iPad 11th Generation: Release Date, Price, Specs & Comparison

Anyone scanning Apple’s tablet lineup this spring might do a double-take: the price tag looks familiar, but the name is new. The iPad 11th generation, announced in March 2025, keeps the same design as its predecessor but swaps in a faster chip and doubles the base storage to 128 GB — all at the same entry-level price.

Announced: March 4, 2025 ·
Processor: Apple A16 Bionic chip ·
Starting storage: 128 GB ·
Display size: 11-inch Liquid Retina ·
Base price (Ireland): €429 (128 GB Wi-Fi)

Eight key specifications define the iPad 11th generation — one pattern is a storage floor that erases the old 64 GB starting point.

When did the iPad 11th Generation come out?

Apple announced the iPad 11th generation on March 4, 2025 during a press release alongside the updated iPad Air M3 Apple press-release archive. Pre‑orders opened shortly after, and the first units began shipping to customers in mid‑March 2025 Apple announcement. Reviews from outlets such as WIRED appeared on March 12. By late March, the tablet was widely available at Apple Stores, Currys, Vodafone Ireland, and CeX.

What this means: The iPad 11 landed nearly two and a half years after the 10th generation — roughly the same cadence Apple has followed for entry‑level iPads since 2020. For shoppers in Ireland, stock has been consistent since launch, and carriers like Vodafone are already bundling it with data plans.

Why is the iPad 11 so cheap?

The iPad 11 starts at €429 in Ireland (128 GB Wi‑Fi) — the same launch price Apple used for the 64 GB iPad 10 in 2022 Apple official Irish store. The low entry price isn’t a mistake; it reflects deliberate choices.

• No M‑series chip. The A16 Bionic is a mobile processor, not a desktop‑class chip like the M1/M2 used in iPad Air and Pro models. That keeps component costs down.
• Identical chassis. The design, display, and cameras are lifted directly from the iPad 10 — no expensive retooling required.
• Legacy accessories. The iPad 11 supports the 1st‑generation Apple Pencil (via a USB‑C adapter) and the Magic Keyboard Folio, not the newer Pencil Pro or Magic Keyboard. Apple doesn’t need to redesign accessory production lines.

What compromises does the iPad 11th generation make?

• No ProMotion (120 Hz) – still a 60 Hz display.
• No Face ID – relies on Touch ID in the top button.
• Same 12 MP cameras as the iPad 10 – no improvement in sensor.
• Works with older Apple Pencil (1st gen) via adapter, not the latest Pencil Pro Apple accessory compatibility.

How does the price compare to the iPad Air and iPad Pro?

• iPad 11 (128 GB Wi‑Fi): €429
• iPad Air M3 (11‑inch, 128 GB Wi‑Fi): £649 / approx. €749 (Irish pricing likely similar)
• iPad Pro M4 (11‑inch, 256 GB Wi‑Fi): €1,249

The pattern: Apple positions the base iPad as the mass‑market entry point, trading premium features for a price that undercuts the Air by nearly 40 %.

Which is better, iPad 11 or iPad 10?

The answer depends on whether you already own an iPad 10 — or are buying new. The core differences boil down to chip performance, storage capacity, and pricing. Four key specs tell the story.

Key differences between iPad 11th and 10th generation

• Chip: A16 vs A14 — estimated 30 % faster CPU performance LaptopMag tech-review publication.
• RAM: 6 GB vs 4 GB — 50 % more memory NanoReview benchmark database.
• Storage floor: 128 GB vs 64 GB — doubled base capacity at the same price.
• Battery life: About 28 minutes longer in real‑world testing LaptopMag battery benchmark.
• Design, display, camera, connectivity: Identical across both generations.

Should you upgrade from iPad 10 to iPad 11?

For most iPad 10 owners, the answer is no. The design is the same, the screen is the same, and the cameras are identical. The performance jump is real — especially in gaming and photo editing — but not dramatic enough to justify €429 unless you’re hitting the 64 GB storage ceiling. New buyers, however, should skip the iPad 10: the 11th generation offers more storage and a faster chip for the same price.

Is the iPad 11th Generation old?

No — the iPad 11th generation was released in March 2025 and is currently Apple’s newest entry‑level iPad Apple current lineup. It replaces the iPad 10th generation as the base model. Based on Apple’s typical support cycle — the iPad 6th generation from 2018 received iPadOS 17 in 2023 — the iPad 11 should receive major software updates for at least 5–6 years, meaning iPadOS support until at least 2030–2031 Wikipedia iPad lifecycle notes.

Which iPads will no longer be supported in 2026?

Apple has not published a formal cut‑off list for iPadOS 26, but historical patterns point to the iPad 6th generation (2018) and iPad 7th generation (2019) as likely candidates for obsolescence Wikipedia iPad compatibility history. The iPad 10th generation (2022) still has years of support left, and the iPad 11th generation (2025) is safe through at least the early 2030s.

• Expected to lose iPadOS 26 (2026): iPad 6th gen (2018, A10), iPad 7th gen (2019, A10).
• Likely still supported: iPad 8th gen (2020, A12), iPad 9th gen (2021, A13), iPad 10th gen (2022, A14), iPad 11th gen (2025, A16).

The pattern: Apple’s support cutoffs track processor generations, and the A16 chip in the iPad 11 places it well inside the supported window for the foreseeable future.

iPad 11th Generation timeline

• March 4, 2025 — Apple announces the iPad 11th generation alongside iPad Air M3 Apple announcement.
• March 12, 2025 — Reviews appear (e.g., WIRED) and pre‑orders open.
• Mid‑March 2025 — First units ship to customers.
• Q2 2025 — Broad retail availability in Ireland (Apple Store, Currys, Vodafone, CeX).

What we know and what remains unclear

Expert perspectives

“The iPad 11th generation is brilliantly basic.”

— Matt Burgess, WIRED tech-review publication

“The 11th‑generation iPad replaced the 10th‑generation model as Apple’s entry‑level tablet, featuring the A16 Bionic chip and starting at 128 GB of storage.”

— Wikipedia community-edited encyclopedia

“The iPad 11th generation supports eSIM and works with the Magic Keyboard Folio designed for the 10th‑generation iPad.”

— Apple official product specifications

For Irish buyers, the choice is straightforward: the iPad 11th generation delivers the best value in the entry‑level segment, especially with its 128 GB base storage and the same €429 price tag that the iPad 10 carried at launch. If you’re on a tight budget or buying for a student, skip the older model and go with the 11th gen. If you already own an iPad 10, the upgrade incentive is mild unless storage or performance is a daily bottleneck.

Related reading: iPhone 12 Mini in 2025: Worth It, Support & Problems · Best iPhone 13 Pro Max Cases: Best Picks and Expert Guide

A thorough review of the iPad 11th generation’s performance and value is available in the iPad 11th generation review.

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