iPad 11th Generation: Specs, Price, and Review (2025)

You’ve probably seen the iPad 11th generation pop up in tech headlines, and for good reason: it’s Apple’s latest attempt to pack serious performance into its most affordable tablet, announced on March 4, 2025 and released a week later on March 12, swapping the old A14 chip for the A16 Bionic and doubling base storage to 128 GB. Here’s what you need to know before you buy, from real-world performance to where it fits in Apple’s lineup.

Release date: March 4, 2025 (announced); March 12, 2025 (available) ·
Processor: Apple A16 Bionic chip ·
Base storage: 128 GB ·
Display: 11-inch Liquid Retina display ·
Starting price: $349 (US)

Ten specifications, one pattern: the iPad 11th gen focuses on raw performance and storage capacity while intentionally leaving premium features like ProMotion and Face ID to higher-tier models.

Bottom line: The specs confirm Apple’s strategy: deliver a chip that rivals last year’s iPhones but keep the display and design from the 10th gen. For buyers who prioritize processor power over display smoothness, this trade-off works.

What year is the 11th generation iPad?

The 11th-generation iPad belongs to the 2025 model year. Apple officially announced it on March 4, 2025 via press release, and it became available for purchase on March 12, 2025 (PhoneArena’s product page). It replaced the 10th generation iPad, which launched in October 2022.

Release timeline and model numbering

The iPad (11th generation) follows Apple’s standard numbering for its entry-level tablet line. It succeeds the iPad (10th generation) from 2022, skipping a 2023–2024 refresh (Wikipedia entry). The “11th generation” label distinguishes it from the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini families.

How it fits into Apple’s iPad lineup

It sits at the bottom of the iPad family: the standard iPad is the most affordable, followed by the iPad Air, then the iPad Pro. The 11th gen retains the same chassis as the 10th gen — flat edges, Touch ID in the power button, USB‑C port — but upgrades the internals (Apple’s official specs page).

Bottom line: Apple refreshed its entry-level iPad after a three-year gap. The 2025 release means you’re buying a device that will receive software updates for the next five to six years.

Is the iPad 11 generation good?

For its price, yes — with clear caveats. The A16 chip delivers a meaningful performance jump over the A14 in the 10th gen, and the base storage doubling to 128 GB removes a major pain point. But Apple kept the same 60 Hz display, removed no bezels, and omitted Face ID. The result is a tablet that feels fast for day‑to‑day tasks but not “premium.”

Performance and everyday use

The A16 chip, paired with reportedly 6 GB of LPDDR5 RAM (Wikipedia entry), makes the iPad 11th gen snappy for browsing, streaming, note‑taking, and light creative work. It runs iPadOS 18.3.2 at launch, upgradable to iPadOS 26 (Columbia University IT guide). In one‑year update reviews, testers report it still feels fluid for daily apps (PhoneArena’s product page).

Pros and cons

Who should buy it

Students who need a capable note‑taking and research device, casual users for streaming and web browsing, and families looking for a shared tablet will find the iPad 11th gen an excellent value. Professionals who depend on advanced stylus responsiveness (120 Hz) or want a full‑screen Face ID experience should look at the iPad Air or iPad Pro (Apple’s official specs page).

Bottom line: For most people, the iPad 11th gen is “good enough” — especially at $349. Students: this is your budget winner. Creative pros: skip it.

How much does the iPad Gen 11 cost?

Apple set the starting price at $349 (US) for the 128 GB Wi‑Fi model, exactly the same launch price as the 10th gen but with double the base storage (PhoneArena’s product page).

Pricing tiers and storage options

Wi‑Fi models: $349 (128 GB), $399 (256 GB), $549 (512 GB). Cellular models add $150 to each tier (Apple’s official specs page).

Price comparison with previous model

The 10th gen launched at $349 for 64 GB. The 11th gen keeps the same starting price but doubles storage — effectively a price drop per gigabyte (Wikipedia entry).

Where to buy and deals

Available directly from Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers. Education pricing from Apple brings the 128 GB Wi‑Fi model to about $319 (PhoneArena’s product page).

The pricing strategy makes the 11th gen a strong value proposition.

Which iPad will stop working in 2026?

Apple typically drops software support for iPads with chips older than about seven years. In 2026, iPads powered by the A9 chip or earlier — such as the iPad (5th generation) and iPad Air 2 — are unlikely to receive iPadOS 20 (Wikipedia entry).

iPad models that lose support in 2026

Based on past cut-off patterns, devices with A8X, A9, and A10 chips face obsolescence. The iPad (6th generation) from 2018 with the A10 chip may also stop receiving major iPadOS updates (Wikipedia entry).

What “stop working” means: iOS updates and app compatibility

“Stop working” usually means no further iPadOS major version updates, though security patches may continue for a while. Apps gradually drop support for older OS versions. The 11th gen iPad, with its A16 chip, will remain supported well beyond 2030 (Apple’s official specs page).

Bottom line: Buyers worried about obsolescence: the 11th gen is safe for at least six to seven years. The 5th gen and earlier? They’re on borrowed time.

What is special about the iPad 11th generation?

Two features stand out: the A16 chip and the 128 GB base storage. Together they make the 11th gen the most powerful and space‑generous entry-level iPad Apple has ever sold (Apple’s official specs page).

A16 chip and performance jump

The A16 Bionic — a 5‑core CPU, 4‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine chip — is the same processor used in the iPhone 14 Pro. It brings roughly a 30% CPU boost over the A14 in the 10th gen (Wikipedia entry).

128 GB base storage

Apple doubled the entry-level storage from 64 GB to 128 GB without raising the price. This is the first standard iPad to start at 128 GB (PhoneArena’s product page).

Design and color options

The design carries over from the 10th gen: flat aluminum frame, 11‑inch display, Touch ID in the top button, USB‑C. New colors: Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver (Apple’s official specs page).

Nine key hardware specs, one pattern: the iPad 11th gen borrows its display and cameras from the 2022 model but leaps ahead in processing and connectivity.

Timeline signal

• March 4, 2025 — Apple announces the 11th‑generation iPad via press release. (PhoneArena’s product page)
• March 12, 2025 — iPad 11th gen becomes available for purchase (PhoneArena’s product page)
• 2026+ — Expected software support until at least 2030 or later (Apple’s official specs page).

What’s clear, what’s not

What experts say

“Now with the superfast A16 chip and 128GB of starting storage, iPad is more capable than ever.”

— Apple marketing (Apple’s official specs page)

“The new iPad brings tremendous value with a powerful chip, more storage, and a beautiful 11‑inch display.”

— Apple press release (Apple’s official specs page)

Summary

Apple has made the 11th‑generation iPad the most compelling entry‑level tablet it has ever sold. By doubling the base storage to 128 GB, upgrading to the A16 chip, and keeping the price at $349, the company delivers real value — even if it reused the 10th gen chassis and display. For students in the US, the decision is clear: if you need a reliable tablet for note‑taking, research, and streaming without creeping into iPad Air territory, the iPad 11th gen is the best value in Apple’s lineup. For professionals who demand ProMotion and a layered display, the trade‑off points elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

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