It was reported earlier this month that Apple's entry-level iPad 11 will support Apple Intelligence, but according to the latest information, the device is expected to be the only device in the company's lineup to ditch it. The iPad 11 was expected to be equipped with the company's A17 Pro chip, the company's base chip, to bolster its AI features. It is now being reported that the iPad 11 will come with an older A16 chip, which does not have the raw processing power to be compatible with Apple Intelligence.
iPad 11 to feature an A16 chip with 6GB of RAM, which means that it will not be compatible with Apple Intelligence
The iPad 11 will be the company's entry-level iPad that features a modern design similar to the iPad Air lineup but with only a fraction of the performance thanks to an older chip. It appears that the company will keep its trend alive and offer the device as the base model that can run iPadOS 18 but not Apple Intelligence. What this means is that the device is not on the company's radar to be significant enough to support AI extensions.
We have previously reported that if Apple sees fit to incorporate the A17 Pro chip in the iPad 11, it would cannibalize the iPad mini 7. The device with its bigger display would be a better option for users compared to the iPad mini 7, and it is where the company would draw the line. To prevent this, Apple will potentially equip the device with an older A16 chip instead of an A17 Pro.
The news was shared by a private account on X (via MacRumors), suggesting that the iPad 11 will launch with a chip with an identifier number of T8120. The identifier belongs to the A16 Bionic chip, which is not compatible with Apple Intelligence. Note that the A16 Bionic is still a very capable chip, as it powers the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max along with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. While the performance of the chip is not the issue, it lacks support for Apple's latest AI features, and it would be a deal-breaker for many.
Apple's minimum specification requirement for Apple Intelligence is an A17 Pro chip coupled with at least 8GB of RAM. It appears that the AI features will not meet the cut for the company's AI utilities. Do take the news with a grain of salt, as Mark Gurman has previously stated that the device will feature an A17 Pro chip conjoined with 8GB of RAM and ultimately be capable of sporting Apple Intelligence. The anonymous account also states that the iPad 11 will house 6GB of RAM, which means that the device will not be on par with the base specifications to bolster Apple Intelligence.
At this point, we are not sure which way to go with the information, as Mark Gurman and the anonymous leaker are both credible and accurate when it comes to sharing details related to unreleased Apple devices. The company will launch the iPad 11 alongside the iPhone SE 4 in the coming months, so be sure to keep an eye out for the latest.
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