Following a hint from Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday, the tech giant unveiled two new iPad models on Tuesday. The newly launched iPad Air now operates on the M3 chip, while the iPad 11 (the basic model in the series) is equipped with the A16 chip. As a result, it does not support Apple Intelligence features.
Absence of Apple Intelligence in the new iPad 11
Rather than a special event, Apple opted to showcase the new iPads on its online store. In an official announcement, they emphasized that the A16 chip delivers performance that is 50% faster than the A13 chip found in the previous entry-level iPad. However, despite the claims of “powerful and intelligent features,” a significant capability is notably absent.
An overview page for all iPad models on Apple’s site confirms that the iPad 11 with the A16 chip does not support Apple Intelligence features. Consequently, customers purchasing the new iPad will miss out on functionalities like Writing Tools, Genmoji, and improved Siri.
The A16 chip, first seen in the iPhone 14 Pro series and later in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, comes with only 6GB of RAM—below the minimum 8GB that Apple Intelligence requires. While this isn’t the first time Apple has excluded software features (like Stage Manager) from the entry-level iPad, the choice is unexpected considering the company’s recent emphasis on Apple Intelligence.
Equipped with a 5-core CPU and a 4-core GPU, the A16 chip in the new iPad 11 contrasts with its counterparts in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15, which boast an extra CPU and GPU core.
Regarding Apple Intelligence, this feature necessitates devices equipped with the A17 Pro chip (like the iPhone 15 Pro and iPad mini 7) or newer, as well as M1 or later.
The iPad 11 starts at $349 in the US, now available with 128GB of storage (double that of the previous version). Pre-orders are live with the official launch scheduled for March 12.
