Apple is working on an update for the low-cost iPad, which hasn't been refreshed since 2022. As an entry-level product, the iPad doesn't get a lot of attention and it's not often the focus of rumors, but we've heard a little bit about what might be coming to the iPad 11. A refresh is expected sometime in spring 2025.
Design
Apple overhauled the look of the iPad in 2022, introducing a 10.9-inch all-display design and a Touch ID power button, so we're not expecting any further design changes at this point in time.
Apple will likely stick with the 10.9-inch display and iPad Air-like design, but we could get new colors. Current colors include silver, yellow, pink, and blue. The iPad already has a USB-C port, which will stick around, and it will continue to support the USB-C Apple Pencil.
A-Series Chip
The current 10th-generation iPad has an A14 chip that was first used in the iPhone 12 lineup, and it's getting outdated. Apple is working to bring Apple Intelligence to all of its devices, so it is likely that the iPad 11 will include either an A17 Pro chip or an A18 chip to support the functionality.
Of course, adding Apple Intelligence support would also necessitate much more memory, and the iPad is currently limited to 4GB, so it might just be too expensive for Apple to give it that functionality while also keeping the price affordable.
The A17 Pro or A18 chip would bring a major leap in performance in addition to Apple Intelligence, adding much faster processor speeds and perhaps better battery life due to efficiency improvements.
Apple Modem
The low-cost iPad is expected to include Apple's upcoming custom 5G modem, which will also be introduced in the iPhone SE and iPhone 17 Air in 2025.
Apple's modem chip will be capable of theoretical 5G download speeds of up to 4Gb/s, which is slower than Qualcomm's modems in current phones. The chip will not support the fastest mmWave 5G, and will instead be limited to sub-6GHz 5G.
Other Updates
Apple has been updating most of its products with Wi-Fi 6E or better, so we can expect Wi-Fi 6E support for the low-cost iPad. The current model supports Wi-Fi 6, so it is not compatible with the faster 6GHz band that's available with Wi-Fi 6E routers.
Cost
We haven't heard rumors of any kind of cost increase for the iPad 11, so we're still expecting pricing to start at $349 for 64GB of storage. Apple has been bumping some minimum storage options in recent years, so there's a chance we could see a boost to 128GB of storage without a cost increase, but nothing has been rumored.
Apple only sells the iPad in 64GB and 256GB configurations right now.
Release Date
The entry-level iPad is expected to receive a refresh in spring 2025.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said Apple is working on a new Magic Keyboard accessory for the low-cost iPad and/or the iPad Air which is expected to come out by the middle of 2025.
Buying Advice
If you're planning to get a low-cost iPad and you can wait, we recommend holding off for the new model because of the major processor improvements coming. The current version is two years old at this point, and the chip inside is even older. You'll get the most out of your money if you wait for an update. That said, it's still an okay time to buy if you need a low-cost tablet immediately and do not care about Apple Intelligence.
