Apple upgraded the iPad Air and iPad Pro with the M4 and M5 chips and 12GB of memory earlier this year, boosting computing power and improving transmission, connectivity, and battery life performance. However, this is just the beginning of Apple’s upgrade plan. It is expected that the iPad series products will introduce more advanced features from the second half of 2026 to 2027.
According to José Adorno, a senior contributor at the tech media BGR, Apple has confirmed some new features for the iPad, with other improvements in the pipeline, including adding Siri AI functionality, launching a new iPad mini, and introducing a new entry-level iPad. He anticipates that Apple will bring a variety of tablet upgrades in the next 12 months.
Apple is set to introduce a new Siri this fall. The new Siri utilizes Gemini and Apple’s own Foundation Models technology to assist users with daily tasks, providing more comprehensive responses, reducing unnecessary interactions, and minimizing promotions.
Adorno mentioned that the new Siri can not only proofread text and understand conversational tones but can also recognize on-screen content to provide relevant information. It can even decipher vague descriptions from users to locate messages, photos, and receipts, for example, by commands like “I want to find this, I remember someone sent it to me a few weeks ago”.
The updated Siri is currently available for general testing by users and developers, with test results exceeding expectations. Once iPad OS27 is officially launched, many iPad users will also be able to test this feature.
With the rise in prices and limited feature enhancements on platforms like Chat GPT, Apple took the opportunity to upgrade the Siri AI functionality, allowing users to directly call on Siri within the system. Additionally, they have upgraded the Mac’s native search tool Spotlight to an AI search interface, accelerating the integration of their AI into everyday user experiences.
Adorno noted that Apple’s greatest strength lies in integrating hardware, software, and services to create user experiences that are difficult for other AI companies to replicate.
The iPad mini emphasizes small size and high performance, catering to users who want a compact device with high efficiency, unlike the more entry-level positioning of the iPad. Market reports suggest that the new iPad mini may be released around the same time as Apple’s first folding phone.
Adorno mentioned that the new iPad mini might feature the A19 Pro or even A20 Pro chips, with the screen being upgraded to an OLED panel. Furthermore, Apple’s proprietary connectivity technology and data chips are expected to be incorporated.
Although OLED screens can offer better viewing experiences, the new iPad mini is not expected to feature the ProMotion screen technology with high refresh rates found in the iPad Pro series, maintaining a refresh rate of 60Hz. Hence, the smoothness of the display will not be enhanced.
Apple initially planned to introduce AI functionality (Apple Intelligence) to the entry-level iPad, but due to rising costs and tight memory supplies, the rollout may be delayed to prevent a significant price increase for the entry-level iPad.
The entry-level iPad 12 was originally scheduled for release in 2025 but was later postponed to 2026 for launching, and now there may be a further delay to 2027.
Currently, the iPad Pro and iPad Air equipped with the M1 chip already support AI capabilities. In the future, entry-level iPads with newer chips (A18 or A19) and at least 8GB of memory are also expected to incorporate AI functions.
Once the entry-level iPad is upgraded, it is poised to become the most anticipated tablet product in the market, offering not only a more affordable price and better hardware specifications but also the ability to utilize Apple Intelligence features and the new Siri AI, making it more convenient for users to create presentations, write articles, and perform work tasks.
Bloomberg reports that Apple is preparing to launch new versions of the iPad Air and iPad Pro in the spring of 2027. Although the appearance of both products may remain unchanged, they will receive chip upgrades, significantly enhancing AI processing capabilities. The iPad Air is expected to feature the M5 chip, with AI performance up to 3.5 times that of the new M4 chip.
Regarding the chips to be used in the iPad Pro, it remains uncertain, with the possibility of skipping M6 and directly adopting the M7. Apple has previously allowed the iPad Pro to be the first to use new chips, so it is not ruled out that the iPad Pro may feature the next-generation chips before the Mac.
Adorno stated that if the iPad Pro adopts the M7 chip, it will widen the gap with the iPad Air, offering stronger AI processing capabilities and better wireless communication functions like Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and Bluetooth, which may prompt existing iPad users to upgrade.
The market indicates that Apple is developing new versions of the entry-level “USB-C Apple Pencil” and “Apple Pencil Pro.” Current changes mainly revolve around EU regulations allowing users to directly replace batteries in the future, eliminating the need to buy a new stylus due to battery depletion.
Details about whether the new stylus will include additional features besides battery design improvements remain unclear. The existing stylus has already improved operational response speed and accuracy. The Apple Pencil Pro allows for advanced functions like “hover previews,” enabling users to preview operation effects when the stylus tip approaches the screen, and adjusting brush direction by rotating the stylus body to enhance drawing flexibility.
(Reference: BGR)