Will we see new iPads at WWDC 2026? Here's what history tells us plus what
to expect from iPadOS 27

Date:
Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:45:33 +0000

Description:
Apple sometimes announces hardware at WWDC, so will we see iPads this year? And what about the new iPadOS?

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Its almost time for WWDC 2026 , where Apple is expected to announce iOS 27 and all sorts of other software updates. But will we see new hardware? And more specifically, new iPads?
Well, we cant say for sure, but we do have a fairly good idea of what to expect (and not expect).

Sadly, the answer to that question is probably 'no' for two reasons. The first is obvious WWDC is Apples Worldwide Developers Conference, with the
key word there being developers, meaning that the focus is on software, not hardware. Now, that doesnt completely rule out new devices. After all, Apple has announced various Macs and MacBooks at WWDC in recent years. The HomePod was also unveiled at WWDC back in 2019, and looking back further, some early iPhones even got a WWDC unveiling. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

In fact, the iPad Pro (2017) was even announced at that years WWDC, so a new iPad in 2026 isnt completely out of the question.

But it is very unlikely while hardware does sometimes make an appearance at WWDC, most years, theres next to none, and we havent heard any indication
that a new iPad will land at this years event. You may like WWDC 2026: how to watch and what to expect Apple WWDC 2026 live: all eyes on Siri, Apple Intelligence, and iOS 27 iOS 27 is tipped to get 3 big upgrades here's what to expect at WWDC

Plus, in recent years, Apple has tended to unveil its new tablets either
early in the year, in March or occasionally April, or towards the end of the year, in September or October. Mid-year launches are rare.

And this year, we did indeed see an early-year launch, with the iPad Air (2026) landing back in March. That was only a few months ago, so it would
seem odd for Apple to launch another model so soon. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

So, based on all of that, Id say its very unlikely that well see a new iPad
at WWDC 2026. That said, if youre an iPad fan, it could still be worth tuning in to the keynote, which kicks off at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST today (Monday, June 8,) or 3am AEST on Tuesday, June 9 if youre in Australia. Why you should still tune in (Image credit: Apple) While we probably wont see new iPads at WWDC 2026, Apple is almost certainly going to unveil some new software in the form of iPadOS 27, which could include some major changes and upgrades.

Nothing has been announced on that front yet, but leaks and rumors point to the long-awaited Siri overhaul , which could turn Apple's voice assistant
into a proper AI chatbot , powered by a custom version of Google Gemini. What to read next What to expect from Tim Cook's final WWDC assuming he doesn't pull a Wolf of Wall Street This is the rumored iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 device support list WWDC 2026 could be Apple's most important event in years

This upgrade reportedly wont be limited to just making Siri smarter, though; its also likely to include new capabilities, like better AI photo editing prowess and on-screen awareness, so Siri can understand and respond to whatevers on your screen. It will probably also be able to perform multi-step actions across multiple apps.

Beyond that, iPadOS 27 is also likely to bring improvements to various apps, such as the ability to use natural language to create shortcuts in the Shortcuts app, more customization options in the camera app , redesigned Safari and Weather apps, and a Grammarly-style keyboard upgrade .

These are all things that well probably see in iOS 27 too, but on the iPad-specific side, reports point to new layouts for Apple Music, Apple TV, and the Podcasts app to make better use of the iPad's larger display. Plus, there are likely to be various performance and stability improvements.

While iPadOS 27 will probably be announced at WWDC 2026, its unlikely to launch in finished form until September but in the meantime, we expect various betas to roll out, giving you a chance to try many of the features early if you dont mind some bugs.

So, if you want to see exactly what Apple is cooking up on the software side, heres how to watch WWDC 2026 live though, of course, well be covering all
the announcements here too. When might we see new iPads? The iPad (2025)
could soon get a successor (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) So, if we probably wont see new iPads at WWDC, when might we? Well, the next point in the year when Apple would typically announce new tablets is September or October either alongside the iPhone 18 line in the former month or
separately a month later. The latter, though, has been more common,
especially in recent years.

Of those two months, Id guess October is the more likely, so the new tablets have some time to shine rather than getting buried in the iPhone launch. Of course, theres a chance we wont see any more new iPads this year, and that Apple will instead wait until March of 2027. After all, we dont always see late-year iPad launches, but we have in the last two years.

Whenever we do get new iPads, the most likely models are the base model iPad (2026) and an iPad mini (2026), both of which have been rumored for a launch this year. That said, Apple doesnt stick to yearly updates for its iPads, so its hard to predict.

There may also be a new iPad Pro this year, but with no real reports of one and the previous model only landing last October, we wouldnt count on it. And with the latest iPad Air having landed earlier this year, its unlikely the next model of that will be among Apples next tablet releases especially if
we do see new slates this year. Today's best iPad deals Apple iPad (2025) 329 309.97 View See all prices Apple iPad Air 11-inch M4 599 View See all prices Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) 2,199 View See all prices Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) 1,899 View See all prices Apple iPad Mini (2024) 474.97 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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