Apple is gearing up for a busy month packed with two upcoming product reveals, but buyers hoping for an updated entry-level iPad will have to sit tight and wait a bit longer. While the tech giant has plenty of fresh hardware to show off this fall, recent reports point out that it plans to hold off on refreshing its most affordable tablet until early 2027.
The base model tablet misses the late fall event window
Apple has a smart home showcase planned for October 13, followed by another event slated for October 27. The second presentation should bring us new computers and a fresh mini tablet, making it the last big launch of the year. Because of this schedule, several other products are moving to the first quarter of next year.
This means we will not see the next standard tablet until 2027. It joins a growing list of products pushed to next year. That lineup includes the new MacBook Air and Neo laptops, the updated iPhone Air, as well as the mainline iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models.
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Internal upgrades bring artificial intelligence without a price bump
When the new base tablet finally arrives, it should bring some welcome hardware changes. Based on recent code leaks, the device will likely feature an A19 chip and 8GB of memory. This extra memory is important because it gives the tablet enough power to run new artificial intelligence tools smoothly.
Buyers can also expect better connectivity options. The upcoming model is rumored to include a new modem for 5G support, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6 capabilities. Even with these internal boosts, the starting price is expected to stay at $449, making it an appealing option for anyone willing to wait a few more months to buy a new device.
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