Rumors indicate the iPad 11 is nearly here, and an iPad mini 7 is in development, too. Neither tablet has been updated in years, but that could change this autumn. Finally! We can look forward to better performance and maybe Apple Intelligence.
Here’s what’s likely coming in late 2024 to Apple’s budget tablet, and what we’ve heard about an iPad mini 7 release date.
iPad 11 and iPad mini 7 are coming
There were no new iPads in 2023. None. But Apple broke the drought in the spring with fresh iPad Pro and iPad Air models. And it won’t stop there: the two other tablet lines are expected to get their own refreshes in the coming months.
References have been found on Apple servers to multiple unreleased models that are probably the next budget and miniature iPads. And Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman — a noted source for Apple insider info — said in spring, “The company is also working on new versions of the low-end iPad and iPad mini, but those won’t be coming before the end of this year at the earliest.”
New iPads usually launch in the autumn, and Apple sometimes surprises us by bringing them out in September. iPad 9 and iPad mini 6 came that month, for example. But October is the traditional time for new tablets, and that’s when we expect the iPad 11 and the iPad mini 7 release date. It might be later, though.
iPad 11: The same, but faster
Photo: Apple
There’s been a dearth of specific rumors about the “regular” iPad 2024. Gurman said only to expect “a cost-reduced version of the 10th generation model from 2022.” But the consensus is that it’ll get a new, faster chip. Not surprising, considering the current version runs an A14 Bionic from 2020. It’s only speculation, but upgrading the tablet to at least an A17 Pro and sufficient RAM would enable the computer to run Apple Intelligence — the company’s suite of AI functions.
But don’t look forward to a full external redesign. The 2022 edition brought a larger, 10.9-inch screen, USB-C and other enhancements while kicking out the Home button. While it’s been two years since that model launched, the iPad 11 is nevertheless expected to keep the design.
The previous model launched at $449 before dropping $100 a few months ago. The next model could well debut at the lower cost.
iPad mini 7 release date: What we know
Photo: Apple
There hasn’t been a new mini version since September 2021, so an update is certainly due. After a three-year wait, there are a lot of people hoping that the iPad mini 7 release date is sooner rather than later.
What little we know of this model comes from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, who said, “The iPad mini update won’t include much more than a processor upgrade.”
The current version runs an Apple A15 Bionic from 2021. That’s actually newer than the chip in the “basic” iPad. Again, it’s only speculation but upgrading this tablet to an A17 Pro or better and sufficient RAM would let it run Apple Intelligence. And that seems a safe bet — considering how rarely the iPad mini gets upgraded, it seems unlikely Apple will force users to wait years for a version with its much-vaunted AI features.
If Gurman is correct, that’ll be the major change. And that’s not surprising. The sixth-generation model from 2021 included a significant redesign, dumping the Home button to make room for an 8.3-inch screen, up from the old 7.8-inch one. It also dropped Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector in favor of USB-C, and added support for Apple Pencil 2. iPad mini 7 will apparently keep the same design on the philosophy of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
But a couple of tweaks are possible. Support for the new Apple Pencil Pro could be added, seeing as the previous version of the stylus is being phased out. And the front-facing camera might be moved to the landscape edge of the tablet, a change already made in every other iPad model.
Pricing for the 2024 iPad mini 7 remains guesswork at this time. The current version starts at $499, and an increase is possible after three years.
