the device may be running iPadOS 18 out of the box. As usual, this will probably be a slightly tweaked version of iOS 18, which is set to make its debut on the iPhone 16 range.
We will keep this article updated as more information becomes available. In the meantime, you can check out our guides to the best iPads and best tablets in general.
