iPad 12th Gen (2026) release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
iPad (A16) for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
What's expected to change vs iPad (A16):
- An A18 or A19 chip is rumored to power it – the exact chip isn't confirmed yet
- No major design changes: same 10.9-inch IPS LCD Liquid Retina display, with the same relatively thick bezels
- Apple Intelligence coming to the entry-level iPad for the first time
- Still a 60Hz refresh rate, same as its predecessor
- No camera upgrades expected: 12MP main camera, 12MP selfie camera
- Touch ID for authentication
- A roughly 7,698mAh battery cell
- iPadOS 27 with a dedicated Siri app and Siri AI
- A possible rebrand to "iPad Neo," though this remains speculative
Expected release timeline:
- By tradition, Apple unveils "entry-level" iPad models in the spring, but this year, the model didn't come.
- Potentially, you can expect it later in the year, maybe in the fall, according to rumors.
Expected price:
- Currently, the price is expected to remain the same as its predecessor: starting at $349, but a price hike is also possible.
Jump to:
iPad 12th gen release date
The iPad 12th gen is currently expected to arrive sometime in fall 2026. It was originally expected to launch this past spring alongside the iPad Pro and iPad Air, but that didn't happen.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| iPad 12th gen | Fall 2026* | Fall 2026* |
| iPad 11th gen | March 4, 2025 | March 12, 2025 |
| iPad 10th gen | October 18, 2022 | October 26, 2022 |
| iPad 9th gen | September 14, 2021 | September 24, 2021 |
* - probable dates
The iPad 12th gen may also be in for a rebrand, with some speculation pointing to "iPad Neo", following the naming pattern of the new MacBook Neo.
It's worth noting this report is based more on theory than confirmation – it stems from comments Apple's John Ternus and Greg Joswiak made about the MacBook's naming. That said, Apple has already streamlined its budget lineup elsewhere (the iPhone SE became the iPhone 16e, and there's now an entry-level MacBook), so a rebrand for the iPad isn't out of the question either.
iPad 12th gen price
Apple's next entry-level iPad will likely land around $349, based on most current rumors. A price hike hasn't been rumored specifically, but it's not impossible either, given rising memory chip costs across the industry.
| iPad model | 128 GB of storage | 256 GB of storage | 512 GB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad 12th gen | $349* | $449* | $649* |
| iPad 11th gen | $349 | $449 | $649 |
| iPad 10th gen | $349 (for 64 GB) | $599 | - |
*- anticipated price
iPad 12th gen camera
The iPad 12th gen isn't expected to be a photography powerhouse – that's been true of entry-level iPads in general. These models typically come with modest cameras built for solid video call and meeting performance, rather than serious photography.
The iPad 11th gen features a single 12MP rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture and up to 5x digital zoom, and we don't expect much to change for its successor.
Much like the current iPad 11th gen, the next one should also have one single camera on the back. | Image by PhoneArena
The selfie camera should stay positioned on the tablet's longer landscape edge, which makes FaceTime and Zoom calls feel more natural to frame.
As for security, don't expect Face ID this time either – Touch ID is likely sticking around for at least one more generation.
iPad 12th gen expected cameras:
- 12 MP main camera
- 12 MP selfie camera
iPad 12th gen storage
The upcoming entry-level iPad is expected to offer three storage tiers, including the 512GB option Apple first introduced with the iPad 11th gen.
The base model should start at 128GB – a solid jump from the previous 64GB base, which was starting to feel tight for typical everyday use.
iPad 12th gen expected storage capacity:
- 128 GB
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
iPad 12th gen design
A major design overhaul isn't expected for the iPad 12th gen. Expect it to closely resemble the 10th and 11th gen models, with even bezels, a 10.9-inch display, and flat sides.
Stereo speakers on both sides should carry over too. Colors haven't leaked yet, but Apple tends to keep its entry-level lineup colorful.
Its predecessor, the iPad (A16), shipped in four colors – Blue, Pink, and Yellow, alongside a more neutral Silver – and that same color strategy seems likely to continue here.
The body is expected to remain aluminum, keeping the same clean, durable build.
iPad 12th gen display
Up front, the next entry-level iPad will likely stick with the same 10.9-inch display introduced with the 10th-gen model – an IPS LCD Liquid Retina panel at 2360x1640 resolution and 264 ppi.
Expect the usual 60Hz refresh rate and a modest 500 nits of SDR brightness. That's reasonably good for indoor use, though it falls short in direct sunlight.
On the plus side, Apple's strong color calibration should keep the display looking sharp regardless, and it'll continue supporting Apple Pencil (both the first-gen and the newer USB-C version).
iPad 12th gen battery
iPads have kept a fairly consistent battery life target over the years – roughly 10 to 12 hours – and that's not expected to change here. Battery capacity should land close to the current model's, around 7,698mAh.
That's not a particularly large cell, but it gets the job done. In real-world use, especially web browsing, the current model holds up well and comfortably approaches that 12-hour mark, and the successor should perform similarly. For video playback specifically, expect closer to 6 hours and 20 minutes.
Charging will likely stay capped at 20W wired, with no wireless charging support.
iPad 12th gen features and software
The iPad 12th gen will likely ship with iPadOS 27 out of the box. Apple discussed its new OS at WWDC 2026, with particular focus on the long-awaited Apple Intelligence and Siri overhaul.
Siri is now called Siri AI and gains the ability to understand natural language and personal context, while executing tasks across different apps. The assistant runs on a combination of Apple and Gemini models.
There's also a new, dedicated Siri app where you can revisit past conversations or start new ones – similar to other generative AI chatbot apps like Gemini, ChatGPT, or Claude. It'll be available on iPad too, letting you pick up a conversation you started on your iPhone right where you left off.
Apple Intelligence is being woven into nearly every app, including Messages, Mail, Phone, Home, Shortcuts, and Camera. Image Playground is also getting an upgrade, gaining the ability to modify more complex scenes.
According to rumors, the iPad 12th gen may get access to these Apple Intelligence features – though that's not yet confirmed.
Beyond that, iPadOS 27 wasn't a major focus of the WWDC keynote. The Liquid Glass look is staying, now with a system-wide slider to control transparency, alongside general performance and efficiency improvements.
iPadOS 26 introduced Stage Manager 2 for multitasking, along with a Mac-style menu bar that appears when you connect a keyboard, plus the Liquid Glass look – all of which should carry over into iPadOS 27.
As always, expect Apple's typical long-term support: around 6 years of software updates and 7 years of security patches.
iPad 12th gen hardware and specs
Apple iPad 12th gen's expected specs:
- CPU: A18 or A19 chip
- RAM: potentially 8 GB
- Battery: around 7,698 mAh
- Charging: approximately 25W–30W wired charging speeds
- Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
- Camera setup: 12 MP main camera, 12 MP selfie camera
One thing seems fairly certain: the 12th-gen iPad is getting a real chip upgrade. The current model runs on the A16, and most rumors – including reporting from analyst Mark Gurman – point to the A18 as its successor, the same chip found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.
A newer, less-confirmed leak has floated the A19 instead – the chip currently powering the iPhone 17 series – which would mark a considerably bigger leap if it turns out to be accurate.
If Gurman's A18 prediction holds, expect roughly a 20% performance increase over the A16-powered model, along with 8GB of RAM (still not fully confirmed) and proper support for Apple Intelligence.
Alongside the chip upgrade, the iPad (2026) is also expected to include the N1 wireless chip found in the iPhone 17 lineup, which should improve overall connectivity.
Alongside the chip upgrade, the iPad (2026) is also expected to include the N1 wireless chip found in the iPhone 17 lineup, which should improve overall connectivity.
Should I wait for the iPad 12th gen?
- You should wait for the iPad 12th gen if you want to experience Apple's new generative AI ecosystem without paying a premium. It's expected to be the first entry-level iPad to support Apple Intelligence, likely paired with a meaningfully upgraded A18 or A19 chip and a bump to 8GB of RAM to handle AI processing. Holding out for its rumored fall 2026 launch should get you stronger processing power, a healthier 128GB baseline storage tier, and Apple's typical long-term support.
- You should not wait for the iPad 12th gen if you just need a reliable tablet for media, drawing, or basic schoolwork right now – there's little reason to delay your purchase until fall. The upcoming model is likely keeping the same physical footprint as the current one, including the 10.9-inch screen, the same bezels, and likely the same 60Hz refresh rate. If on-device AI isn't a priority for you, the current A16-powered iPad already delivers a comfortable 12-hour browsing battery life and handles everyday multitasking just fine.
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