I’m contemplating whether to start a discussion about the iPad lineup for 2026. The recent news about an anticipated low-cost MacBook has sparked both excitement and confusion in me. From what I understand, Apple is unlikely to incorporate the A18 Pro chip with a 64-bit memory bus into the MacBook, especially considering that even the M1 MacBook featured a 128-bit memory bus. Shifting my focus to the iPad lineup for the upcoming year, I believe I’ve grasped what Ming-Chi Kuo may be implying.
It appears Apple might introduce a 13-inch iPad positioned below the iPad Mini, rather than debuting a low-cost MacBook. Both the iPad Mini and iPad Air are expected to receive OLED displays in 2026, and it’s reasonable to anticipate a price increase for those models. This creates a gap in pricing between the standard iPad and the iPad Mini, which could be filled by the new 13-inch iPad utilizing the A18 Pro chip. By the time this launch occurs, Apple should have a sufficient supply of laminated displays for the standard iPad.
Consequently, the future iPad lineup will likely comprise various display types—LCD, OLED, and Tandem OLED—across different sizes, including the iPad Mini. While I may not be completely accurate in my predictions, this scenario seems more plausible to me than the concept of a low-cost MacBook, which would conflict with the existing MacBook lineup. I welcome your thoughts on this—agree or disagree, I’d love to hear your insights.
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