If you’ve been hunting for the apple ipad 2025 release date, you’re probably looking at your current tablet and wondering if it’s finally time to pull the trigger. Apple didn't just dump a bunch of tablets on us at once this year. No, they played the long game. They dripped them out.
Honestly, it’s been a weird year for the iPad.
We saw the budget stuff land in the spring while the heavy hitters waited for the autumn leaves to start falling. If you missed the headlines, basically, the "standard" 11th-gen iPad and the updated iPad Air already hit shelves back in March. But the real powerhouse? That just arrived.
✨ Don't miss: Kinetic vs Mechanical Energy: Why Most People Get the Physics Totally Wrong
The M5 iPad Pro: The big apple ipad 2025 release date
Apple officially pulled the curtain back on the M5 iPad Pro on October 15, 2025. It didn't get a flashy stage event with Tim Cook pacing under neon lights. Instead, it was a "press release" launch—one of those quiet Tuesday morning drops that sends the tech world into a frenzy.
Pre-orders opened that same day, and the actual release date—when people started walking out of stores with them—was October 22, 2025.
What’s actually different?
The M5 chip is the whole story. While it looks identical to the ultra-thin M4 model from last year, the silicon inside is built for AI. Like, really built for it. We’re talking about a Neural Accelerator in every core. Apple claims it’s up to 3.5x faster at AI tasks than the M4.
Is that overkill? Probably.
But if you’re doing heavy 3D rendering in Octane X or editing 4K ProRes video, you’ll notice the difference. They also bumped the base RAM to 12GB. Finally. No more apps refreshing the second you swipe away from them.
What happened to the cheaper ones?
Back in March, specifically March 12, 2025, Apple updated the entry-level lineup.
The iPad (11th generation) landed with the A16 Bionic chip. It’s essentially the engine from the iPhone 15 packed into a 11-inch frame. It starts at $349, which is a bit of a sweet spot for students.
Then there’s the iPad Air (2025). This one also launched on March 12. It got the M3 chip. It’s a solid middle ground, but it’s definitely the "safe" choice. No OLED screen here—you’re still looking at the standard Liquid Retina IPS panel.
💡 You might also like: IDM Download for Mac: Why It Doesn't Actually Exist and What You Should Use Instead
The iPad Mini 7 is the outlier
If you were hoping for a brand-new iPad Mini in 2025, you might be slightly disappointed. Or relieved, depending on how much you like your current one.
The iPad Mini 7 actually launched in late 2024 (October, to be exact) with the A17 Pro chip. Because Apple usually waits two or three years between Mini updates, we didn't get a new one this year. Rumor has it we won't see an "iPad Mini 8" until 2026, possibly with an OLED screen and a more water-resistant build.
For now, the 2024 model is the "current" one for all of 2025.
Specs at a glance: 2025 Edition
| Model | Chipset | Release Date | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad (11th Gen) | A16 Bionic | March 12, 2025 | $349 |
| iPad Air (M3) | M3 | March 12, 2025 | $599 |
| iPad Pro (M5) | M5 | October 22, 2025 | $999 |
Why the late 2025 Pro matters
The October launch of the Pro wasn't just about a faster processor. It introduced the C1X 5G modem. This is Apple’s own in-house tech, moving them away from Qualcomm. For you, that basically means better battery life when you're using cellular data and faster 5G speeds.
They also threw in Wi-Fi 7.
If you have a Wi-Fi 7 router (which, let’s be real, most people don’t yet), the speeds are astronomical. It’s future-proofing at its finest.
👉 See also: Why Pictures of a Nuclear Explosion Still Haunt Our Collective Memory
Is it worth buying now?
Buying an iPad right now depends entirely on which "tier" you need.
- The Budget Hunter: The 11th-gen iPad from March is the best value Apple has offered in years. 128GB of base storage finally became the standard.
- The Artist: If you want the M5 Pro, buy it now. It won't be updated again until at least mid-2027.
- The Student: The M3 Air is "fine," but honestly, many people are finding better deals on the older M2 Air.
The apple ipad 2025 release date cycle is officially wrapped up. We’ve seen the spring refreshes and the autumn Pro update. If you're waiting for something else, you're looking at 2026.
Your Next Steps
- Check your storage: The new base models start at 128GB. If you're on a 64GB device, the upgrade will feel massive.
- Verify Education Pricing: If you're a student, the March-released iPad Air starts at $549, saving you fifty bucks.
- Skip the Mini: Unless you absolutely need the small size, wait for the rumored 2026 OLED refresh.