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iPadOS 18 Supported Devices: Full List

Card No. 06·55333 · Updated · Standard formula, shown below

iPadOS 18 is compatible with the iPad Pro (2018 and later), iPad Air (2019 and later), iPad mini (2019 and later), and iPad (2020 and later). If your iPad has an A12 Bionic chip or newer, it can run iPadOS 18. This article lists every supported model, explains how to check your iPad’s compatibility, and answers common questions about the update.

Official Compatibility List

Apple dropped support for older A10 and A11 chips with iPadOS 18. The following models are officially supported:

  • iPad Pro: 11-inch (2018 and later), 12.9-inch (2018 and later), and all newer Pro models
  • iPad Air: 3rd generation (2019) and later
  • iPad mini: 5th generation (2019) and later
  • iPad (standard): 8th generation (2020) and later

Notably, the iPad 6th and 7th generation, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) are not supported because they have A10 or A11 chips.

How to Check Your iPad’s Compatibility

If you’re unsure which model you have, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap About.
  4. Look for the Model Name (e.g., iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)) and Model Number (e.g., A2836).

You can also check the chip by looking at the model name. If it says “A12X” or newer, it’s compatible. For a quick check, any iPad released in 2019 or later (except the 10.2-inch iPad 7th gen) is supported.

Why Some iPads Are Left Out

iPadOS 18 requires at least an A12 Bionic chip. Apple typically drops support for devices that are more than 5-6 years old, as they lack the processing power for new features like Apple Intelligence (which requires even newer chips). The A10 and A11 chips can’t handle the on-device machine learning tasks that iPadOS 18 uses for features like Live Text and visual lookup enhancements.

This is a common pattern: each major iOS/iPadOS release drops a few older models. For comparison, iPadOS 17 supported the A10 chip, but iPadOS 18 moved the minimum to A12.

How to Update to iPadOS 18

Once you’ve confirmed your iPad is supported, updating is straightforward:

  1. Back up your iPad (via iCloud or a computer).
  2. Connect your iPad to Wi-Fi and ensure it’s charged above 50%.
  3. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
  4. Tap Download and Install.

If the update doesn’t appear, your iPad may be out of storage. Free up space by deleting unused apps or offloading photos. Also, make sure your iPad is plugged in during the installation to avoid interruptions.

Features That Require Newer iPads

Even among supported models, some iPadOS 18 features are exclusive to newer chips. For example:

  • Apple Intelligence (AI features like Writing Tools and Genmoji) requires an iPad with an M1 chip or later (iPad Pro 2021+, iPad Air 2022+).
  • Math Notes in the Calculator app works on all supported iPads, but handwriting recognition is smoother on newer models.
  • Stage Manager (introduced in iPadOS 16) only works on iPads with M1 or later, so it’s not available on older A12-A14 models.

Check Apple’s feature availability page for a detailed breakdown, but generally, if you have an M1 or newer, you get the full experience.

Common Problems and Solutions

Users often report the following issues after updating:

  • Update stuck on “Preparing”: Restart your iPad and try again. Ensure you have at least 5GB of free storage.
  • Battery draining faster: This is normal for the first few days as the system reindexes. If it persists, check background app refresh settings.
  • Apps crashing: Update your apps from the App Store. Some older apps may not be compatible with iPadOS 18 yet.
  • Can’t find the update: If your iPad is compatible but the update doesn’t show, wait a few days—Apple rolls out updates in waves.

If you’re still stuck, try updating via a computer with Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (Windows).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will iPadOS 18 slow down my older iPad?

Generally, no. Apple optimizes for older devices, but you may notice slower performance on the oldest supported models (like the iPad 8th gen) when using heavy features like multitasking. Basic tasks remain smooth.

Can I go back to iPadOS 17 after updating?

Apple stops signing older versions shortly after a new release. You can downgrade within a few days, but it’s not recommended. Once you update, you’re on iPadOS 18.

Does iPadOS 18 work on the iPad 7th generation?

No. The iPad 7th gen has an A10 chip, which doesn’t meet the A12 minimum requirement. It’s stuck on iPadOS 17.

Is iPadOS 18 available for the iPad Pro 10.5-inch?

No. The 10.5-inch Pro (2017) has an A10X chip, which is also unsupported. Only the 2018 11-inch and 12.9-inch Pro models are the oldest Pro devices to get iPadOS 18.

How do I know if my iPad has an M1 chip?

Go to Settings > General > About. If the model name includes “M1” (e.g., iPad Pro 11-inch (M1)), you have it. Alternatively, the chip is listed in the “Chip” field.

What happens if I don’t update?

Your iPad continues to work, but you won’t get new features or security patches. Over time, apps may require a newer iPadOS, so you’ll eventually need to update to keep using them.

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