Apple is preparing to launch new iPad models soon, according to a fresh report. The lineup includes a 12th-generation iPad and an eighth-generation iPad Air. The update focuses on performance, not design, and the timing points to an announcement in the near term.
In a new edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote that updated iPads are “coming soon.” He said Apple plans to refresh the entry-level iPad and the iPad Air without major visual changes. Instead, the company is prioritizing faster chips.
New chips, familiar designs
The report says the iPad 12 will use the A18 chip. The iPad Air 8 is expected to move to the M4 chip. This shift matters most for the base iPad, since the A18 enables Apple Intelligence support for the first time on that model. The current iPad uses the A16 chip, which lacks those features.
Gurman noted that the iPad mini stands apart this year. It is the only model expected to receive a bigger upgrade, including an OLED display.
The iPad performed well during the recent holiday quarter, driven largely by the entry-level model. Apple now plans to push the new version harder, especially with enterprise customers. With faster chips and AI features added, the upcoming release fits that strategy and explains why the launch window appears close.
