iPad 11 might not make the list of products Apple launches during its upcoming week of announcements. A generally reliable source of Apple insider information says iPad 11 release date won‘t arrive until next year.
If true, Apple’s October product launch non-event will only include M4-powered Macs and related accessories.
iPad 11 release date could be months from now
iPad 10, the last new version of Apple’s basic tablet, came out two years ago. There had been anticipation among tablet fans for a successor with a faster processor this year. But a new report says the wait will go on.
“I’m told that the company is deep in development of an 11th generation of that [iPad] model,” said Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in the Power On newsletter published on Sunday.
That’s inline with previous reports, especially when Gurman points out, “It will have roughly the same design as the current version from 2022, while getting a speed boost.“
But then there’s the disappointing part for those hoping the launch will be soon. “This model is scheduled to be released around the same time as the new iPhone SE and iPad Air in the spring,” said the Bloomberg report.
Of course, this unconfirmed report is not a guarantee that the iPad 11 won’t be among the collection of product announcements that Greg Joswiak, Apple’s marketing chief, promised on Thursday will kick off on Monday. Gurman’s sources inside Apple enable him to make frequently accurate predictions about what’s coming out of Cupertino, but he doesn’t get it right every time.
If the report proves true, it means there’ll be no new budget iPad for the holiday shopping season. And those looking for a low-cost tablet to run the AI-powered features dubbed Apple Intelligence must hold out until 2025.
To know for sure, we must wait and see what Apple delivers this week.
Lots of other new iPads
While those in the market for a fresh entry-level tablet could find themselves stuck on hold if the latest rumor about the iPad 11 release date proves true, consumers can choose from plenty of other new iPadOS options.
The iPad mini 7 launched earlier this month via a press release. It offers a faster processor, additional storage and support for Apple Intelligence. And in the spring came the M4 iPad Pro, a super-slim tablet with Apple’s newest and fastest processor. At the same time, the M2 iPad Air expanded to 13 inches for the first time.
Apple apparently isn’t resting on its laurels, though. An upgraded version of the iPad Air could launch early next year … at the same time as the iPad 11. Rumors indicate an M5-powered iPad Pro will arrive later in 2025.
