Overview
- Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports the refreshed base iPad with an A18 chip is ready to ship and still planned for the iOS 26.4 window that runs through May.
- Apple could announce the tablet in April or slip into May based on supply conditions and inventory planning tied to the software rollout.
- The upgrade replaces the A16 with an A18 to enable Apple Intelligence, which runs on the device and handles tasks like advanced writing tools and a smarter Siri.
- Reports describe a routine spec bump with no major design changes, signaling the same look and features beyond the new processor.
- An earlier claim pointed to an A19 chip, but the latest reporting most often cites A18 for the entry model.