iPad 11th gen (2025) release predictions, price, specs, and upcoming features
It has now been two years since Apple launched the iPad 10.9-inch (iPad 10th generation) — the "base level" iPad, which was redesigned for the first time to adopt the "all-screen" front, making it uniform with the rest of the lineup.
It's a bit long in the tooth and it's powered by the Apple A14 Bionic chip, which was the beating heart inside the iPhone 12 from 2020. While it's a fine processor, it definitely won't grant you access to any new Apple Intelligence features.
The question is — is Apple planning to refresh its base iPad model? An upgrade has been rumored multiple times. However, when Apple took the time to update the iPad Pro M4 and iPad Air M2 earlier in 2024, it skipped the base model. Now, we even have a new iPad mini, but no new base iPad.
Granted, Apple did paint itself in a corner here. The Apple Intelligence features do require a lot of juice — a good processor, yes, but also a healthy amount of RAM (8 GB minimum, supposedly). And it can't really give its value-priced iPad a massive hardware bump without inflating that $350 price tag.
With all that said, an upgrade to an iPad 11th gen is inevitable... at some point. And here's all the information we've manage to gather about it:
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Latest iPad 11th gen news
iPad 11th gen release date
The latest word on the subject is that the iPad 11th gen will arrive with an A16 processor — the chip from the iPhone 14 generation. Its release is vaguely pinned to some time in early 2025. If Apple launches any new hardware, it typically does so in March, so this is what we are going with right now.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| iPad 9th gen | September 14, 2021 | September 24, 2021 |
| iPad 10th gen | October 18, 2022 | October 26, 2022 |
| iPad 11th gen | March, 2025 | March, 2024 |
iPad 11th gen price
In 2022, Apple launched the iPad 10th gen at a slightly higher price, and kept the iPad 9th gen around to continue carrying that "cheapest iPad" title. When refreshing the Pro and Air models in early 2024, it also updated the lineup a bit — the iPad 9th gen is now out of the picture, and the iPad 10th gen has a much better price-tag of $349.
It only makes sense that an upcoming iPad 11th gen will most probably also start at $349, whenever it comes in to replace its predecessor. But we wonder — will Apple keep the iPad 10th gen around, at a lower price after?
| iPad model | 64 GB of storage | 256 GB of storage |
|---|---|---|
| iPad 9th gen | $329 | $479 |
| iPad 10th gen | $349 | $599 |
| iPad 11th gen | $349* | $599* |
* - anticipated prices
iPad 11th gen name
The higher range iPads now have a more comprehensive naming scheme. Apple has finally started adding the chip name next to the tablet model — so, in 2024, we have the iPad Pro M4 and iPad Air M2. It's much easier to understand what you are getting that way, instead of trying to figure out generation numbers or launch years.
But it seems the lower tiers may not get that fancy treatment. The new iPad mini is just called... the iPad mini (it's the 7th gen, if you are curious). So the next iPad will probably just be callsed iPad again. Good luck to the second-hand shoppers out there!
Do expect review sites and marketplaces to add some defining markers next to its name, of course. It will most often be called iPad (2025), but also probably iPad (11th gen) and iPad (A16 Bionic). Doesn't really roll off the tongue, but at least it will add some clarity.
iPad 11th gen camera
iPad 10th gen for illustration purposed (Image credit - PhoneArena
Tablets are very rarely sought after for their cameras, but having a good snapper on the selfie side is useful for video calls and meetings. Apple's iPads have slowly but steadily moved over to all of them having an ultra-wide lens on the selfie camera. The reason for this is that iPadOS uses face recognition and enables Center Stage — the ability of the iPad to "follow" you around and keep you in frame while in a call. Thus, the ultra-wide lens gives it a wider frame to work with, so you can move around your space more freely and not dissapear from the conversation.
iPad 10th gen for illustration purposed (Image credit - PhoneArena
The iPad 10th generation was the first model to have the selfie camera positioned on the "proper" frame, the one that sits on top when the tablet is turned in horizontal orientation. This design has now migrated to most other iPads — the iPad Pro and iPad Air also have a landscape orientation selfie camera now. We think it's obvious that the iPad 11th gen should also adopt this placement.
Oddly enough, the iPad mini still sticks to that vertical orientation selfie camera. This could be due to two things. One is the hardware limitations — the magnets and charging pad for the Apple Pencil do need to fit somewhere, and that doesn't leave a lot of room for a selfie camera on the landscape frame. And also, Apple probably doesn't expect a whole lot of people to be using the iPad mini propped up horizontally for video calls.
iPad 11th gen storage
Apple has been quite stingy with the storage space on its base iPad models. In 2024, 64 GB of storage is not nearly enough for someone that intends to use the device a lot. It won't get any better in 2025. So, will Apple cave and give us a slight memory upgrade? Jury is still out.
So, for the time being and based on past models, here's what we expect:
iPad 11th gen storage capacity:
- 64 GB
- 256 GB
That upgrade to 256 GB will cost you $150 extra and basically push you in iPad Air price range.
iPad 11th gen design
We've been hearing rumors that Apple is looking to shrink the bezel sizes of its iPads, but it's pretty safe to assume those were regarding the Pro and Air models, which launched earlier in 2024. For the iPad 11th gen, we exect it will look a lot like the 10th gen. That's a non-laminated display and slightly thicker bezels.
That's barely a problem, we do like to have some bezel on our tablets, as it makes it easier to carry them around without accidentally touching the screen.
The good news is that the entry-level iPads finally have stereo speakers situated in either side of the screen (when in landscape position). They are not quite the quad-speaker powerhouse of the iPad Pros, but two drivers that have good enough punch to allow you to enjoy shows, YouTube videos, music.
iPad 10th gen, one of the grilles is there just for show (Image credit - PhoneAren)
iPad 11th gen display
The base level iPads still use LCD screen technology, still stuck at 60 Hz. The good news is that they do benefit from Apple's excellent color calibration, and they do support the Apple Pencil (gen 1).
So, the iPad 11th gen is expected to have a 10.9-inch screen — the same size as the iPad Air —, an LCD backlit panel without a laminated glass, and a 2360 x 1640 pixel resolution for 264 PPI. No HDR support and no high refresh rate — just the basics for a solid experience without stepping on the toes of the more expensive models.
iPad 11th gen battery
For years now, iPads have aimed for a consistent 10-12 hour battery life. The basic rule of thumb is that an iPad loses about 10% of its charge for 1 hour of mixed usage (split screen, video viewing, gaming), though that can be drained faster if you use more demanding apps and games for longer.
In any case, an iPad holds its charge exceptionally well when the screen is off, and it takes a while to drain those percentages when the screen is on. We do not expect that to be different with the iPad 11th gen.
iPad 11th gen features and software
The next iPad should, obviously, come with iPadOS 18 out of the box. However, given the rumored hardware, it may not have any of the Apple Intelligence features. It will be like owning an iPhone 15 (non-Pro) or older in 2025. You will get the homescreen customization options of iPadOS 18, and some of the UI facelifts, but not a lot of the new features.
Maybe Apple will figure out to squeeze in some of the off-device features in there — like the ChatGPT integration. But we wouldn't bet on that.
For features, you will still be able to use it as a makeshift laptop and even enjoy some drawing and handwriting on it. The base iPads have a Magic Keyboard Folio accessory, which is a bit pricey but the keys feel good. And they support the Apple Pencil 1st gen which now comes in a USB C variant, so no more confusing dongles.
iPad 11th gen hardware and specs
As is customary, the base level iPads lag behind with the processor, compared to the top-tier models. The iPad 10th gen uses an Apple A14 Bionic — the chip that powered the iPhone 12 generation.
Apple's silicon is quite powerful and has tons of headroom, so it makes sense that Cupertino would still use it in its lower-priced models. They are like hand-me-downs from the bigger brothers.
With that line of thinking, we do expect the iPad 11th gen to be powered by the hexa-core, 3.46 GHz Apple A16 Bionic that was inside the excellent iPhone 14 series. For RAM — the iPad 10th gen did have 4 GB, but we kind of feel like its high-time that gets upped to at least 6 GB. Of course, our feelings have no effect on Apple's upgrade decisions, so we'll see.
Should I wait for iPad 11th gen?
At this point, we really are in limbo. There have been at least a couple of rumored launch dates for the next base iPad model, both of which have come and passed. The latest information pins the launch date somewhere in early 2025, we presume March as that's when Apple likes to launch hardware. That's still 5 months away, so if you need an iPad right now, maybe just get the 10th gen. Or, if you can spare the extra cash, the iPad Air M2 is excellent. A bit more expensive, but excellent. Plus, it supports the fancier Apple Pencil Pro and much fancier Magic Keyboard, though that in itself costs as much as a basic iPad.
- You should wait for iPad 11th gen if you have an older iPad that still runs kind of OK and you are not clamoring for an upgrade. The iPad 11th gen is coming, but it's still a few months off. You will be better off if you can hold out until then, instead of buying a 10th gen now.
- You should not wait for iPad 11th gen if you are interested in premium features like high refresh rate or if you figure that you need more storage space on an iPad. The base level iPad's cost jumps up quite a bit when you apply the 256 GB storage upgrade, at which point you are basically nudged to look at the iPad Air or even iPad Pro 11".
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