iPad 12th Generation: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors

A look at possible features and upgrades for the next base-model iPad

Published on September 15, 2024

In This Article

Release Date Estimate
Price Rumors
Pre-Order Information
Specs and Features
Latest News

While we're excited about the iPad 11, speculation about the iPad 12th generation is already heating up. The 12th-gen iPad won’t be available until next year, so we can only draw from general trends and patterns for now, but we expect a flurry of rumors soon to offer a glimpse into what Apple might be planning for this tablet.

When Will iPad 12th Generation Be Released?

Although it's still a while away, Apple’s typical product release cycle suggests that the iPad 12 will land next fall. With the exception of two iPads, Apple has released a new version of the original series every year since 2010. It's reasonable to assume the iPad 12 will drop in 2025.

Lifewire's Release Date Estimate

September or October 2025 is an appropriate estimate.

iPad 12th Generation Price Rumors

Pricing details for the 12th-generation iPad are speculative, but it's anticipated to be priced similarly to its predecessors. If the starting price falls in line with current models, this is what we might see:

iPad 12 (64 GB): $349
iPad 12 (256 GB): $499

Pricing will vary depending on storage and configurations. For example, the highest storage option with cellular connectivity currently costs $649. We’ll update this section with more accurate predictions once all the details are public, as larger storage options and additional hardware changes could shake up those numbers.

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Pre-Order Information

iPad 12 sales could begin immediately following the tablet's announcement. More details will be available closer to the launch date.

iPad 12th Generation Specs and Features

One of the most certain changes accompanying any new iPad is the update to the operating system. iPads run on iPadOS, which evolves yearly with new features and improvements. While iPadOS 18 is designed for 2024, the iPad 12 will debut alongside iPadOS 19.

While we don’t know exactly what iPadOS 19 will bring, Apple’s commitment to making things more productive and connected gives us a few clues. You can probably expect some new multitasking tricks, better Apple Pencil features, and tighter integration with Macs, iPhones, and Apple Watches.

On the hardware side, there’s always room for Apple to surprise us. We could see this iPad packing a powerful M-series chip or an upgraded A-series chip (the iPad 10 uses the A14 Bionic chip), pushing its performance closer to what we expect from laptops and improving the battery.

Although Apple canceled its microLED project for the Apple Watch in early 2024, it’s possible that the technology could still make its way into future iPads. This would offer sharper visuals, better color accuracy, and improved energy efficiency.

There’s a possibility that Apple might finally expand Face ID to more iPad models, though it has so far been a feature that sets the iPad Pro models apart. We'll have a clearer picture of its future once we see if the iPad 11 gets this tech. We'd love to see an under-display Face ID, which could reduce bezel size for an even sleeker design. Unfortunately, the latest reliable report says we shouldn't expect an under-panel Face ID anytime soon, and it will probably launch on the iPhone first, anyway.

Apple carried the 10.2-inch screen size through three generations of its entry-level iPad before upgrading to a 10.9-inch display with the iPad 10. We expect the iPad 12 to follow this trend, but we’ll have to wait for more details about the 11th-gen’s screen.