iPad 12 Set to Launch End of 2026, Bringing Apple Intelligence to Affordable Tablets

Apple is reportedly preparing a strategic step to strengthen its dominance in the global tablet market. The technology giant from Cupertino is believed to be finalising the development of the latest generation iPad, temporarily known as the iPad 12. The tablet is planned to disrupt the entry-level segment by the end of 2026. This news was first reported by veteran technology analyst Mark Gurman from Bloomberg. According to his report, the iPad 12 is designed with the primary mission of bringing the Apple Intelligence ecosystem and the latest generation virtual assistant Siri to more users, without needing to spend on Pro-class devices. The key to the presence of AI features in the iPad 12 lies in its processing power. Apple realises that artificial intelligence processing requires significant power. Therefore, the iPad 12 is predicted to abandon old chips and switch to the latest, more powerful A series. Although there was speculation about using the A19 chip, the latest reports point to the use of the A18 chip—which made its debut in the iPhone 16. The most crucial upgrade is the inclusion of 8GB RAM as the minimum standard so that Apple Intelligence features can run smoothly on-device. This step reinforces Apple’s strategy to level access to artificial intelligence across its entire product line. With the iPad 12, even the most affordable tablet users will eventually be able to enjoy advanced features that were previously exclusive to premium models, such as: From the display side, Apple seems to still adhere to the principle of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The iPad 12 is expected to retain the iconic design from the iPad 11 with a large Liquid Retina screen. However, there is good news regarding storage space. Apple is rumoured to increase the base internal memory capacity to 256GB, considering the larger data needs of AI applications. The iPad 12 is not just a routine update. It is Apple’s effort to ensure that its most economical line remains relevant amid the increasingly massive AI technology competition. With a competitive price and a smarter “brain,” the iPad 12 has the potential to become the best-selling tablet in 2026. (MacRumors/Z-1)