Apple’s 2026 calendar started quite busy with a series of new products already launched earlier this month. These included the low-cost MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, new MacBook Pro models, and a new iPad Air with an M4 chip. More recently, it introduced the AirPods Max 2. A new report now says that Apple is gearing up to unveil the 2026 iPad refresh, and it’ll feature the A18 chip.
Apple’s 2026 iPad will reportedly feature the A18 chip
In the latest “Power On” newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a reputable track record when it comes to Apple products, says that the new iPad will debut around the same time as iOS 26.4 lands. This means towards the end of May, hopefully. The new entry-level iPad will reportedly arrive with the A18 chip. However, an earlier report claimed that it will rock the A19 processor.
On the flip side, the analyst notes that it will be merely a refresh. This means there may not be any huge upgrades. Performance seems to be the only exception here. The A18 SoC will replace the dated A16 chip present inside the previous model, which was launched in March 2025.
May support Apple Intelligence
This upgrade could enable Apple Intelligence on the 2026 iPad refresh. This wasn’t available on the older A16 SoC, so it’s the first time that the standard iPad is getting native AI features. For some context, Apple Intelligence is available on all other current Apple iPad models, including the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini.
Besides this, the new iPad may have the same feature set and hardware as its predecessor. The design could also be identical. We may get the same colorful choices as last year. As a refresher, the current iPad is available in yellow, silver, blue, and pink shades. Previous rumors said the standard iPad may pack Apple’s new N1 wireless chip. We’ll probably learn more about the upcoming Apple iPad in the days to come.
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