Apple may release as many as three new iPad models early next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, covering the base iPad, the iPad Pro and the mid-range iPad Air. The report follows Apple's launch of the new iPad mini last week and the iPad-like iPhone Duo last month. Each of the three models is expected to receive key upgrades.
The base iPad will reportedly gain access to Apple Intelligence through an upgrade to the A19 processor and 8GB of RAM. It will also include Apple's new N1 chip and C1X modem, enabling Wi-Fi 7, sub-6 GHz 5G, faster speeds and reduced battery draw. Those changes would bring Apple Intelligence to the entry point of the company's tablet lineup.
The iPad Air is said to be getting an OLED screen to match the iPad mini, along with the usual chip upgrades. The iPad Pro will also receive a processor upgrade from the M5, possibly to the new M6 or even a future M7 chip. To handle the extra heat it generates, particularly during AI tasks, the new model will likely have a new vapor chamber to better cool its interior, an upgrade first mentioned last year.
How Apple positions the new iPads remains an open question, given the possibility of the iPhone Duo and new touchscreen MacBook Pro models invading their turf. Some buyers may find the HomeView smart display more convenient than an iPad in places like the kitchen. Even so, Apple sells somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 million iPads per year, so the devices remain a vital part of its product mix.
The reported plans point to a broad refresh rather than a single-model update, with changes spanning performance, connectivity, display technology and cooling across the lineup. The base iPad's move to the A19 processor and 8GB of RAM would align it with Apple Intelligence, while the iPad Air's OLED screen would extend that display technology beyond the iPad mini. The iPad Pro's possible shift to the M6 or a future M7 chip, paired with a vapor chamber, addresses the heat generated during AI tasks.
For US buyers, the reported upgrades would reach all three price tiers of Apple's tablet lineup rather than being limited to the premium iPad Pro. Apple has not confirmed the reports, and the timing described by Gurman places the possible launch early next year.
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