Apple Ignores the People: The iPad Everyone Needs Stays Stuck in 2022 While Pro Models Get All the Love

In a move that’s leaving budget-conscious consumers scratching their heads and reaching for their wallets in frustration, Apple has once again demonstrated its apparent indifference to the average iPad buyer. While the tech giant showers attention on its premium iPad Pro and iPad Air models with cutting-edge upgrades, the entry-level iPad—the one most families actually buy—remains trapped in technological purgatory with a three-year-old chip that can’t even run Apple’s much-hyped AI features.

The Great iPad Upgrade Mystery of 2025

Picture this: You’re ready to write a glowing article about how Apple finally brought Apple Intelligence to its entry-level iPad. You’ve got your research done, your angle perfected, and then—crickets. The update never arrives. The iPad that CNET boldly calls «the one we tend to recommend» and «actually called ‘iPad’» sits there, unchanged, while its more expensive siblings get all the technological goodies.

The iPad Pro M5, released last fall, represents Apple’s vision of tablet perfection—or at least, their vision of tablet profitability. Starting at a cool $999, this beast of a device costs as much as or more than a MacBook Air. Yes, you get a gorgeous OLED display and a thinner profile that looks fantastic in a keyboard case, but let’s be honest: most people buying a $1,000 tablet aren’t doing it for the aesthetics alone.

Meanwhile, the new iPad Air has received the M4 chip treatment and faster wireless internals, positioning itself as the «Goldilocks» of the iPad lineup. At $599 and up, it’s not exactly budget-friendly, but depending on how many accessories and how much storage you add, you’re essentially buying a «mitigated-cost pro iPad with a few extras cut out.» No OLED screen for you, budget-conscious buyer!

The Entry-Level iPad: Left Behind in the AI Revolution

Here’s where things get genuinely frustrating. The regular iPad, priced at $349, still runs on the A16 chip—the same processor Apple debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro way back in 2022. That’s right, folks: your «affordable» iPad is rocking a chip that’s older than some TikTok trends.

But wait, it gets worse. The A16 chip is the only processor in Apple’s current product lineup that cannot run Apple Intelligence. That’s correct—the iPad that most families buy, the one CNET specifically recommends for kids and everyday use, is completely cut off from Apple’s AI revolution. It’s like buying a smartphone in 2025 that can’t run apps.

You might think, «Well, I don’t really need Apple Intelligence anyway.» Fair point, but that’s right now. Apple’s new partnership with Google to integrate Gemini into Siri promises to deliver actual useful AI features that could make a real difference in how we use our devices. And guess what? Your $349 iPad won’t be able to access any of it.

The Storage Situation: Apple’s Hidden Middle Finger

As if the outdated chip weren’t enough, Apple continues to insult entry-level iPad buyers with its storage offerings. The base 128GB of storage is adequate for basic use, but in 2025, with apps getting larger and media consumption through the roof, it’s becoming increasingly tight. Apple isn’t doing any favors here, and it feels like a deliberate strategy to push buyers toward more expensive models.

Is This a Stealth Price Increase in Disguise?

The message from Cupertino is crystal clear: Apple wants you to spend more money on a fancier iPad. In today’s economy, that’s a tough sell for many families, and it’s particularly galling when you consider that Apple still hasn’t figured out how to make iPads truly viable Mac alternatives.

iPadOS has improved significantly, offering more capabilities than ever before, and Apple is reportedly working on an even more affordable MacBook for the future. But this creates a bizarre paradox: why spend $600+ on an iPad that isn’t a full computer replacement when you could potentially get a real laptop for similar money?

The reality is that spending less on an iPad has always made more sense precisely because it’s not a Mac replacement. But Apple seems determined to blur those lines while simultaneously making their «basic» model less appealing than ever.

The Waiting Game: What’s a Budget Buyer to Do?

So here we are, waiting for an update that may never come, or at least not anytime soon. The iPad Air is fine—really, it is—but it’s not the new everyday iPad that most people need. For families hoping to score a good deal on a device for their kids, the options are increasingly limited and increasingly expensive.

Apple appears to have made a strategic decision: the Air is now the new basic iPad. With better Pro and Air models getting all the attention and upgrades, that entry-level iPad is looking worse than ever. It’s not just outdated; it’s becoming obsolete in Apple’s ecosystem.

The Bottom Line

The entry-level iPad’s stagnation represents more than just a missed opportunity for Apple—it’s a betrayal of the very customers who made the iPad line successful in the first place. While tech enthusiasts and professionals might appreciate the M5’s raw power or the Air’s balanced approach, the vast majority of iPad buyers are families, students, and casual users who just want a reliable, affordable tablet that won’t be obsolete in six months.

Apple’s strategy seems to be working in the sense that they’re selling more expensive iPads, but they’re also alienating the budget-conscious consumers who once saw the iPad as an accessible entry point into the Apple ecosystem. In an era where every dollar counts, forcing families to choose between an outdated device and a significantly more expensive one feels particularly tone-deaf.

The question remains: how long will Apple ignore the people who made the iPad a household name? And more importantly, how many potential customers will they lose to competitors who actually care about offering value at every price point?

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