Leak: iPad 12th gen to sport 3nm A19 chip and bigger 8GB RAM

A report from MacWorld suggests the upcoming iPad 12th gen could get a huge performance boost with a new chip.

File photo: iPad 11th gen (A16)

Meaningful updates for the next iPad model?

The 12th-generation device is said to receive several upgrades that would narrow the performance gap with the company's mid-tier iPad Air.

The report indicates the new iPad will feature Apple's upcoming 3nm A19 chip, the same processor expected to power the standard iPhone 17. 

This would represent a manufacturing advancement from the 4nm A16 Bionic chip in the current 11th-generation model. 

iPad 11th gen display

Additionally, the device is rumored to increase from 6 GB to 8 GB of RAM, a change that could potentially enable more advanced on-device artificial intelligence capabilities currently available in higher-end iPad models.

While storage capacity is expected to remain unchanged following an increase in the 2025 model, the device may incorporate Apple's N1 wireless chip with support for WiFi 7. 

This upgrade would provide modern connectivity features approaching the networking performance of the iPad Air.

Apple typically follows an annual release cycle for its base iPad, with the 2025 model having launched in March. 

The 12th-generation iPad would therefore be anticipated around March 2026, though industry observers note that ongoing memory supply constraints could potentially affect this timeline. 

Current market conditions featuring rising memory prices also suggest the possibility of increased manufacturing costs.

If accurate, these details would represent one of the most substantial updates to the entry-level iPad in recent years, offering improved processing power, increased memory, and updated wireless connectivity while maintaining the product's position in Apple's tablet lineup.

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Source: GizmoChina