Apple has confirmed that it will unveil new hardware next Monday morning ahead of its official product event on March 4. Among the expected announcements are a refreshed basic model powered by the A18 chip and a new iPad Air featuring Apple’s M4 processor.

Find out what to expect from both devices.

Basic iPad with A18 and Apple Intelligence (12th Generation)

The entry-level iPad is expected to receive one of its most significant updates in years.

The most notable change is the transition to the A18 chip, which will support Apple Intelligence for the first time in the basic iPad. Currently, it is the only iPad in Apple’s lineup that does not support Apple’s AI features.

With the A18, users can expect:

  • Full Apple Intelligence support in iPadOS 26
  • Access to future Siri enhancements
  • Improved performance for everyday tasks
  • Increased RAM, likely rising from 6GB to 8GB

Another potential change is the addition of Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, introduced with the iPhone 17 series. This chip provides enhanced reliability for features like Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread support, and Personal Hotspot with AirDrop. The overall design is expected to remain largely unchanged, aside from new color options.

iPad Air Transitioning from M3 to M4 Without Design Changes

The iPad Air is expected to transition from last year's M3 chip to Apple’s newer M4 processor.

While major design changes are not anticipated, here’s what the M4 chip is expected to deliver:

  • Improved performance in iPadOS 26
  • Better management of AI tasks
  • Increased performance for professional applications
  • Higher efficiency under sustained loads

The iPad Air is expected to continue offering 11-inch and 13-inch size options along with Touch ID. Apple may also bring the N1 wireless chip to the Air series, and cellular variants are likely to adopt the C1X modem.

Other iPad Models Not Coming Yet

Other iPad models are not expected to be updated next week. There are rumors that the iPad mini will receive an OLED screen later this year, while a new iPad Pro update is not expected until 2027.

Apple’s event next week should confirm the final features, pricing, and availability.