After a sneak peek by Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday, the tech giant unveiled two new iPad models on Tuesday. The latest iPad Air is equipped with the M3 chip, while the iPad 11 (the entry-level model) is powered by the A16 chip, which means it does not support Apple Intelligence features.
No Apple Intelligence for the New iPad 11
There was no dedicated event for the new iPads. Instead, Apple has listed the new devices on its online store. In a press release, Apple notes that the A16 chip offers a 50% performance boost compared to the A13 chip found in the previous entry-level iPad. However, despite claims of “powerful and intelligent features,” the iPad 11 is notably missing a key functionality.
According to the comparison page for all iPad models on Apple’s website, the iPad 11 with the A16 chip does not support Apple Intelligence features. This means customers purchasing the new iPad will miss out on functionalities like Writing Tools, Genmoji, and an enhanced Siri experience.
The A16 chip debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro series and was later included in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. It includes only 6GB of RAM, which is below the 8GB threshold necessary for Apple Intelligence. While it’s not the first instance of Apple omitting software features (such as Stage Manager) from its entry-level iPads, this choice is somewhat unexpected considering the company’s recent focus on Apple Intelligence.
Powered by the A16 chip, the new iPad 11 features a 5-core CPU and a 4-core GPU. In comparison, the same chip in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 has one extra CPU and GPU core.
Regarding Apple Intelligence, it requires devices equipped with the A17 Pro chip (found in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPad mini 7) or newer, as well as M1 or later models.
The iPad 11 starts at $349 in the US, now offering 128GB of storage (double that of the previous model). Pre-orders are currently open with an official release slated for March 12.
