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12th-Gen iPad: What to Expect from Apple's 2027 Budget Tablet

Apple's 12th-gen iPad is expected in 2027 with the A18 or A19 chip, Apple Intelligence support, and possibly Wi-Fi 7. Here is what to know before buying.

Apple's 12th-generation iPad is on track for 2027 with the A18 or A19 chip, unlocking Apple Intelligence on the entry-level tablet for the first time. The design and 11-inch display are not expected to change, but the N1 networking chip and an Apple-designed modem remain possibilities. With the 11th-gen now starting at $449, buyers weighing an upgrade should hold out for the AI-capable refresh.

A quiet refresh with a real performance jump

Apple's cheapest iPad is in line for its next refresh in 2027, and the upgrade list is starting to firm up. The 12th-generation model will not be a redesign, but it does promise the most meaningful performance jump the entry-level tablet has seen in years.

What stays the same

Expect the familiar 11-inch form factor with a Side Button, the chunky bezels, and a 7mm-thick chassis that Apple has used since the 10th-generation iPad. The display remains a non-laminated Retina LED panel with no ProMotion, no P3 wide color, and no support for the Apple Pencil Pro. Cameras, USB-C, and accessory support are also expected to carry over unchanged.

The color palette is the one easy variable. Apple currently ships blue, pink, silver, and yellow, and refreshed shades tend to land with mid-cycle iPad updates. Buyers waiting on the 12th-gen may also want to watch for a possible price reset.

The chip question

The biggest story is the SoC. The 11th-generation iPad uses the A16, which tops out at 6GB of RAM and lacks the silicon needed to run Apple Intelligence. A move to the A18 or A19 would fix both problems in one stroke, since both chips are built on a 3-nanometer process and come with 8GB of RAM and hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

That single shift would unlock Apple's on-device AI features on the cheapest iPad for the first time, and the A19's efficiency cores should also deliver a noticeable battery life bump over the A16.

Connectivity and modems

The N1 networking chip, which Apple introduced in the iPhone 17 lineup and added to the iPad Pro, is a wildcard. It brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support, all of which would represent real upgrades over the current iPad's Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. Whether Apple reserves the N1 for Pro models or brings it to the entry-level remains an open question.

The cellular variant is a more likely N1 candidate. Apple has been moving iPhones and iPads to its own C1 and C1X modem designs, and a 12th-generation iPad with an Apple silicon modem would finally let the company exit Qualcomm across the entire tablet lineup.

Pricing and timing

The 11th-generation iPad now starts at 449for128GB,a449 for 128GB, a 100 increase over its predecessor driven by RAM and storage cost inflation. Component prices have not retreated, so a price cut looks unlikely.

For buyers on the fence, the practical decision comes down to urgency. The 2025 model handles schoolwork, streaming, and casual apps without breaking a sweat. Anyone who can hold off for Apple Intelligence on a budget tablet will get a noticeably more capable machine in 2027.