Apple has confirmed, ahead of its official product event on March 4, that it will unveil new hardware starting Monday morning next week, and among the expected announcements are two updated iPads: a refreshed base model powered by the A18 chip and a new iPad Air featuring Apple’s M4 processor.
Here’s what to expect from both devices.
Base iPad (12th Generation) Gets A18 and Apple Intelligence
The entry-level iPad is reportedly in line for one of its most significant upgrades in years.
The most notable change is the move to the A18 chip, which would bring Apple Intelligence support to the base iPad for the first time. Right now, it is the only iPad in Apple’s lineup that does not support Apple’s AI features.
With the A18, users can expect:
- Full Apple Intelligence support in iPadOS 26
- Access to upcoming Siri improvements
- Improved performance for everyday tasks
- Increased RAM, reportedly moving from 6GB to 8GB
Another likely change is the addition of Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, first introduced with the iPhone 17 lineup. The chip enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread support, and improved reliability for features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop, while the overall design is expected to remain largely unchanged, aside from the possibility of new color options.
iPad Air Moves From M3 to M4 With No Design Changes
The iPad Air is also expected to get an internal upgrade, moving from the M3 chip introduced last year to Apple’s newer M4 processor.
While no major design changes are expected, the M4 chip should deliver:
- Improved performance in iPadOS 26
- Better handling of AI tasks
- Enhanced performance for professional apps
- Greater efficiency under sustained workloads
The iPad Air is likely to continue offering 11-inch and 13-inch size options with Touch ID. Apple may also bring the N1 wireless chip to the Air lineup, with cellular variants potentially adopting a C1X modem.
No Other iPad Models Are Coming Yet
Other iPad models are not expected to see updates next week. The iPad mini is rumored to receive an OLED display later this year, while a new iPad Pro refresh is not anticipated until 2027.
Apple’s event next week should confirm the final specifications, pricing, and availability.
