The base iPad just got a lot better, but misses one big feature

By Patrick Hearn Published March 4, 2025

11-inch iPad A16 — Apple

On the heels of the new iPad Air 2025 announcement, Apple snuck in another tidbit you don’t want to miss: the base iPad now comes with double the starting storage and has been upgraded with the A16 chip. That means a big jump in performance, speed, and battery life; according to Apple, users can expect a performance jump of 30% over the iPad using the A13 Bionic chip.

These upgrades come at a cost, though. Despite the hardware bump, Apple Intelligence isn’t available. Considering how much of Apple’s recent marketing revolves around AI, it’s an odd exclusion, but the explanation is simple: the A16 chip only has 6GB of RAM, when the threshold for Apple Intelligence is 8GB.

Recommended Videos

The lack of Apple Intelligence feels like a missed opportunity for Apple, especially when the the A16 has a more powerful Neural Engine than even the M2 chip. The A16 could have been repackaged and given a RAM boost to meet that threshold, but Apple Intelligence isn’t necessarily a feature all users need or want.

Apple iPad showing Morpholio Trace app. — Apple

Perhaps the more curious exclusion for the iPad crowd is that the base iPad still works with only the first-generation Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil (USB-C).The second-generation Apple Pencil comes with several appealing upgrades, but users will have to stick to the original for now.

Despite lacking these features, the increased speed makes entry-level iPads more enticing than ever. Users seeking productivity will see snappier responses and better performance, while mobile gamers can count on the improved hardware to deliver steady frame rates.

The price remains the same as before. The iPad has become an even better value proposition than before, going toe-to-toe with Android tablets of a similar price. And because of that value, many schools are buying entry-level iPads to give to students. It isn’t the first time Apple has created a product aimed primarily at students; in 2018, the company announced the launch of the 9.7-inch iPad at a school in Chicago.

Whether you’re a student or just someone on the hunt for a budget-friendly tablet, the iPad has become an even better pick than it already was.

Topics

Mobile Writer

Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…

Mobile

iPad Pro with next-gen M5 silicon could arrive later this year

Magic Keyboard and iPad Pro.

It seems tablets are increasingly becoming the unofficial launch testbed for Apple’s next-gen silicon. The 2024 iPad Pro marked the debut of Apple’s M4 chip, ahead of its appearance inside the Mac hardware.
Carrying forward the torch, the next iPad Pro refresh could be “one of the first devices” to get a M5 series processor. According to Bloomberg, the next-gen iPad Pro has progressed into the advanced stages of internal testing. Moreover, it is expected to hit the shelves later this year, likely in the Fall season.
Apple gave the M4 series refresh to the Mac lineup, including the MacBook Air, Pro, and Studio models, earlier this year. The M4 Pro and M4 Max processors were only introduced late last year, so it seems increasingly plausible that the baseline M5 would arrive later this year, followed by its Pro, Max, or Ultra variants.
Given the “freshness” status of the current Mac hardware, the upcoming iPad Pro seems like the first candidate to get a taste of the next-gen M5 processor. “The new versions of that model, code-named J817, J818, J820 and J821, are in late testing within Apple and on track for production in the second half of this year,” adds the report.
What to expect from M5 iPad Pro?

Starting with the design , Apple is not expected to make any notable changes, given the company’s history. The iPad Pro got a major design overhaul in 2024, embracing a super-sleek look, one fewer camera, and a new keyboard accessory to go with it.
As far as the silicon goes, the M5 series will reportedly be based on the 3nm process and built atop ARM’s next-gen CPU architecture. In addition to the 2025 iPad Pro, Apple is also expected to launch new MacBook Pro models later this year, armed with an M5-tier processor.

Mobile

The iPad doesn’t need AI, but Apple must fix something else

Top view of the rear shell on the 11th Gen iPad.

I just finished testing the new entry-level iPad, and so far, I am fairly impressed by the tablet. You can’t get a better value than this slate for $349. From the external hardware to the innards, there is hardly any alternative from the Android side that can deliver a superior experience.
This year, Apple delivered a couple of surprises, in addition to the expected chip upgrade. You now get twice the storage for the same ask, and the RAM has also been bumped up. In a nutshell, it’s faster, better at multi-tasking, and without any storage headaches, even if your budget is tight.
Apple, however, hasn’t fixed the software situation with iPadOS, which continues to bother with its fair share of quirks in tow. This year, however, the software gulf is even wider between the baseline iPad and every other tablet in Apple’s portfolio. Stage Manager has been the big differentiator so far, but in 2025, we have another deep chasm.

A good riddance with AI

Mobile

Here’s a big reason the ‘iPhone Fold’ will look like an iPad

Concept render of a foldable iPhone in a fully open state.

Apple is expected to launch its first “iPhone Fold” in 2026, several years after rival companies like Samsung and OnePlus have already released their own foldable devices. The reason for Apple’s delay in entering the foldable market is not entirely clear. However, one plausible explanation is that Apple has focused on ensuring the device offers a seamless transition between the outer and inner displays.

This week, it was reported that Apple plans to use a liquid metal hinge in the iPhone Fold. This innovation aims to enhance durability and reduce the visibility of the display crease. Creasing was a significant issue for early foldable devices, such as the first Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, but it has improved considerably over the years.

	
		OSZAR »