Apple’s Reportedly Dropping a Budget iPad With A18 Chip

Summary

• Apple is reportedly on track to drop a refreshed entry-level iPad packing the A18 chip in the first half of 2026
• The hardware bump is slated for the iOS 26.4 release window, finally bringing Apple Intelligence to the base model
• Pairing the budget tablet with a Magic Keyboard Folio now costs nearly as much as the new $599 MacBook Neo

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up to drop a refreshed version of its entry-level iPad in the first half of 2026. The new tablet is expected to touch down within the iOS 26.4 release window, which wraps up in May. With iOS 26.4 already hitting the release candidate stage, the updated iPad could arrive as early as late March, though supply chain variables might push the official launch into April or May.

The biggest flex for the upcoming base iPad is a serious hardware jump from the A16 chip to the A18 processor—the same silicon currently powering the iPhone 16 lineup. This under-the-hood upgrade won’t just deliver major performance gains; it officially introduces support for Apple Intelligence. The move makes the budget tablet the final mainline Apple device to inherit the brand’s AI ecosystem. Industry whispers also point to the potential inclusion of Apple’s in-house C1 modem and N1 networking chip.

While the internal refresh guarantees a smoother, faster experience, the base iPad’s pricing dynamic is raising eyebrows in the wake of Apple’s latest hardware reveals. Consumers looking to pair the $349 USD budget tablet with the $249 USD Magic Keyboard Folio are staring down a total cost of $598 USD. That price point sits just one dollar shy of Apple’s newly minted entry-level laptop, the MacBook Neo, forcing a real conversation about the true cost of a budget setup.