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 – the exact processor hasn't been confirmed in leaks yet
- No changes in design are expected
- Display also reportedly unchanged – expect a 10.9-inch IPS LCD Liquid Retina panel
- Apple Intelligence on the entry-level iPad for the very first time
- The 60Hz refresh rate returns unchanged from the current model
- Camera hardware stays the same, 12MP rear, 12MP front
- Touch ID for biometrics
- Battery capacity expected to land around 7,698mAh
- iPadOS 27 with Siri AI
- RAM is rumored to grow from 6GB to 8GB, the minimum needed to run Apple Intelligence
- A possible rebrand to "iPad Neo" has been rumored, but Apple hasn't confirmed anything
- Q1 2027 at the earliest – the iPad 12th gen missed its anticipated fall 2026 window, so for now, we expect it at the beginning of 2027.
Expected price:
- Apple raised the 11th-gen iPad's starting price by $100 in June 2026 due to rising RAM costs, bringing it to $449. The 12th gen is expected to start at that same price.
Jump to:
iPad 12th gen release date
Currently, the iPad 12th gen is expected to come sometime in Q1 of 2027. Initially, Bloomberg claimed a 2026 launch, but it seems the next-gen entry-level iPad is not going to come yet.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| iPad 12th gen | Q1 2027* | Q1 2027* |
| 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
Rumors have also pointed to a potential name change of the device. Some speculation claimed it may be called "iPad Neo", following the naming logic of the MacBook Neo.
The theory is mainly based on suppositions – it comes from remarks that Apple executives John Ternus and Greg Joswiak made about the Mac lineup.
Apple doesn't stop itself from renaming products when it needs to. For example, the iPhone SE became the iPhone 16e, and a base-tier MacBook Neo now exists in the MacBook lineup. Renaming the entry-level iPad would not be surprising, if it happens.
iPad 12th gen price
In June 2026, Apple raised the 11th-gen iPad's price by $100. The change was due to RAM costs, and with it, the starting 128 GB storage option now costs $449. The iPad 12 (2027) is currently expected to match the starting price of its predecessor.
| iPad model | 128 GB of storage | 256 GB of storage | 512 GB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad 12th gen | $449* | $549* | $749* |
| iPad 11th gen | $349 at launch, now raised to $449 | $449 at launch, now raised to $549 | $649 at launch, now raised to $749 |
| iPad 10th gen | $349 (for 64 GB) | $599 | - |
*- anticipated price
iPad 12th gen camera
The entry-level iPad has never been a photography device, and the 12th gen isn't reportedly going to change that. For context, the current 11th gen iPad features a single 12MP rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture and up to 5x digital zoom, and the next model is not expected to upgrade this.
Much like the current iPad 11th gen, the next one should also have one single camera on the back. | Image by PhoneArena
The front camera will reportedly stay on the tablet's longer landscape edge, focused on video calls and FaceTime.
iPad 12th gen expected cameras:
- 12 MP main camera
- 12 MP selfie camera
iPad 12th gen storage
The same three storage tiers from the 11th gen are expected to return, including the 512GB option that was new to the lineup last year.
The starting storage will reportedly stay at 128GB.
iPad 12th gen expected storage capacity:
- 128 GB
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
iPad 12th gen design
Currently, a redesign to Apple's entry-level iPad is not expected. The form factor will likely be similar, if not identical, to the one the 10th and 11th gen brought. We'll likely be getting a 10.9-inch display, flat aluminum sides, and uniform (quite thick) bezels.
The device is also expected to retain the 7 mm thickness, making it one of the thickest tablets Apple will be seeling.
As for audio, expect the usual stereo speakers on both sides.
Colors have not leaked, but Apple tends to equip the entry-level iPad with expressive and fun colors, so that's not expected to change. The current A16-powered model is available in Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver, and you can safely expect a similar color palette for the 2027 model.
iPad 12th gen display
Reportedly, the display is not getting upgraded, so we'll likely be getting a 10.9-inch IPS LCD Liquid Retina display at 2360x1640 resolution and 264ppi.
A 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of SDR peak brightness round out the anticipated display specs. That brightness ceiling can feel limiting in direct sunlight, and it's worth being clear about what the entry-level iPad doesn't offer compared to Apple's pricier tablets: no ProMotion, no P3 wide color.
Those remain differentiators for the iPad Air and iPad Pro.
Support for both the first-generation Apple Pencil and the newer USB-C model is expected to continue.
iPad 12th gen battery
Battery performance on Apple's entry-level iPads has stayed remarkably consistent across generations. The 12th gen isn't expected to break from that pattern. Currently, the battery capacity is expected to land close to the current model's, at approximately 7,698mAh.
As for charging, expect wired charging at 20-25W, with no wireless charging support.
iPad 12th gen features and software
The iPad 12th gen is expected to ship with iPadOS 27 out of the box. iPadOS 27 brings Apple Intelligence improvements and the long-anticipated Siri revamp.
Siri has been completely rebuilt and is now called Siri AI. The assistant is developed jointly by Apple and Google and runs on a combination of Apple Foundation Models and Gemini.
Siri AI now finally understands natural language and personal context, and is able to handle multi-step tasks across different apps without requiring you to direct each step individually.
The assistant has its own app where you can browse and re-enter previous conversations, which is similar to how other AI chatbots (including Gemini, Claude and ChatGPT) work. The app's history will sync between all your Apple devices for convenience.
Apple Intelligence is getting integrated into nearly every first-party iPadOS 27 app. Now, there's AI in Messages, Mail, Phone, Home, Shortcuts, and Camera. Image Playground gains support for more complex photo modifications and expanded generation options.
The iPad 12th gen is expected to be the first entry-level iPad to support Apple Intelligence. At the moment, it's not clear, though, whether all Apple Intelligence features will launch on the iPad, but expectations do tend to favor full support.
Expect around six years of software updates and seven years of security patches on the iPad 12th gen.
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 area where the rumors agree with each other is that the 12th gen iPad is getting a chip upgrade, however they do conflict on which one. 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 leak has surfaced the A19 instead – the chip powering the iPhone 17 series – which would consider a bigger jump if it turns out to be accurate.
If the A18 is what ships, expect roughly a 20% performance improvement over the A16, paired with 8GB of RAM.
The RAM bump from 6GB to 8GB is tied to Apple Intelligence requirements. Apple requires 8GB as the minimum for AI features to run.
The 12th gen iPad is also expected to include Apple's N1 wireless chip, which debuted in the iPhone 17 lineup.
Cellular models may also receive an Apple-designed modem – the C1 or a successor – replacing the Qualcomm hardware used previously. Apple's in-house modems deliver comparable real-world performance with better power efficiency.
Should I wait for the iPad 12th gen?
- You should wait for the iPad 12th gen if getting into Apple's AI ecosystem without paying premium prices is the goal. The iPad 12th gen is on track to be the first entry-level iPad to support Apple Intelligence in full, backed by an A18 or A19 chip and the 8GB of RAM the platform requires. The timeline has slipped to Q1 2027, but the jump from the current A16 model is meaningful enough to justify holding out if Apple Intelligence is what you're after.
- You should not wait for the iPad 12th gen if you need a capable everyday tablet now and Apple Intelligence isn't a priority. Nothing about the physical experience is changing – same 10.9-inch screen, same bezel proportions, same 60Hz refresh rate, same absence of ProMotion, P3 wide color, and lamination. The current A16 iPad handles media, note-taking, and general productivity well, with close to 12 hours of browsing on a charge. With the price now at $449 rather than the $349 it launched at, the value case has shifted – a deal on the current model may be the smarter buy for casual everyday use.
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