Apple's 2026 Entry-Level iPad to Feature A19 Chip and In-House N1 Module

Internal documentation accessed in 2025 outlined the development path for Apple's 12th-generation entry-level iPad series, currently scheduled for a 2026 debut. The forthcoming models, internally designated J581 and J582 for the base variants, are slated to incorporate the A19 processor, a significant upgrade from the A16 chip used in the 2025 11th-generation model. This strategic hardware alignment is intended to ensure full support for the advanced Apple Intelligence features, which reportedly require a minimum of 8GB of RAM, an increase over the 6GB present in the preceding generation.

The A19 system-on-a-chip is manufactured using TSMC's performance-tuned 3-nanometer N3P process, which reportedly offers approximately 50% greater computational performance compared to the A16. The A16 was built on the 4 nm N4P process. The A19 architecture is similar to the A19 Pro, featuring two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, with the standard A19 variant equipped with a five-core Graphics Processing Unit. This fabrication advantage, stemming from an optical shrink of the N3E node, is designed to yield gains in both speed and energy efficiency.

In addition to the processor upgrade, the 2026 base iPad is set to integrate the fanless Apple N1 networking module, a proprietary component that debuted in the iPhone 17 series. This chip is a key element in Apple's initiative to reduce dependence on external suppliers like Broadcom, bringing native support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and the Thread mesh networking protocol. The N1 module is intended to optimize performance and reliability for ecosystem functions such as AirDrop and Personal Hotspot, though documentation indicates a limitation to a maximum 160 MHz channel width for Wi-Fi 7, matching the capability of the previous generation's Broadcom chip.

Despite these substantial internal advancements, several physical specifications for the J581 and J582 models are projected to remain consistent with the prior generation. This includes retaining the 10.9-inch IPS LCD Liquid Retina display, which continues to lack a full lamination layer and remains restricted to a standard 60Hz refresh rate. The anticipated market introduction for this 12th-generation entry-level iPad is scheduled for the fall of 2026, aligning with potential September or October release windows, as part of a broader 2026 product strategy.