Apple's cheapest iPad is finally getting Apple Intelligence, leaked code shows

Apple's next entry-level iPad will run on an A19 chip with 8GB of RAM, according to findings by MacRumors that confirm earlier rumors about the device. References to the 12th-generation model uncovered in Apple's code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris also list the company's in-house C1X cellular modem and N1 wireless networking chip.

The A19 replaces the A16 chip in the current iPad 11, which launched in March 2025. Apple introduced the A19 with the iPhone 17 lineup in September 2025, and the newer chip will give the base iPad a noticeable boost in performance.

The chip change also brings Apple Intelligence to the entry-level iPad for the first time. The A16 does not support the platform, leaving iPad 11 owners without Apple's generative AI tools and the Siri features built on them. Memory rises from 6GB to 8GB, the minimum Apple requires to run Apple Intelligence, and the added capacity should also improve everyday performance.

Cellular versions of the iPad 12 will replace the Qualcomm modem in the current model with Apple's C1X, which supports sub-6GHz 5G networks and is more power efficient. Apple first shipped the C1X in the iPhone Air in September 2025. The N1 chip, which debuted across the same iPhone generation, adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support to the tablet.

The iPad 11 launched at $349 and now starts at $449 following a June 2026 price increase, and its successor is expected to launch at the same price. The findings do not include a release date, and the iPad 12 is not expected before spring 2027. However, Apple's next tablet update is instead likely to be the iPad mini, which is tipped for a refresh before the end of October.