I haven’t been this thrilled about an iPad update in a long time
Having covered iPads at Tom’s Guide for many years, my anticipation for iPadOS 26 surpasses any recent updates I’ve encountered.
My enthusiasm stems partly from the fact that recent versions of iPadOS haven’t exactly been thrilling. Yet, even if the iPad had been performing spectacularly, iPadOS 26 would still stand out due to its potential to enhance productivity significantly.
This fall, when iPadOS 26 launches, it will introduce several key changes, with the new windowing system being perhaps the most transformative.
Watch On
While AI enhancements or screen improvements often steal the spotlight, the introduction of new windowing capabilities could significantly shift how productive you can be with a tablet.
Enhancing iPad usability with new windowing options
Currently, iPads offer decent multitasking capabilities through tools like Stage Manager, Split View, and Slide Over, but these options are somewhat limited and not very user-friendly.
Many users are not even aware of how to activate split screen, and once you do, iPadOS imposes strict limitations on the number of apps you can use simultaneously and their respective sizes.
However, iPadOS 26 introduces a novel interaction method that lets you adjust an app’s size by dragging an arrow from its lower-right corner. Swiping an app towards the screen’s edge will snap it into place, allowing for the display of multiple apps at once.
Additionally, apps will feature a new menu bar, accessible by dragging down from the top of the screen, mimicking the Mac’s menu bar with options like File, Edit, and Image. Moreover, apps will include the familiar red, yellow, and green buttons at the top corner, similar to those on a Mac, ensuring that minimized apps re-open in the same state and location as before.
This enhancement could be a significant shift for me personally, as I’ve been carrying laptops to press events worldwide for nearly two decades, and I’m tired of it.
There have been multiple instances where I attempted to replace my laptop with an iPad, only to be let down by the inflexible nature of iPadOS. Even though modern iPads are as powerful as MacBooks, thanks to Apple silicon, they are still restricted by a simplified app store and user interface. And while there are iPad apps that facilitate mobile work, you’re typically limited to using one or two at a time.
This was barely adequate, but not enough for me to permanently switch from a laptop to an iPad. I often need to consult multiple sources or file types while writing an article, then create and edit images to accompany it, a multitasking scenario that’s cumbersome on an iPad.
Things seemed promising when Apple introduced Stage Manager in iPadOS 16, which allowed for quick switching between up to four apps. However, after a couple of months, I found it too awkward and abandoned it.
While Stage Manager isn’t going away, I suspect I won’t use it much after iPadOS 26 releases in September. I’ve been testing the early versions of the new windowing features in the iPadOS 26 developer beta, and although it’s not finished, I’m already finding it a superior experience.
If you don’t like the new window controls in iPadOS 26, Apple has also updated the iPad Control Center to include a toggle to enable or disable these features, so you can easily revert to the traditional way of using your iPad if preferred.
However, having experienced the benefits of windowed multitasking on the iPad, I can’t see myself going back to the old methods.
- Apple CarPlay is set to include video playback in iOS 26 — but with a significant limitation
- Move over ChatGPT — I’ve tried 5 new AI tools this week, and here are the ones I’m sticking with
- Great news! Steam now runs natively on Macs with Apple Silicon — here’s how to get started