In recent years, Apple has adopted a strategy of making minimal changes to the physical design of some of its products (like the MacBooks) but compensating by making significant changes and tweaks to the processors and software that power these products.
A similar case was seen in 2025, when Apple decided to go down the same route with its iPad series. The iPad Air received the M3 processor while iPad Pro was launched with the new M5 chip. Beyond these internal upgrades, no significant design changes were made.
Now in 2026, most of the recent iPad rumours suggest somewhat of a similar roadmap. However, a rumour or two also report about some exceptions. Let’s take a better look at what Apple might have in store for us in 2026:
Will the base iPad finally meet Apple Intelligence?
In 2025, Apple finally turned its attention to the iPad (11th generation) after three long years but all it got was a processor upgrade (A16 bionic chip) and doubled base storage.
According to the current rumours, the base iPad this year will still retain the current design and only receive a few internal upgrades, primarily getting a newer chip (most likely A17 or A18).
More than the performance boost, the chip upgrade should enable full support for Apple Intelligence, which will make the entry-level iPad a lot more appealing. The integration of Apple Intelligence will surely be a welcome addition, especially considering that Apple Intelligence is expected to get a lot better this year.
At ₹34,990, the base iPad with Apple Intelligence might just be Apple’s most value-for-money tablet of 2026, even without any design upgrades.
iPad Air: The Golden Child of the iPad Family
Sitting between the feature-compromised base iPad and overly-priced Pro models, the iPad Air is the most popular iPad among Apple enthusiasts.
In 2026, Apple is expected to refresh the iPad Air with its newer M4 chip, bringing modest gains in CPU, GPU, and neural performance. This should make it better suited for creative workloads and AI-driven features.
With the base iPhone models getting the 120hz display last year, having the iPad Air stuck at a 60Hz display feels wrong. Yes, it costs 60k, which doesn’t make it a premium device (by Apple standards) but it still deserves to level up with the iPhones. If some sketchy rumours come true and Apple actually decides to extend the 120hz ProMotion display to the iPad Air models, it might prove to be a game-changer and pose quite a threat to the iPad Pro.
A Mini Bright Spot in the iPad lineup
After a year of hiatus, the iPad mini 8 is expected to make a bright comeback with the introduction of an OLED display. By replacing the current 8.3-inch LED-backlit screen, the 2026 iPad mini is expected to deliver brighter visuals and deeper contrast.
Apart from the display update, the 2026 model should also get a faster processor, offering better performance than the iPad mini 7 (which already supports Apple Intelligence).
The new pricing is currently unclear but there is some chatter that the new screen and processor might raise the cost of the smallest iPad.
Is Apple giving the iPad Pro a break?
Even though Apple did launch the M5 iPad Pro in 2025, the only change seen was in its processor, where it got the powerful M5 chip. And a not-so-special shoutout to the absurd tagline that they had launched the product with— “Mmmmm. Power.”—which, in all seriousness, was quite creepy.
Now in 2026, it is rumoured that Apple has decided to give the iPad Pro a rest and the next update might be seen in the spring of 2027.
As per the latest iPad rumours, Apple’s strategy seems close to what we got to see last year—minimal design changes and maximum internal refinement— while what we want is a revamp similar to what the iPhone 17 series got. So brace yourself for another underwhelming year for iPads, unless Apple has a plot twist in store.
