Apple considering an affordable iPad featuring Apple Intelligence set for late 2025

Apple has unveiled its latest iPad mini (2024), featuring an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and driven by the A17 Pro chip, which is designed in-house by Apple. The announcement came without a formal launch event and was instead shared through a newsroom article. This model is particularly significant as it stands as the most budget-friendly Apple device equipped with Apple Intelligence capabilities.

In his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg shared insights about a potential entry-level iPad set to debut with Apple Intelligence support. He also hinted that Apple may release the iPhone SE 4 in March of the upcoming year, which would natively incorporate Apple Intelligence features. The new basic iPad is expected to follow later in the year.

Gurman further indicated that by 2026, nearly all Apple devices featuring a display will likely support Apple Intelligence. However, the current version of iOS, 18.1, has not yet rolled out, and this update will bring Apple Intelligence functionalities to the existing lineup of compatible iPhone and iPad models.

Looking ahead to the entry-level iPad expected in 2025, the timeline reveals a notable delay since the last update of the standard iPad, which took place in 2022. This lapse could be attributed to the advanced hardware specifications necessary to facilitate Apple Intelligence capabilities.

For reference, the standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models do not support Apple Intelligence, making it essential to have the iPhone 15 Pro or higher to utilize Apple’s AI features. Apple has also clarified that a minimum of 8GB of RAM is required for effective use of Apple Intelligence features.

The current entry-level iPad is equipped with the A14 chip, which was introduced alongside the iPhone 12. If Apple Intelligence hadn’t been introduced, it’s likely a new iPad featuring the A16 processor from the iPhone 15 would have been released. However, to expand the user base for its AI offerings, it seems essential for Apple to integrate either the A17 Pro or A18 chip.

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