Highlights
- The entry-level iPad 12 may use Apple’s current-gen A19 chip, contradicting earlier leak that pointed to A18.
- Internal identifiers (J581, J588) linked to the iPad 12 raise questions with past leaks showing different codes.
- iPad mini may also shift to A19 depending on Apple’s revisions, while the next iPad Air is expected to feature the M4 chip.
Caption – iPad Air in the picture for reference. (Image credit – Apple)
Apple is expected to unveil the refreshed iPad and iPad Air lineup in early 2026. However, Apple’s 2026 iPad roadmap may have surfaced ahead of schedule. A new report from Macworld claiming that the next entry-level iPad will be powered by the A19 chip. The publication says it has accessed an “internal Apple code document” outlining details about the upcoming models.
This is a surprising shift from earlier information revealed by MacRumors, which suggested that the 12th-generation iPad would feature an A18 chip. Apple’s A19 chipset debuted this year inside the iPhone 17 series, and it would be unusual for the company to place a current-generation processor inside its most affordable iPad due to cost considerations.
Historically, Apple’s low-cost iPads have used older chipsets. The last time an entry-level iPad shipped with a current-gen processor was the iPad 4, back when Apple still designed dedicated AX chips for tablets. Since then, the lineup has consistently adopted A-series chips that lag one or two generations behind the latest iPhone.
For instance, the iPad 11 (March 2025) uses the A16 Bionic first introduced in the iPhone 14 (2022). The iPad 10 (2022) used the A14, the iPad 9 (2021) ran on the A13, and the iPad 8 (2020) shipped with the A12. An A18 for the 2026 iPad would follow this trend more closely.
Another confusion in Macworld’s report is the mention of model identifiers J581 and J588 for the upcoming iPad 12. While these codes are used internally to reference unreleased Apple hardware, they are usually sequential. Earlier code leaks had shown J581 and J582 associated with the next budget iPad.
Past reports have also hinted that the iPad mini could move to the A19 chip, though previous Apple code referenced the mini with identifiers J510 and J511. Apple is known to revise hardware plans during development cycles, so an A19-powered iPad cannot be ruled out completely.
Macworld says the next iPad Air is set to adopt the M4 chip, which is consistent with Apple’s habit of positioning the Air one M-generation behind the latest iPad Pro, which is now running on M5 silicon. Both the new iPad and iPad Air are also said to include Apple’s N1 networking chip.
FAQs
Q1. Which chip is expected to power the 2026 entry-level iPad?
Answer. Reports suggest the iPad 12 may use the A19 chip, though earlier leaks pointed to the A18.
Q2. Why is the A19 chip in a budget iPad considered unusual?
Answer. Apple’s entry-level iPads typically use older processors, lagging one or two generations behind iPhones. The last time a budget iPad shipped with a current-gen chip was the iPad 4.
Q3. What upgrades are expected for the next iPad Air?
Answer. The iPad Air is expected to adopt the M4 chip, keeping it one generation behind the M5-powered iPad Pro, and will also include Apple’s new N1 networking chip.