Overview
- Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the entry-level iPad remains on track for a first-half 2026 release tied to the iOS 26.4 cycle.
- With iOS 26.4 at release-candidate, current guidance points to a debut by late April or a slip into May depending on supply conditions.
- The refresh is expected to move from the A16 to the A18 chip, delivering faster performance and enabling Apple Intelligence on the base model.
- Coverage indicates no major redesign, characterizing the update as an incremental hardware revision.
- Rumors about Apple’s in-house C1 modem and N1 networking chip for this model are unverified and should be treated as speculative.