12th‑gen iPad A18 leak
Leaks claim Apple's 12th‑generation base iPad will ship with an A18 chip to enable 'Apple Intelligence' features even on lower‑price models, widening on‑device AI availability. That would shift more ML compute onto mainstream hardware and broaden who can build and test edge models. (x.com)
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said an entry‑level iPad with an A18 chip is “ready to go” and remains on track for a first‑half 2026 refresh in his Power On coverage. (MacRumors). Apple seeded iOS/iPadOS 26.4 release‑candidate builds on March 18, 2026, tying the software rollout window to the hardware timing that Gurman referenced. (Apple Developer). The A18 used across Apple’s 2024–25 device cycle is a 6‑core design (2 performance + 4 efficiency) with a 16‑core neural engine rated around 35 TOPS and has been produced on TSMC’s second‑generation 3nm N3E node. (Tom’s Hardware) (Yole Group). Apple’s current entry‑level iPad ships with an A16 and 6GB of RAM (launched March 12, 2025), a configuration that Apple’s compatibility lists and reviewers flagged as not supporting the full Apple Intelligence feature set. (Apple) (PhoneArena). Multiple A18 device rollouts have been paired with 8GB of system memory in Apple’s product stack, a jump analysts and Apple engineers have cited as a practical threshold for on‑device Apple Intelligence workloads. (NotebookCheck) (HardwareZone). TSMC’s N3E process changes — fewer EUV layers and simplified patterning — are credited with better yield economics for A18 production, and industry trackers expect high A18 volumes across iPhone and iPad lines that would reinforce TSMC’s order book. (Yole Group) (TrendForce). Retail and rumor coverage points to Apple keeping the base iPad price close to the current $349 starting point while adding the A18/Apple Intelligence upgrade, which preserves Apple’s lowest‑cost entry into on‑device AI. (Business Insider) (PhoneArena).
