MacWorld uncovered details about some of Apple’s iPads slated for 2026 within an internal pre-release version of iOS 26, suggesting that the iPad 12 tablet will be equipped with the A19 chip that currently drives the standard iPhone 17 model.
The iPad 11, which launched earlier this year, is powered by an A16 chip; the same processor Apple debuted with the iPhone 14 series in 2022. Apple has typically utilized an older iPhone chip in its most economical iPad, resulting in the tablet trailing behind the latest iPhones in performance. This approach is not necessarily unwise for a basic tablet that starts at $349 and is frequently used mainly for consuming content.
The iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro serve as superior options compared to the base iPad for tasks and productivity, particularly following the iPadOS 26 update that enhances the iPad’s functionality to resemble that of a Mac. An A19-equipped iPad 12 could emerge as the preferred choice next year rather than one of the pricier iPad models. It’s not solely about the 50% performance increase that the A19 chip offers over the A16 chip in the iPad 11. The addition of 8GB of RAM and the more efficient N1 wireless chip may yield a more significant impact.
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