As 2024 draws to a close, it seems less and less likely that a new version of the classic iPad will be announced – a disappointment, especially after last week’s surprise reveal of the iPad Mini 7, leaving thus the classic iPad as the only model not to have been updated this year. The latest rumors now suggest that this update won’t arrive until 2025.
That means those eager to see a new release will have to settle for an iPad Mini 7 or opt for an iPad Air (2024) or iPad Pro (2024) to get a new Apple tablet this year – or wait a bit longer. Indeed, it is reported that deliveries of screens for the iPad will begin this month (according to Ross Youngin a tweet reserved for subscribers), which would correspond to a launch in early 2025 – i.e. at the same time as the next MacBook Air.
Mark Gurman de Bloomberg also confirmed this information about screen deliveries and, in the latest edition of its newsletter dedicated to Apple, it claimed that the iPad “should probably be updated” with Apple Intelligence features next year , thus reinforcing the idea that this update is in the works. The current iPad model only uses an A14 Bionic chip, which is not compatible with Apple Intelligence. A new model would therefore be required to correct this material deficiency.
While not confirmation, if the iPhone SE leaks are true and it includes Apple Intelligence in March 2025, the iPad would remain one of Apple’s only major products (apart from the Apple Watch) to not having a model compatible with Apple’s AI. It seems unlikely that Apple will let this situation continue for too long, making a 2025 update almost inevitable.
Why no update in 2024?
The iPad Mini 7 has the features required for Apple Intelligence (Image credit: Future / Apple)
Unless Apple comes forward to explain why a new iPad hasn’t seen the light of day in 2024, we’ll probably never know for sure. But Apple Intelligence is arguably a key factor.
As mentioned previously, Apple wants Apple Intelligence to become a flagship feature of the majority of its technologies. However, for privacy reasons, this technology must rely as much as possible on local processing capabilities, which requires relatively powerful hardware – limited to A17 chipsets and later.
However, the iPad generally has a certain delay and often carries chips from the two-year-old iPhone Pro. This means that it would have an A16 chip, which Apple considers insufficient to run Apple Intelligence – as confirmed with the base models of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Pro.
If Apple wants to maintain this release gap and launch an iPad with Apple Intelligence, it won’t be able to do so before 2025. And while it may seem a little strange that the company would set its own limitations, you also have to take into account the fact that the iPad is designed to be an entry-level device (and using older technologies keeps costs low). Additionally, the iPad Mini 7 was just released with an A17 chip (thus reducing Apple’s inventory), which could explain why Apple might want to delay the release of its next iPad.
As always with leaks, rumors and speculation, this information should be taken with a grain of salt. However, given the tablet’s popularity, a new version of the iPad is a question of “when” rather than “if.” We’ll be paying close attention in the coming months and year to be ready when a new version is finally revealed.
