Introduction
Apple fans were expecting a dual announcement of the iPad mini 7 and the entry level iPad in October. But Apple only announced the iPad mini 7. This is part of Apple’s plan to roll out Apple Intelligence across the product line. With the iPad mini 7 now the most affordable device with iOS 18, attention turns to the entry level iPad in Spring 2025.
iPad mini 7: AI Ready Tablet for the Masses
The iPad mini 7 is the first step in making advanced features more affordable. With an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, it meets the hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence. iOS 18 brings AI driven features to enhance the user experience. But will the entry level iPad follow suit?
Entry Level iPad Challenges
The entry level iPad has a tough act to follow. If Apple puts the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM in the new iPad, it would be essentially the same as the iPad mini 7 and make the latter redundant. If they put the A16 chip in the entry level iPad, it would limit its Apple Intelligence features and raise questions about feature consistency across devices.
Apple Intelligence: Hardware Matters
Apple Intelligence is the foundation of iOS 18 and requires robust hardware to work. The A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM seems to be the minimum for these features. What about older devices like the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Pro which lack these specs but are still in the market?
Spring 2025 Release Date
According to MacRumors, the entry level iPad is coming in Spring 2025 with iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 updates. These updates will be released in late January or early February along with the M3 iPad Air and iPhone SE 4.
Connectivity and Features
The new entry level iPad won’t have Apple’s custom 5G modem which will debut with the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 17 Air. There’s speculation about Apple Intelligence but insiders say the entry level iPad will focus on simplicity and not a watered down version of the platform.
Bottom Line
The entry level iPad in 2025 is still a puzzle. Will it have Apple Intelligence or stick to the basics? It all depends on how Apple balances affordability with features. We’ll find out more as the release date gets closer.
