iPad 11 Rumors: A16 Chip or A17 Pro? Apple Intelligence Support in Question
Earlier this month, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg mentioned that the upcoming iPad 11 is expected to support Apple Intelligence. But now, a new leak is throwing some doubt on that prediction.
A trusted but anonymous source on the social media platform X, known for sharing accurate iOS-related leaks, has claimed that the iPad 11 will feature a chip with the identifier T8120. For those keeping track, that’s the A16 chip. The issue? The A16 chip doesn’t currently support the Apple Intelligence suite of AI features. If you’re familiar with Apple’s product lineup, you’ll recognize the A16 chip in devices like the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus—none of which have access to Apple Intelligence.
Out of respect for the source’s desire to stay under the radar, we won’t be linking to their posts. They prefer to remain anonymous and keep things low-key.
iPad 11 with A17 Pro?
On the flip side, Gurman has predicted that the iPad 11 will come with an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM. This setup matches the minimum requirements for Apple Intelligence and lines up with the specs of the latest iPad mini, which also features the A17 Pro and 8GB RAM. However, if the anonymous source is correct, it seems the upcoming iPad might use the A16 chip, paired with 6GB of RAM instead. If that happens, it could mean one of two things: the iPad 11 might skip Apple Intelligence altogether, or Apple might surprise us by lowering the hardware requirements for its AI features.
So, who’s right—Gurman or the anonymous leaker? Both have solid track records when it comes to Apple rumors, though neither is perfect. It’s also possible they’re both partially correct. Apple might introduce several configurations of the upcoming iPad11, offering different specs and price points to cater to a wider audience.
Regardless of the chip, Apple is expected to announce the iPad 11 sometime between March and April. Outside of the possible spec upgrades, don’t expect any dramatic design changes. Gurman has also mentioned that Apple could release an updated Magic Keyboard accessory alongside the iPad 11, adding another layer of appeal to the device.
As always, we’ll have to wait and see which direction Apple takes. Whether it’s the A16 or A17 Pro chip, the iPad 11 is shaping up to be an interesting addition to Apple’s lineup.
