iPad 11 likely to launch soon, but will it support Apple Intelligence?
This comes after Mark Gurman reported that the iPad 11 will be powered by the A17 Pro chip and feature Apple Intelligence. A new rumor suggests that the iPad 11 will be powered by the A16 chip instead and will not come with Apple Intelligence support.
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The iPad 11 is expected to be unveiled by March or April, but questions remain whether Apple’s upcoming entry-level tablet will support its Apple Intelligence Suite features. While Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman confidently predicted in his Power On newsletter that the iPad 11 will have the hardware needed to support these advanced AI-powered features, a new leak casts some doubt on the matter.
According to an anonymous account on X (formerly Twitter), known for accurate Apple leaks, the iPad 11 will be powered by a chip called T8120. This identifier matches the A16 chip found in devices like the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Duo. Problem? The A16 chip does not currently support Apple Intelligence – which is why the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus didn’t support the feature, unlike the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, which are powered by the A17 Pro chip and support Apple Intelligence.
That’s why Apple Intelligence features are limited to devices with at least an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, such as the latest generation iPad mini, iPad Pro, and M1-powered iPads.
So, if this leak is about the iPad 11 featuring an A16 chip paired with 6GB of RAM, it would be a marginal improvement compared to the iPad 10, which is powered by an A14 chip paired with 4GB of RAM. However, this hardware configuration will not meet Apple’s current minimum requirements for Apple Intelligence. So, what gives?
Mark Gurman has been clear about the fact that the iPad 11 will have an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, making it ready for inclusion in the Apple Intelligence ecosystem. He suggests that Apple’s upcoming entry-level tablet will bring significant performance improvements but no major design changes compared to the iPad 10. Gurman also expects Apple to release an updated Magic Keyboard accessory for the iPad 11 at launch as well.
Both sources may be correct, Apple offers multiple configurations of the iPad 11 at different price points. For example, a base model with an A16 chip may target budget-conscious buyers, while a high-end version with an A17 Pro chip may cater to those who want Apple Intelligence features on their devices.
The iPad 10 was slated to launch in October 2022 for $449 (Rs 44,900 in India), but the price was cut to $349 (Rs 34,900 in India) in mid-2024. If the iPad 11 starts at the same price point, it might make sense for Apple to offer a range of options to attract more buyers. Of course, Apple hasn’t confirmed any details yet, so speculation is ongoing. Either way, the iPad 11 – with or without Apple Intelligence – should deliver better performance than its predecessor.
