After a historic lull that noticed greater than 12 months between releases, 2024 has been a fairly good yr for iPad releases. The iPad mini was simply up to date, iPadOS 18 shipped simply final month, and Apple launched the new M4 iPad Professional, M2 iPad Air, and Apple Pencil Professional this spring–and for good measure, it even threw in Last Minimize for iPad 2.0 and Logic Professional for iPad 2.0 for good measure.
Whereas all these new iPad merchandise are partying inside the home that 2024 constructed, there’s one product on the skin trying in: the usual Tenth-gen iPad. It was initially launched in 2022 and by no means obtained a 2nd-gen replace, so it looks like it could be in Apple’s plans for an replace quickly.
Should you put collectively some current developments, nevertheless, there’s one conclusion that may be logically reached: the usual iPad isn’t getting up to date this yr. Right here’s why I believe we’ll have to attend till subsequent yr for the Eleventh-generation iPad.
The iPad mini (A17 Professional) goes stag to the 2024 social gathering
The truth that Apple introduced the brand new iPad mini all by itself is a large indicator that an iPad replace isn’t coming. When the Tenth-gen iPad was introduced, it featured main modifications, such because the front-facing digicam transferring to the horizontal aspect, a much bigger show than the ten.2-inch Ninth-gen mannequin, and the elimination of the House button. We don’t count on any drastic modifications to the following iPad–a chip replace, perhaps some new colours, and that’s about it. So that may make the Eleventh-gen iPad an awesome product to launch similtaneously the brand new iPad mini, which additionally obtained a minor spec bump. Nevertheless it didn’t occur.
The Tenth-gen iPad was a serious overhaul for Apple’s finances pill, so the following replace isn’t anticipated to have a lot that’s new.
The Tenth-gen iPad was a serious overhaul for Apple’s finances pill, so the following replace isn’t anticipated to have a lot that’s new.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The Tenth-gen iPad was a serious overhaul for Apple’s finances pill, so the following replace isn’t anticipated to have a lot that’s new.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Earlier than the brand new iPad mini was launched, hypothesis was that it could be revealed similtaneously the new M4 Macs which have been reported to be coming quickly. So, it’s attainable Apple might launch the following iPad with the M4 Macs, but it surely appears unlikely.
U.Ok., European modifications to the Tenth-gen iPad
In Europe and the U.Ok., the brand new iPad mini doesn’t embrace a charger. This was finished to adapt to European Union laws that not solely mandates the usage of “a standard normal port” but additionally that “the sale of chargers can be unbundled from the sale of digital units so {that a} new charger won’t essentially be included when shopping for a brand new system” to cut back digital waste. We noticed the identical factor with the iPad Air and iPad Professional releases earlier this yr.
Together with the iPad mini, Apple additionally took the charger out of the Tenth-gen iPad field in these areas, successfully altering the manufacturing course of for the pill. If it was planning on introducing a brand new mannequin this yr, it could be rather a lot less complicated for Apple to simply change it with a brand new Eleventh-gen iPad and not using a charger, as an alternative of reconfiguring the Tenth-gen iPad’s bundle. That leads us to consider that Apple has no plans to launch a brand new mannequin anytime quickly.
Need extra proof? Apple additionally decreased the worth of the 64GB Tenth-gen iPad to £329 within the U.Ok., a £20 discount over the earlier worth. And the E.U. worth for a similar mannequin is now €399, down from €429. That’s aggressive pricing for a product heading into the vacation season—not one which can be changed in a couple of weeks.
Within the U.S., the Tenth-gen iPad nonetheless features a charger, and the worth has not modified, however Apple’s not going to launch a brand new mannequin in only one area.
Apple
What’s within the iPad field within the U.S. (high) and the U.Ok. (backside).
Apple
No Apple Intelligence assist
The primary purpose we anticipated an replace to the Tenth-gen iPad is due to Apple Intelligence. The brand new set of AI options won’t run on units with lower than 8GB of unified reminiscence, and the Tenth-gen iPad’s A14 Bionic chip solely has 4GB of RAM. When Apple Intelligence begins its rollout within the subsequent few weeks, the Tenth-gen iPad gained’t be a part of it, the one iPad that gained’t assist the AI options.
Apple’s entry-level iPhone, the SE, additionally doesn’t assist Apple Intelligence. Rumors say it is going to get an improve to an A18 chip subsequent spring together with a big redesign. The Eleventh-gen iPad might get an replace on the identical time, which might give Apple Intelligence to each of Apple’s finances fashions. Or Apple might go away the low-end iPad as the one pill that doesn’t assist Apple Intelligence as a solution to push folks to the opposite fashions.
Both approach, one factor is evident: We’re ready till at the least 2025 for a brand new iPad.