Apple Executive Suggests iPad 12 Launch Delayed Until After June

<h2>Breaking: iPad 12 with Apple Intelligence Pushed Back</h2><p><strong>Apple's CFO has dropped a strong hint that the next-generation entry-level iPad won't arrive until after June 2026</strong>, dashing hopes for an announcement at next month's WWDC conference. The comment came during the company's earnings call on Thursday, where Kevan Parekh warned of a '<a href="#what-this-means">difficult compare</a>' in iPad revenue for the March–June period due to the launch of the iPad 11 with an A16 chip in March 2025.</p><figure style="margin:20px 0"><img src="https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2025/03/iPad-A16-Colors.jpg" alt="Apple Executive Suggests iPad 12 Launch Delayed Until After June" style="width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px" loading="lazy"><figcaption style="font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:5px">Source: www.macrumors.com</figcaption></figure><p><em>"We expect our June quarter total company revenue to grow by 14 to 17 percent year-over-year, which comprehends our best view of constrained supply. On iPad, keep in mind, we face a difficult compare driven by the launch of the A16-powered iPad in the prior year,"</em> Parekh said.</p><p>Industry analysts quickly interpreted the remark as a clear signal that no new iPad base model — widely referred to as the iPad 12 — is coming in the current fiscal quarter, which ends June 27. That effectively rules out an unveiling at the <strong>Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)</strong> running from June 8 through June 12.</p><h3>Why the Delay Matters</h3><p>The current entry-level iPad, the 11th generation, lacks support for <strong>Apple Intelligence</strong> — the company's suite of AI features — because it runs an A16 chip. Every other current iPad model (iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad Pro) already has AI capabilities. A new model with a more powerful processor would bring those advanced tools to budget-conscious users.</p><p>Bloomberg's <strong>Mark Gurman</strong> reported in March that an entry-level iPad with an A18 chip was "ready to go" and expected later this year. Macworld's <strong>Filipe Espósito</strong> went further, claiming the iPad 12 might even sport an A19 chip. Both the A18 and A19 are designed to handle Apple Intelligence, ensuring the device will be fully compatible.</p><h3 id="what-this-means">What This Means for Consumers</h3><p>If you're holding off on buying a new iPad hoping for the base model to gain AI smarts, you'll have to wait at least a few more months. The iPad 12 will likely maintain the current design (same colors: pink, yellow, blue, silver) and start at $349 in the U.S. The biggest upgrade will be the chipset, enabling Apple Intelligence features like advanced photo editing, smarter Siri, and on-device summarization.</p><figure style="margin:20px 0"><img src="https://images.macrumors.com/t/Qw2sgjdjsMUabI8UO1bw5VgjIJM=/400x400/article-new/2026/03/iOS-27-on-iPhone-17-1.jpg" alt="Apple Executive Suggests iPad 12 Launch Delayed Until After June" style="width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px" loading="lazy"><figcaption style="font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:5px">Source: www.macrumors.com</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Bottom line:</strong> Don't expect an iPad 12 at WWDC or any Apple event before the end of June. A release later in the second half of 2026 is still on the cards, according to multiple reports.</p><h2>Background</h2><p>The entry-level iPad is Apple's most affordable tablet, currently priced at $349. It lacks the Apple Intelligence capabilities found on the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro because its A16 chip doesn't meet the hardware requirements. The iPad 12 is expected to fix that gap with an A18 or A19 chip. No other major design changes have been rumored, so the device should look nearly identical to the current model.</p><p>Apple's decision to skip launching a new base model this quarter contrasts sharply with last year, when the iPad 11 debuted in March 2025. Parekh's 'difficult compare' comment implies that without a new model, year-over-year iPad revenue growth will face headwinds.</p><h2>Related Coverage</h2><ul><li><strong>iPad Roundup:</strong> All the latest iPad rumors and leaks</li><li><strong>Apple Intelligence:</strong> What's coming next from Apple's AI push</li><li><strong>Buyer's Guide:</strong> Should you wait or buy an iPad now?</li></ul>