Next iPad May Lack Apple’s Biggest New Feature

Apple Intelligence represents one of the most significant breakthroughs from Apple in recent years; however, it appears the upcoming iPad 11 may lack these features. It’s rumored that the iPad 11 could be equipped with the older T8120 processor, which would suggest it utilizes the A16 chipset. Although the A16 chipset is powerful, it may not fully support the Apple Intelligence functions available in more recent models.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, along with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, currently utilize this A16 chipset. According to an article by MacRumors, the details come from a source that remains anonymous, contradicting earlier statements by Mark Gurman, who has a notable reputation for accurate predictions.

Gurman has stated, in contrast, that the iPad 11 will feature the A17 Pro chip along with 8GB of RAM, which are the basic requirements for utilizing Apple Intelligence capabilities. If Apple opts for lower specifications, there’s a chance the iPad 11 could forego these capabilities altogether. Nonetheless, it’s hard to imagine Apple would choose to exclude such innovative features from its latest model.

Another possibility worth considering is that the T8120 designation refers to the underlying silicon, while the A16 label might be more about marketing than actual specifications. Apple has the ability to repackage the T8120 processor, potentially pairing it with greater RAM, and rebranding it as something like the A16 Pro or A16X. With the right configuration, the T8120 could even outperform the M2 chip found in MacBooks. This adds credibility to the rumors that Apple is ramping up the production of A16 chips at its Arizona facility.

A term you may not be familiar with is NPU, which stands for neural processing unit. This chip is engineered to replicate brain functions and is essential for supporting AI technologies. The A16 can handle an impressive 17 trillion operations per second (TOPS), while the M2’s capabilities peak at 15.8 TOPS, highlighting a notable disparity in performance.

The A16 is likely to remain in use until at least 2026, as it is the primary chip in the iPhone 15 series. With this in mind, it seems logical for Apple to continue leveraging its existing inventory instead of manufacturing entirely new chips.

Repackaging chips isn’t a novel practice for Apple; they’ve already successfully employed this strategy with the Apple Watch. Both the S9 and S10 series chips in the Apple Watch are derived from T8310 silicon, making the rebranding approach quite typical for the company.

The full workings of Apple Intelligence are still not completely understood, as it likely involves more than just the NPU. However, the A16 could manage AI functionalities effectively with just a bit more RAM.