iPadOS 18: Supported iPads and Estimated Release Date

Apple kicked off WWDC 2024 on Monday with a keynote that touched on exciting new features like Apple Intelligence coming to iOS 18, macOS 15 and iPadOS 18 later this year.

iPadOS 18 tablets will be easier to personalize with customizable app icons and greater home screen and Control Center customization options.

Apple’s latest software update for iPad will also introduce text effects in Messages, a redesigned Photos app, a new “Smart Script” feature in Notes that will be able to recreate your handwriting, and the Calculator app with a new “Math Notes” feature that will solve handwritten calculations problems, create charts and more.

But when will iPadOS 18 arrive with Apple Intelligence and other long-awaited features? And which iPads will receive the update once it’s released? Here’s what we know so far.

iPadOS 18: Expected release date

Apple hasn’t officially announced when iPad owners will be able to upgrade their tablets to iPadOS 18, but based on previous iPadOS releases, we have a pretty good idea.

Four of the last five annual iPadOS updates — from iPadOS 13 in 2019 to iPadOS 17 in 2023 — were released in September along with corresponding iOS updates for iPhones. The only exception was the iPadOS 16 update, released in October 2022, a month after the iOS 16 update.

iPadOS 13 release date: Tue. September 24, 2019
iPadOS 14 release date: Marry. September 16, 2020
iPadOS 15 release date: Mon. September 20, 2021
iPadOS 16 release date: Mon. October 24, 2022
iPadOS 17 release date: Mon. September 18, 2023

Although Apple has decided to release iPadOS 16 in October, most iPadOS will be released in September and that’s what we expect from this year’s software release. The public launch of iPadOS 18 will likely be in line with the expected release date of iOS 18 Monday, September 9, 16 or 23.

Before it is officially released, iPadOS 18 will be available for developer and public beta testing on supported iPads.

Starting June 10, 2024, the iPadOS 18 Developer Beta is available for download to anyone participating in the Apple Developer Program, which requires an annual fee of $100 to join.

Alternatively, the public beta will be free to anyone participating in the Apple Beta Software program. Apple hasn’t confirmed a release date for the public beta of iPadOS 18, but it usually launches at the same time Julyabout a month after the developer beta was released.

Apple iPado 18 features

Apple’s one-sheet for iPadOS 18 includes some impressive features and tools intended for future iPads. (Image: Apple)

iPadOS 18: iPads supported

We may not know the official iPadOS 18 release date from Apple, but the company has confirmed which iPads will support the upcoming software update in its recently released iPadOS 18 preview. If your iPad is one of the following, you will be able to download and install iPadOS 18 once it boots up:

Swipe to scroll horizontally

iPad series	iPad 7/8/9/10
iPad Pro 11-inch series	iPad Pro 11 inch 1/2/3/4/5/6
iPad Pro 12.9 inch series	iPad Pro 12.9 inch 3/4/5/6
iPad Pro M4 series	iPad Pro M4 (11 and 13 inches)
iPad Air series	iPad Air 3/4/5
iPad Air M2 series	iPad Pro M2
iPad mini series	iPad mini 5/6

Most of the supported iPads above come with a Neural Engine (or NPU, Neural Processing Unit), which will help with stronger, more private AI processing on the device.

iPads equipped with the older A12 Bionic or A12X Bionic chip can only support a maximum of 5 TOPS, which means they will likely rely more heavily on cloud computing via Apple’s Private Cloud Compute for Apple Intelligence feature.

However, the new iPad Pro M4 boasts a neural engine that supports up to 38 TOPS, making it an ideal candidate for AI processing primarily on the device.

According to a recent post by Apple on the Security Research blog, the company has “long advocated for on-device computing as a cornerstone of user data security and privacy.”

While on-device computing is arguably more secure and private than cloud computing, Apple’s Private Cloud Compute project met “an extraordinary set of requirements” that promise “(continuing) Apple’s deep commitment to user privacy.”