Where is the base iPad?
The base iPad with an A19 and Apple Intelligence hasn't arrived, but it could be waiting on the new AI launch.
Apple's week (three days) of announcements is over, and there's still no sign of the new base iPad. I think there's one simple reason for this – Apple Intelligence.
It's been discussed more than enough, so I won't belabor the point, but the new Apple Foundation Models trained by Google Gemini are going to be here very soon. However, they're not here quite yet.
Rumors pointed to the spring for this new AI launch, and I think Apple will want some kind of hardware to release alongside the announcement. Of course, the easiest answer would be the collection of Apple Home products waiting in the wings. But I think it's even more simple than that.
The base iPad is the only product in Apple's lineup that can't support Apple Intelligence. It's also $329 and will be the least expensive way to access Apple Intelligence. So, it makes sense to me that Apple would debut both in tandem and show the new AI on the new affordable hardware.
That doesn't mean the other Apple products like a Home Hub or new Apple TV won't arrive at the same time. I just believe it's all a part of the larger AI package Apple will push.
iOS 26.4 betas are arriving each week, so I expect that will launch before the end of the month. We should hear from Apple about Apple Intelligence and its relaunch before iOS 26.5 betas begin at the end of the month or early April.
It is also curious that rumors missed the mark here. It shows that we can't hold these rumor mongers to such high esteem when they're doing almost as much guesswork as the rest of us. Their only advantage is the occasional whisper from an angry employee with an axe to grind.
I'm excited about the new gear, though almost none of it is for me. I'll be checking out the MacBook Neo for AppleInsider, but it'll be from an interesting perspective. The Studio Display updates are fine, but not for me.
It's Thursday, my busy day, so of course this is the short post. The AppleInsider Podcast will be out tomorrow, and our bonus topic is about Apple making other Neo products. Hope you all enjoy it and let us know what you think!
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