At first, it seemed odd that Apple didn't update the 11th-generation iPad to support Apple Intelligence like all the other new iPads, iPhones, and Macs. But then it became clear. The base iPad is already popular -- perhaps too popular for Apple's liking.

A research might have revealed why Apple went with a mild iPad update instead of powering up the base-model with Apple Intelligence.

When it debuted in 2022, Apple’s 10th-generation iPad sat in something of a no-man’s land, bringing a long-overdue design revamp at an inflated price. A year and a half later, Apple gave the slate a $100 price cut and immediately turned it into a much more enticing value.