Apple’s next entry-level iPad with Apple Intelligence support now appears unlikely to launch anytime soon, as recent comments from the company’s leadership strongly suggest the update is still several months away.
While rumors previously pointed to an earlier release, Apple CFO Kevan Parekh’s latest earnings call statement signals that the base iPad successor is not part of the company’s immediate plans.
During Apple’s quarterly earnings call, Parekh directly referenced the current iPad sales cycle while discussing future revenue expectations.
“We expect our June quarter total company revenue to grow by 14 to 17 percent year-over-year, which comprehends our best view of constrained supply. On iPad, keep in mind, we face a difficult compare driven by the launch of the A16-powered iPad in the prior year.”
Parekh’s “difficult compare” remark clearly points to Apple not repeating last year’s March entry-level iPad refresh during the current fiscal quarter, which runs through late June. That timing also makes a WWDC 2026 launch highly unlikely.
Apple Intelligence Upgrade Still Expected
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously reported that a new base iPad was “ready to go” and still expected this year, while other reports suggest Apple could use either an A18 or A19 chip. Both options would finally bring Apple Intelligence to the base iPad lineup, closing a major feature gap left by the current A16 model.
For now, Apple appears focused on maintaining momentum from its existing iPad lineup, while the iPad 12 remains positioned as a later 2026 release. If you are waiting for Apple Intelligence on the cheapest iPad, you will likely need to wait a little longer.
