Apple launched its new iPad lineup last month by announcing the new M5 iPad Pro. While there haven’t been any notable upgrades, the iPad lineup offers some clues as to what’s coming next. Moreover, there are many rumors to come, so we will take a closer look at them.
M4 iPad Air
The first large-scale iPad to be released in 2026 is likely to be the next iPad Air model. This brings the M4 chip to iPad Air, delivering an additional 10-20% performance increase over the M3 chip.
Given the introduction of the N1 chip and C1X modem in the M5 iPad Pro, perhaps the next iPad Air could also switch to Apple’s in-house modem and network chip. This provides faster cellular connectivity and Wi-Fi 7 support.
Other than improvements to the internal chip, there aren’t many obvious upgrades to the M4 iPad Air. Plausible but not rumored upgrades include a 600 nit display (currently only on the 13-inch model) and new color options. A 90 Hz or 120 Hz screen is also a good idea.
OLED could be in the iPad Air, but it might not debut until 2027 or later.
A18iPad
Later, cheaper iPads, which retail for $349 but often sell for $299, are rumored to include the A18 chip. This isn’t just a spec bump; it’s the first time a low-cost iPad has Apple Intelligence capabilities.
Like the iPad Air, the lower-priced iPad will likely include Apple’s in-house N1 chip and C1X modem.
Personally, I’d like to see a proper keyboard for a budget iPad, similar to the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air and iPad Pro. Currently, lower-cost iPads do not include the Magic Keyboard Folio and require a kickstand to prop it up, limiting it to tabletop use.
The iPad is expected to be equipped with the A18 chip in the first half of 2026.
A19 iPad mini
Last but not least, the iPad mini is set to receive its first refresh since 2024. This upgrade will likely introduce the A19 Pro chip, but it will also introduce an even bigger upgrade: OLED.
The upgrade is expected to arrive later this year, but Bloomberg’s Mark Garman says Apple is eyeing the iPad mini as its next major product. After introducing OLED to its iPhone lineup starting in 2017, Apple introduced OLED to the iPad Pro for the first time in the M4 model in early 2024.
In addition to the OLED and A19 Pro chip, the next iPad mini will reportedly feature a more water-resistant design. bloomberg.
The iPad mini hasn’t received an overhaul since 2021. Based on these rumors, it looks like Apple has big plans for the five years following the initial redesign.
summary
Overall, it’s been a pretty quiet year for the iPad, with the exception of the iPad mini.
Looking ahead, Apple plans to include a vapor chamber cooling system in the M6 iPad Pro, which is expected to hit the market in early 2027. However, that is a little outside the scope of this coverage.
If none of these updates pique your interest and you’re happy with your current iPad model, you can currently find early Black Friday deals of $50 to $100 on all existing iPad models (iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad Pro) on Amazon.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
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