2025 will finally bring the much-anticipated 11th-generation iPad, a version of the budget tablet with a faster processor capable of accessing the latest Apple Intelligence features.
In addition, expect faster iPad Pro and iPad Air models in 2025 — one sooner than might be expected.
What to expect from iPad in 2025
Apple’s premium tablets come packed with powerful capabilities, but the feature many shoppers look for first is affordability. And that’s where the budget iPad shines. At only $349, it’s a very capable computer.
11th-generation iPad should receive big upgrades
Expect the 11th-generation iPad to build on that legacy, with upgrades to the processor and RAM so it can run the suite of AI-powered features dubbed Apple Intelligence. These include cleaning up written text, creating images from simple descriptions and more.
That said, exactly which processor is coming to Apple’s entry-level tablet hasn’t leaked yet. But for Apple Intelligence, it needs to be at least an Apple A17 Pro chip. For perspective, the current 10th generation version runs an A14 Bionic from 2020, so a signifiant speed boost is necessary.
… but not a full redesign
Just don’t look forward to a full external redesign. The current model, released in 2022, brought a larger, 10.9-inch screen, USB-C and other enhancements while kicking out the Home button. The iPad 11 is expected to keep that design.
As for the 11th-generation iPad release date, it’s been more than two years since the last new budget iPadOS model, but the replacement is finally drawing close. Rumors point to an iPad release date in spring 2025.
Price is critical with this model. Apple experimented with charging $449 for the iPad 10, then dropped the price to $349 in May. Maybe Cupertino learned its lesson and will keep the 11th-generation model at $349.
iPad Pro 2025 rumors
The 11th-gen iPad won’t be the only new tablet from Apple in 2025. We also expect an upgraded iPad Pro, but the budget model sets a pattern. Rumors indicate the next high-end version will also bring a “speed boost” upgrade.
A redesign made the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro released in May the “thinnest Apple product ever,” and the first with an OLED screen. So, realistically speaking, the tablet doesn’t need a redesign. But the top-of-the-line model does need to be kept up to date, and that means dropping in an Apple M5 processor when it becomes available.
The latest rumors indicate the next iPad Pro should launch in the second half of 2025. Considering the price increase in 2024, another one soon is unlikely. So Apple should stick with $999 for the 11-inch variant and $1,299 for the 13-inch one.
iPad Air 2025 rumors
The time when Apple upgraded its iPads annually are long over. As mentioned, the 11th-generation iPad comes after a two-year wait. But the turnaround on the 2025 iPad Air could be much, much quicker. The 2024 model launched last spring, and a rumor from this autumn indicates that a replacement is on Apple’s agenda for early 2025.
The current version includes an Apple M2 chip, and an upgrade to the M4 is likely on the way. The jump should be noticeable, as the benchmarking app Geekbench 6 shows that the M4 is 50% faster than the M2.
Just so there’s no confusion, unlike the 11th-generation iPad, a processor upgrade is not necessary for the 2025 iPad Air to support Apple Intelligence. The 2024 version already supports Apple’s AI capabilities.
Still, the quick speed boost could be in hopes of turning around tepid sales of the 2024 version of the iPad Air. It’s being easily outsold by both the M4 iPad Pro and the iPad 10. That’s despite adding the first 13-inch iPad Air alongside the 11-inch model. But with a redesign last year, another isn’t likely in 2025.
Still, that means the 2025 iPad Air price will likely stay the same: $599 for the 11-inch variant or $799 for the 13-inch one.