Apple may be about to bend one of its quietest rules. An internal iOS 26 code snapshot seen by Macworld and picked up across the tech press suggests the next low‑cost iPad — reportedly codenamed J581/J582 — will use the A19 chip found in the iPhone 17, while the iPad Air lineup shifts to an M4 and both gain Apple’s N1 wireless silicon.
What the leaks actually show
The files in this pre‑release build point to two entry‑level iPad SKUs (J581 and J582) using A19, a jump from the A16 inside the current iPad 11. Separately, the iPad Air family appears in code as J707/J708 and J737/J738 and is tied to the M4. Both families are listed as also carrying Apple’s N1 Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth networking chip.
Why that matters: the A19 is a 3nm part with noticeably higher single‑ and multi‑thread performance than the A16. Published takes put the uplift around the 40–60% range in some workloads; Apple’s own Apple Intelligence roadmap also favors chips with extra CPU/GPU headroom and more RAM. Reports suggest the A19 variants will ship with roughly 8GB of RAM versus 6GB in the A16 iPad.
Why this would be a break from precedent
Historically Apple has kept the entry iPad a generation or two behind iPhones on silicon. That’s part price strategy, part product segmentation: cheaper iPads use older A chips so the Pro and Air lines retain prestige and headroom for pro workflows.
Putting a current‑generation A19 into the budget slate would be unusual—especially because it raises questions about price and margins. But there are sensible explanations: improving yields on the N3P process, strategic binning, or a deliberate move to future‑proof the device for AI and multitasking features that need more RAM and neural horsepower.
The N1 wireless chip: small change, noticeable effect
The code also flags Apple’s N1 wireless silicon in both models. N1 surfaced this year in iPhones and promises better power efficiency and lower latency for Wi‑Fi and AirDrop-like features. Some reports add a caveat: N1 supports Wi‑Fi 7 broadly but might skip the ultra‑wide 320MHz channel in some SKUs, so peak throughput won’t always match the very fastest routers.
iPad Air gets the M4 — but don’t expect dramatic redesigns
The iPad Air’s code names point to an M4 upgrade without major display or camera overhauls. That tracks with Apple’s pattern: Air gets an M‑series chip a generation behind Pro. The same N1 networking addition shows Apple is standardizing that part of the platform.
If you follow Apple’s Mac refreshes, the M4 name will sound familiar — the chip is already being used in Macs and laptops. (Yes, the M4 has shown up in MacBook Air deals this year, and you can find pricing and coverage in our recent roundup.)
What the change would mean for users and the market
- Performance and longevity: An A19 base iPad would run circles around older entry‑level tablets, handle more demanding apps and games, and likely extend software support windows. That matters if you keep hardware for five or more years.
- Apple Intelligence readiness: More RAM and a more capable SoC could mean the entry iPad finally supports more advanced on‑device AI features instead of being left behind.
- Competitive pressure: If Apple pushes flagship silicon into lower price tiers, Android and Chromebook makers will feel pressure to match performance at the same price points.
- Pricing mystery: Apple could absorb the cost, nudge features elsewhere, or simply raise the entry price. All three are plausible.
What the leaks don’t say
Code visibility is useful but partial. There’s no clear mention of new displays, camera systems, or whether cellular models will be upgraded to the latest C1 5G modems. The iPad Pro and mini aren’t present in this slice of code, so their roadmaps remain opaque — Apple occasionally staggers updates across years.
Macworld’s report also notes some oddities in the codenames (J581/J588 instead of strictly sequential identifiers), which could mean plans shifted while the build was compiled.
A practical note for buyers
If you were waiting for an iPad upgrade and the rumor proves true, the 2026 budget iPad could be unusually future‑resistant. That said, Apple typically announces iPad refreshes early in the year, so if you don’t urgently need a new tablet there’s a reasonable case for waiting a few months.
For readers tracking the M‑series rollout across Apple’s laptops, the M4’s appearance in iPads follows the same flow we’ve seen on Macs — and the chip already features in some discounted MacBook Air listings this season, including deals on the M4 MacBook Air that are worth a look if you’re comparing Apple hardware across categories. M4 MacBook Air is practical context here, and if you’re curious about Apple’s lower‑cost notebook strategy it’s worth revisiting coverage of the rumored budget MacBook J700.
There’s also a broader software angle: Apple’s push toward device‑level AI and new Siri approaches suggests stronger silicon at the bottom of its lineup may be necessary. For background on that strategy, see recent reporting on Apple pairing up cloud and on‑device models for smarter assistants. Apple to Use a Custom Google Gemini Model to Power Next‑Gen Siri.
No official word from Apple yet — and leaks can change — but if the code is accurate the 2026 iPad lineup looks less about tiny iterative bumps and more about shifting where Apple puts its silicon muscle.
Release timing: the scattered reports expect an early‑2026 announcement if Apple follows its usual cadence.