iPad 11: what we want to see
The iPad 11 is overdue, given that the most recent model – the iPad 10.9 (2022) – landed all the way back in March of 2022. The good news though is that it could land soon, with leaks pointing to a launch in early 2025.
Despite the current model’s age, it’s still one of the best tablets you can buy, but we’re eager to see what’s coming next, and we have a wish list for the upcoming tablet too.
You’ll find the list further down in this article, but first, here’s everything we’ve heard so far about the possible release date, price, specs, and features of the iPad 11.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next entry-level iPad
- When it it out? Possibly early 2025
- How much will it cost? Possibly around $449 / £499 / AU$749
iPad 11 release date and price
The first iPad 2024 release date leak we heard suggested that it would land by June 2024, while elsewhere we heard the iPad 11 would land in March, and obviously neither of these things happened. Nor did the iPad 11 launch alongside the iPad Pro (2024) or the iPad Air 6, or at later launches alongside the iPhone 16 or iPad mini (2024).
So when will we see the iPad 11? Well, the latest leak on that front comes from Mark Gurman, who says the iPad 11 will land by April, countering in the process a claim from another source that it would launch in January.
We don’t know what the iPad 2024 will cost, but it may have a similar starting price to the iPad 10.9 (2022), which starts at $449 / £499 / AU$749. Then again, that tablet cost more than its predecessor, so it’s possible Apple will push the price up again.
iPad 11 news and leaks
There aren’t many leaks about this tablet yet, but we have heard from multiple sources that the iPad 2024 will simply offer “spec upgrades”, suggesting this will be a small update, with probably a new chipset but the same design and a 10.9-inch screen again.
Indeed, given that Apple upped the screen size and changed the design for the iPad 10.9 (2022), we’d expect both of those things to stay the same for the next model; meaning a 10.9-inch screen and an iPad Air-like design both being likely.
However, in line with the leak above we’d think it will almost certainly have a new chipset. Or at least a newer one – the current iPad uses Apple’s existing A14 Bionic, also seen in the iPhone 12 line and the 2020 fourth-generation iPad Air, so the next model will likely get an upgrade to, at least, the A15 Bionic found in the iPhone 13. But we’d guess Apple will aim for it to support AI, meaning it will probably have an A17 Pro or above.
In fact, in October 2024, we heard from analyst Mark Gurman that a speed boost was planned for the iPad 11, but that the design probably wouldn’t change.
And while it might remain at 10.9 inches, it’s possible that there will also be a second model in a different size, as one leak points to there being two iPad 11 models in the works, though how they might differ isn’t clear.
What we want to see
As good as the iPad 10.9 (2022) is, it could always be better, so we hope the new iPad 11 includes some of the following changes and upgrades.
1. Apple Pencil 2 support
One of the more unusual aspects of the iPad 10.9 (2022) is that it supports the original Apple Pencil rather than the newer Apple Pencil 2. That’s despite switching to a USB-C port, which means you can’t even charge the Apple Pencil (which charges via Lightning) without an adapter.
There are reasons for this decision, but it seems like a mistake overall, and one we hope Apple will fix for the next model.
2. A lower price, or at least no price rises
Apple pushed the price up significantly for the iPad 10.9 (2022), compared to its predecessor, so for the next model we’d ideally like to see the price fall, given that this is the company’s cheapest line of tablets. At the very least, though, we don’t want it to rise any higher.
3. A less reflective screen
While we were largely happy with the iPad 10.9 (2022)’s screen, one issue we found in our review was that the lack of an anti-reflective coating meant there could be quite a lot of reflections in it, particularly when used outside.
We don’t expect Apple to switch to a mini-LED or OLED screen, or pack in more pixels for the new iPad 11th gen, but we’d love to at least be able to comfortably use it outdoors, so hopefully this model will have that coating.
4. More camera modes
Cameras are rarely a priority for tablets, and such is the case with the iPad 10.9 (2022). We’re largely fine with that, but the absence of both Portrait mode and Cinematic mode are noticeable and disappointing, so we’d like to see them included for the new iPad 2024.
5. Improved battery life
The iPad 10.9 (2022) actually has quite reasonable battery life, with our reviewer managing around 8-10 hours of constant use. That’s in the same ballpark as most other iPads, but when you consider that the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) lasted over 16 hours in our tests, we think Apple can do better, given that a tablet isn’t a million miles from a laptop.
Even an extra couple of hours would make all the difference, so we hope that’s a focus for Apple with the next model, as it could help ensure the iPad 2024’s place among the best iPads.
The iPad 11 is overdue, given that the most recent model – the iPad 10.9 (2022) – landed all the way back in March of 2022. The good news though is that it could land soon, with leaks pointing to a launch in early 2025. Despite the current model’s age,…
