This week , Apple introduced theiPad Air ( 2025 ) . However , less attention was cave in to anew version of the steady iPad , which was also denote . If you missed this extra word , that ’s understandable . This latest version was n’t so much herald as it just appeared on the Apple online memory board .
The 11th - generation iPad was n’t even desirable of a insistency sacking , which say a lot . Even the latestiPad miniskirt , another tablet Apple has n’t shown much dear in recent years , received a jam discharge when it was announced in October .
Why is there so much lacking beloved for the even iPad ? Why should would - be buyers give care ?
What happened?
Before getting started , let ’s briefly look at the iPad ( 2025 ) and see how it differs from the previous model , which was release in 2022 .
The most significant improvement from one version to the next is the foundation of an A16 chip on the young mannikin . This is a jump from the late adaptation ’s A14 Bionic chip shot , but , and this is key , it is not as bad of a leap as you might expect .
The A16 fleck is aless advancedversion of the A16 Bionic Saratoga chip found in the iPhone Pro 14 series and the steady iPhone 15 models . It features a 5 - core CPU and a 4 - magnetic core GPU , one few essence than the A16 Bionic .
On the positive side , the new iPad features a slightly larger display and increased storage options . Notably , the entrance - storey rendering now offers 128 GB of storage rather of 64 GB , all for the same price of $ 349 . This is particularly telling considering the original iPad , released in 2010 , was price at $ 499 for just 16 GB of storage , which would be nearly$730when correct for inflation in 2025 .
What’s wrong?
My beef with the new iPad has nothing to do with price , and honestly , I ’m not inclined to niggle with Apple for including an A16 chipset instead of an A16 Bionic chipset . Apple recede me in the tablet ’s lack of pattern changes and a key feature omission .
Apple was once regarded as one of the leading technology company in wandering product design founding . Many multitude felt excited when equipment like the iPhone 4 and iPhone X were release , for object lesson , showcasing significant blueprint changes . likewise , the first iPad Air was celebrated for its slender body , and no doubt , so will the firstiPhone Airwhen it ’s reveal later this year .
What did we get with the iPad ( 2025 ) ? It features the same design as the model release in 2022 . Surprisingly , in 2.5 twelvemonth , Apple could n’t even introduce a elusive design pinch to its entry - level tablet or change the color options . While the iPad Air ( 2025)also look identicalto its forerunner , a full point I also find confutable , it ’s deserving noting that these pad of paper were launch only 10 month apart , cook the lack of change seem a mo less concerning .
And then there ’s the lack ofApple Intelligenceon the novel iPad . Remember Apple Intelligence , the focus of nearly every Apple advert since last summertime ?
Sure , you could argue that most folks buying an entrance - floor iPad do n’t want or need AI . But , when you ’re Apple , and you ’ve fall so far behind others on the AI front ( howdy , Gemini ) , does n’t it make sense to get the heavily advertised feature on as many products as potential ? Even the latterly release budgetiPhone 16ehas Apple Intelligence .
This mean the iPad ( 2025 ) joins the 2023 iPhone 15 as the only two Apple handsets on the market without the company ’s most crucial software product in year .
Including the A16 bit in the new iPad seems disconnected . Ideally , the new iPad should have the minimum requirements for Apple Intelligence , which includes an A17 Pro chip and 8 GB of RAM . However , it comes with the A16 cow chip and , although not yet confirm , likely only 4 GB of RAM . Does n’t that seem discrepant ?
Many folks , including some here at Digital Trends , will say by all odds that Apple ’s improvements to the new iPad ( better chip , more store ) make it an splendid entry - stage tablet . I ’d say Apple could have done better , which seems to be a recurring subject for the company in recent years : weird misses and perhaps even coast along .
Besides releasing a new pill that does n’t support Apple ’s young AI characteristic , it discharge an iPhone 16e with most ( but not all ) of the features as a 2022 iPhone 14 . It also prefer not to release a new Apple Watch Ultra , leave alone the more affordable Apple Watch Series 10 with a better fleck . Should I go on ?
The iPad ( 2025 ) is now useable for pre - order . It arrives on March 12 .
