New rumors have emerged about the iPad 2026 – these are all the (major) changes you can expect from it next year.
This is what we know about the iPad 2026
According to one report from Macworld the next (12th) generation iPad will use the A19 chip. This would be in an internal Apple code document. According to previous rumors, the iPad 12 will have an A18 chip and not an A19 chip. The A19 chip appeared this year in the iPhone 17. It is unusual for Apple to use a current-generation chip in the iPad due to costs. The most affordable iPad has not had a current generation chip since the iPad 4.
iPads and chips in recent years
The iPad 5, released in 2017, had the A9 chip introduced in the 2015 iPhone 6s. Since then, the iPad has been equipped with an A-series chip that is one or two generations behind the chip in the most recent iPhone.
For example, the iPad 11 (released in March 2025) has the A16 chip that was introduced in the iPhone 14 in 2022. The iPad 10 (October 2022) has the A14 (September 2020), the iPad 9 (September 2021) has the A13 (September 2019) and the iPad 8 (September 2020) has the A12 (September 2018). A 2024 A18 chip for the 2026 iPad is therefore more in line with previous launches.
Code names
The model numbers mentioned in Macworld’s report are also unusual. It says J581 and J588 are the code names for the 12th generation iPad. But code names are usually consecutive. Apple uses code names in software to refer to unreleased devices. For example, the previous code names J581 and J582 seemed to refer to the iPad 12.
Other rumors suggested that the iPad mini would get the A19 chip. But the iPad mini was referred to in Apple code as J510 and J511. Apple sometimes changes plans and also releases updates for devices that have not yet been launched. As a result, the A19 chip for the iPad cannot be completely ruled out.
We expect this
So it is not yet clear whether Macworld is right about the A19 chip for the iPad. However, other parts of the report appear to be more in line with expectations. Macworld suggests that the next generation iPad Air will have an M4 chip. And both the iPad and iPad Air would get the N1 network chip.
The iPad Air typically has an M-series chip that is a generation behind the chip in the iPad Pro. Since that was updated to the M5, the M4 makes sense for the next iPad Air. Apple has also added the N1 networking chip to new devices, including the iPhone 17 series. In any case, we expect Apple to release the new iPad Air and iPad models in early 2026. Don’t want to miss anything? Then sign up for our newsletter!
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