Skip to main content

Apple’s next low-cost iPad will likely run on the premium A12 chip

Apple is expected to soon refresh its entry-level iPad model and this time, it won’t cut any corners in performance. As per an anonymous Twitter account with a proven track record, the next low-cost iPad will be powered by Apple’s premium A12 chip.

In comparison, Apple’s existing base seventh-generation iPad was launched in September last year and runs on a nearly four-year-old processor. Therefore, the A12 upgrade could offer a significant leap especially for resource-intensive tasks such as Augmented Reality applications and games, two areas on which Apple has been focusing quite a lot of late.

Recommended Videos

On Thursday, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, in a research note, said Apple is developing two new iPad models with an affordable price tag — a 10.8-inch ‌iPad‌ and an 8.5 to 9-inch ‌iPad‌ mini. Kuo added that these new products will “follow iPhone SE’s product strategy.”

Therefore, it makes sense that, as it did with the new iPhone SE, Apple would pick its latest chipset for an updated low-cost iPad. This move will enable the base iPad to have a practically unprecedented edge over its competitors’ performance and longevity, which are key weaknesses for many.

In addition, since the entry-level iPad now also supports Apple’s keyboard and pen accessories, the presence of a no-compromise chipset could also enable the company to pitch it as a computer replacement for customers on a budget and rival Microsoft’s latest Surface Go 2.

At this stage, it’s unclear which A12 version the 2020 iPad will feature. The new iPad Pro comes equipped with an updated A12Z Bionic chip, a GPU-focused step up from the A12X that powers the 2018 iPad Pro tablets.

However, it’s worth noting Kuo hasn’t confirmed whether he’s referring to the base iPad. The existing $329 iPad has a 10.2-inch screen. So if Kuo predictions fall in line with this new leak, that would mean Apple will be fitting a larger display as well. We don’t know whether it will feature Apple’s rumored new mini-LED technology.

Kuo claims the 10.8-inch iPad could land sometime in the second half of 2020, while the new iPad Mini is slated to arrive in the first half of 2021.

Shubham Agarwal
Shubham Agarwal is a freelance technology journalist from Ahmedabad, India. His work has previously appeared in Firstpost…
My main computer is an M4 iPad Pro, but a 2021 iPad still surprises me
Rear shell of 2021 iPad Pro.

This might sound controversially ridiculous, but for the past few years, my primary computer has been an iPad Pro. I first got interested in pushing tablets this way when the M1 version came out, and I’ve kept using them all the way up to the newest M4-powered model. 

A few weeks ago, I went back to my M1 iPad Pro to see how well it handles next-gen apps that are pushing the boundaries of graphics and AI on a mobile device. So, the big question is whether the four-year-old slate can still serve as a reliable workhorse in 2025?

Read more
iPadOS 19 could get a macOS-like refresh. It’s high time Apple did it
home Screen of an iPad Pro that boots iPadOS 18.

Apple makes arguably the most powerful and polished tablets out there. For creatives, the iPad Pro line is the go-to choice, and ever since Apple put an M-series silicon inside its tablets, the performance appeal has reached an altogether new territory.

One area that has remained a weak link, however, is iPadOS. Aside from features such as Stage Manager, the tablet operating system hasn’t offered any standout experience, apart from acting as a stretched-out version of iOS. That could change soon this year. 

Read more
I tried a tiny iPad mini keyboard. It was a bewildering experience.
Editing notes using the HOU Keyboard for the iPad mini.

It almost sounds comical, but using a teeny-tiny keyboard with an iPad mini is not a terrible idea. In fact, it just might help you get some work done in a space that would otherwise be sacrificed to social media doomscrolling, give you a headstart into the day, or simply engage in some word-y recreational activity. 

The iPad mini is a fantastic device. It’s criminally underrated as a portable external display, especially for Mac users. It has all the firepower in the world you will need from a tablet. In fact, were it not for the screen size, it would deserve a productivity-boosting keyboard more than the 2025 iPad with its 11-inch screen. 

Read more