Apple Intelligence Expansion: Entry-Level iPad Set to Gain AI Capabilities

Apple is poised to bring its Apple Intelligence features to a wider audience with the anticipated release of a new entry-level iPad. The upgrade, centered around the inclusion of the A18 chip, will mark the first time Apple’s most affordable tablet will be capable of running the company’s advanced AI functionalities. This move signifies a crucial step in Apple’s strategy to democratize access to its personal intelligence platform.

The Significance of the A18 Chip

Currently, Apple Intelligence requires devices equipped with the A17 Pro or newer chips, or Apple’s M-series silicon, to handle the processing demands of on-device and hybrid AI workloads. The existing entry-level iPad, featuring the A16 chip, falls short of this requirement. The A18 chip will bridge this gap, enabling features like enhanced writing tools, image generation, and a more intelligent Siri experience. The chip also delivers improvements to the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and media engine, alongside gains in memory bandwidth and efficiency.

Apple Intelligence: A System-Wide Approach

Introduced in 2024, Apple Intelligence is designed as a “personal intelligence” platform integrated across Apple’s operating systems. Unlike standalone AI applications, Apple Intelligence operates at the system level, meaning hardware compatibility is paramount. This approach prioritizes on-device processing combined with Private Cloud Compute for more complex tasks, all while emphasizing user privacy. [MacRumors]

Expanding the Reach of AI Features

The expansion of Apple Intelligence to the entry-level iPad is particularly important given the device’s role in education, families, and large-scale deployments. Bringing these AI capabilities to a more accessible price point will significantly increase the user base exposed to Apple’s AI innovations. Currently, all iPhones, Macs, and other iPad models support Apple Intelligence, making the entry-level iPad the last major device to gain compatibility. [MacRumors]

Future Enhancements and Siri’s Evolution

Apple plans to further enhance Siri by the finish of 2026, providing it with greater contextual awareness and deeper integration across applications. Longer-term, Apple aims to transform Siri into a true chatbot with even more comprehensive system integration, slated for release with iOS 27. [MacRumors]

iPad Model Compatibility

As of February 2026, the following iPad models support Apple Intelligence:

• iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (6th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (5th generation)
• iPad Pro 11‑inch (4th generation)
• iPad Pro 11‑inch (3rd generation)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2)
• iPad Air (5th generation)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro)

[MacReports]

Launch Timeline

Apple is rumored to announce the 12th-generation iPad as early as March 4th, with media events planned in New York, London, and Shanghai. [MacRumors]