After skipping all of 2023, Apple updated its entire range of iPads in 2024 except for one: the 10th generation model. While it got an aggressive price cut to $349, Apple chose to keep its cheapest tablet with the same specs it’s had since its launch in 2022. But it shouldn’t be long before it gets an update: Here’s what we know so far.
When will the 11th generation iPad be released?
Apple once had a fixed release schedule for its cheapest iPad alongside the latest iPhones at the September event. In 2022, the 10th generation modernization saw a slight tweak to this with an October debut alongside the M2 iPad Pro and Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).
Here’s when the previous iPad models were launched:
So when can we expect an update to the standard iPad? It looks like Apple could switch things up with a spring 2025 release alongside the 4th generation iPhone SE at an event in March or April.
How much will the 11th generation iPad cost?
Prices were consistent until the arrival of the iPad (10th generation) in 2022, but after the redesign, Apple raised the price quite significantly, from $329 to $449. However, in May 2024 Apple dropped the price of the 10th generation model around the world by $100 to $349/£349/€439.
Therefore, we do not know what the price is for the 11th generation iPad. Apple can keep the price the same at $349 or raise it back to $449 and keep the 10th generation model in the lineup as a budget option.
What features will we see in the 11th generation iPad?
The 10th generation iPad delivered a major redesign, so we don’t expect too much to change with the 11th generation model. However, there will be some notable upgrades:
Processor and RAM
Like the 2024 iPad mini, the most obvious update to the 11th generation iPad will be the chipset. The current iPad 10 runs on an A14 chipset, which debuted in 2020 with the 4th generation iPad Air and the iPhone 12. We expect the new iPad mini to get either the A17 Pro or A18 processor with 8GB of RAM, so it can run Apple Intelligence. After the iPad mini’s 2024 A17 Pro refresh, the 10th generation iPad is Apple’s only tablet that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, which requires at least 8GB of RAM.
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Since the screen was increased from 10.2 inches to 10.9 inches with the 10th generation refresh, we don’t expect any changes in the screen size. The only possible change is the use of a laminated screen, which would make the device a little thinner and provide better clarity.
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Cameras
Since the 10th generation iPad was Apple’s first tablet to change the placement of the front camera from portrait to landscape mode and already has Center Stage, we don’t expect Apple to change the front camera. It’s possible that Apple will slightly upgrade the rear camera, but since the M2 iPad Air released in 2024 has the same 12MP wide-angle camera, it’s likely that any improvements will come from software.
Storage
If there’s one standout upgrade that can make people’s lives easier, it’s storage. The base model still only has 64GB of storage, while the rest of the range starts with at least 128GB. Like the iPhone SE, we expect Apple to increase the base storage on its entry-level tablet up to 128GB when the 11th generation iPad arrives, as well as increase the top offering to 512GB.
We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available. Until then, check out our best iPad 9th and 10th generation deals and best iPad mini deals roundups to see if you can snag a bargain on one of Apple’s other deals.