What Apple's iPad 11 can't do – and why it's still interesting
In addition to the iPad Air M3, Apple unveiled the 11th-gen standard iPad this week. Depending on your needs, it may be either disappointing or a solid buy.
The iPad 11: actually fully equipped. Actually.
(Image: Apple)
There's been quite a lot going on in terms of Apple hardware this week: in addition to new Macs from the MacBook Air and Mac Studio series, Apple has also unveiled two new tablets. There was a small surprise in the chip configuration. Users are now asking themselves whether the purchase is worthwhile.
iPad Air M3 as before
The iPad Air M3 is probably the least controversial of the two new tablet models. It is simply the logical continuation of the predecessor model: instead of the M2 from 2024, there is now a 20 to 30 percent faster M3, which performs more graphically – although you rarely notice this on the iPad. There are still 11-inch and 13-inch versions and a new Magic Keyboard, but that's all. A solid update, but one processor generation behind the iPad Pro M4 (which may soon end up with the M5), which Apple wanted to give the necessary distance to the Air.
The iPad 11, which Apple only mentions in passing, is completely different: depending on the target group, it oscillates between disappointment and a recommended purchase. The fact that Apple is giving the device a processor upgrade, but only to the A16 from 2022, is a major blow. This means that the iPad 11 is now the only device in Apple's current computer/tablet/smartphone line-up that Apple Intelligence cannot handle. Considering how much the company is pushing its AI system on other devices, this is surprising.
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iPad 11: good and bad
Apple first installed the A16 in the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, then in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus in 2023. Apple should have given the iPad 11 the A17 to make it compatible with Apple Intelligence. There, 8 GB of RAM is standard; the A16 is only available with a maximum of 6 GB. Apple's advertising slogan that the iPad 11 with A16 is now 30 percent faster than its predecessor (and 50 percent faster than the ancient A13) is of little help.
On the other hand, users have to ask themselves whether they need Apple Intelligence at all. The AI system won't be available in German until April and the range of functions, including writing assistants and image generators, is well behind what ChatGPT, Anthropic and the like can do. Only the deep integration into the system is useful. The improved Siri is also likely to be delayed. So if users don't care about Apple Intelligence, the iPad 11 gives them a lot for their money. At 399 euros, it now comes with 128 GB of mass storage – not really much, but better than the previous 64 GB. The hardware is well equipped with USB-C and other decent standard features and the A16 is completely sufficient for most tasks.
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