5 major changes coming to the iPad lineup by 2027

In early 2026, Apple updated the iPad Air with the M4 chip and the iPad Pro with the M5. Although the two new versions mark some minor adjustments compared to previous models, Apple has added 12 GB of RAM to both tablets, enabling the upcoming Apple Intelligence features in iPadOS 27, in addition to the company’s 5G modems and connectivity. These changes improve iPad reliability during AirDrop transfers, connecting and switching between networks, and even improve battery life thanks to Apple’s tight integration between hardware and software. Still, there’s plenty more to come in the second half of 2026 and throughout 2027, as Apple is expected to introduce Siri AI to its tablets, a new design for iPad mini, and even an all-new base iPad model launching early next year.

As of now, some of these changes have already been confirmed, including the new Siri AI, while others have been recently reported by media outlets such as Bloomberg. Although some of these improvements were expected for late 2026, it appears that the recent price hike of Apple products and the ongoing memory crisis have prompted the company to re-evaluate when to launch new devices, as components are in short supply and cost much more to produce than they did a few years ago. Still, a lot could change and be improved in the iPad lineup over the next 12 months. Here’s what you need to know.

After two years of waiting, Apple will launch the all-new Siri later this fall. Currently in beta for public testers and developers, the new Siri AI works surprisingly well. Using Gemini and Apple’s Foundation Models, the company was finally able to deliver AI that not only can help users with their daily tasks, but also doesn’t flirt with them, want to sell them something, or give them half the information just for the sake of texting them a follow-up question.

At a time when AI subscriptions are already getting more expensive (and yet seemingly getting dumber), Apple seems to understand what an AI should do. The company installed an “Ask Siri” option almost everywhere on the system, turned the Mac Spotlight into a Siri AI search box, and in most cases the personal assistant does an incredible job of proofreading text, understanding how people talk to their friends or boss, giving context on something that was displayed on the iPad screen, and even finding messages and photos, or a receipt based on “I need to find this and I think this person sent me this a few weeks ago.”

Apple is once again showing that deep integration between hardware, software and its services remains an unbeatable experience, and several iPad users will finally be able to test it once iPadOS 27 is available to the public.

A brand new iPad mini is coming. Oddly, rumors suggest it could be released around the same time as the iPhone Fold, Apple’s first foldable device. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, but also reported by other media outlets previously, Apple plans to release an OLED version of the iPad mini, but with a catch: It will feature a 60Hz display, meaning Apple won’t put its fancy ProMotion technology on its mini (but powerful) tablet.

Over the past few years, the iPad mini has become synonymous with power in a compact form. Unlike the popular base model of the iPad, the iPad mini is designed for power users who only care about a small form factor. Apple could put the A19 Pro or even the A20 Pro on this tablet and upgrade the current LCD screen to OLED. Apple’s proprietary connectivity and modem chips are also expected to be integrated into this tablet.

That said, what bothers me and other users who think the same thing is how similar the iPad mini and iPhone Fold might look. After all, rumors suggest that this foldable device will resemble an iPad mini when opened. However, what will set them apart, besides the innovative form factor, are better cameras and a better screen. Still, with this device expected to cost over $2,000, could the iPad mini interfere with sales, or could the iPhone Fold ultimately kill customer interest in the iPad mini?

You’ve probably heard this before, but Apple Intelligence is finally coming to the base model of the iPad! Initially announced for release in 2025, the next iPad 12 was supposed to launch in 2026, but Apple could postpone it to 2027. The reason: recent price increases and the current memory crisis. Apple is likely prioritizing other devices, while those that could become much more expensive for an audience not willing to pay the premium would have to wait a little longer.

As with the rest of the iPad lineup, Apple has been slowly adding Apple Intelligence, as the iPad Pro M1 and iPad Air or newer models have, while the latest iPad mini A17 Pro, and most likely the next iteration of the base model iPad (which could have an A18 or A19 chip), will feature Apple Intelligence thanks to at least 8GB of RAM.

Once Apple upgrades this iPad internally, it will become one of the most interesting tablets on the market, not only for its somewhat economical price and good internal specifications, but also because Apple is finally strengthening Apple Intelligence with the new Siri AI approach. By making AI private and easier to access for all users, it could be useful for students at school, preparing presentations, writing essays and much more. This update, once available, will mark one of the biggest changes to the iPad lineup, especially after the iPad 10 redesign a few years ago.

Bloomberg reports that Apple is preparing a new version of the iPad Air and iPad Pro for spring 2027. Although the reporter doesn’t expect major changes, meaning no redesign, these iPads could benefit from significant processor boosts for more demanding AI features. The iPad Air will naturally receive the M5 chip, which offers AI performance up to 3.5 times faster than the M4.

For the iPad Pro, on the other hand, the new chip is unclear. While it can be said that Apple will add the M6, a recent report from Bloomberg indicates that the company won’t release a base M6 MacBook Pro until later this year and immediately after the release of the M7, M7 Pro, and M7 Max iterations. If the company follows the trend it started with the M4 iPad Pro, we could see the first M7 chip released for the iPad Pro, followed a few months later by the MacBook Pro and its long-rumored OLED version. After all, Apple also skipped the M3 for the iPad Pro and introduced the M4 before adding that chip to the Mac.

If true, Apple would give iPad users another step up from the iPad Air, as the M7 chip should handle AI workloads much better than any commodity chip Apple has introduced so far, while enticing customers to upgrade their current iPads to a more efficient and powerful version with an all-new processor, as well as improved cellular and connectivity chips.

In another report, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple was working on new versions of the low-end Apple Pencil with USB-C and the Apple Pencil Pro. Currently, the main changes concern EU requirements to make these batteries more replaceable. Gurman says Apple is working on “new battery systems” that could make it easier to remove them after a period of time. This way, instead of forcing customers to buy new accessories, they could simply replace the battery inside.

At the moment, it is unclear how Apple will change the Apple Pencil’s battery system and whether the company will bring new features to these upcoming models. With current versions, the company has improved latency and responsiveness. The Apple Pencil Pro also has a few other benefits, like hovering over apps and items on the screen and a gyroscope.

These two pencils should be released alongside the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models. That said, the Apple Pencil Pro is great for artists and people who constantly draw, while the USB-C version is more than enough for most people who simply write on their iPad screen, doodle a little, or mark up documents. It is also unclear whether Apple will maintain the same price or decide to make them more expensive, as has been done recently with many other products. So far, however, the company has not changed the prices of its accessories.