Introduction: A Monumental Leap Forward
At WWDC 2025, Apple dropped what might be its most groundbreaking iPad update yet — iPadOS 26. More than just a software refresh, iPadOS 26 feels like the long-awaited bridge between the iPad and the Mac, redefining what Apple’s tablet is capable of. For years, iPads have danced around the idea of becoming full-fledged computers. With iPadOS 26, that transformation is no longer just ambition — it’s reality.
Apple Unveils iPadOS 26 at WWDC 2025: The iPad Finally Grows Into a True Computer
From fully resizable and movable windows to a native Preview app and macOS-style menu bar, the iPad is entering a bold new chapter. Here’s everything you need to know.
✨ What’s New in iPadOS 26?
🔲 1. Mac-Style Multitasking With Windowing System
In one of the most applauded changes, Apple introduced a desktop-grade window management system. Now, users can:
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Open, resize, and move windows freely — just like on a Mac.
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Layer and overlap apps on the screen, enabling true multitasking.
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Snap windows to sides or corners for productivity workflows.
Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) tweeted:
“iPadOS 26 Full cursor. Fully resizable and movable windows. Menubar. A dock with folders. Preview app. What is a computer?”
Apple has essentially retired Split View and Slide Over, replacing them with this more intuitive and powerful system — a controversial move, but one that signals the platform’s maturity.
🧠 2. Apple Intelligence: AI-Powered Features
Building on the Apple Intelligence announcements across all platforms, iPadOS 26 brings:
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Live Transcribe for voice memos and meetings.
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Genmoji: AI-generated emojis based on prompts.
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Smart Replies in Mail and Messages.
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On-device summarization, translation, and proofreading tools in Notes and Safari.
These features work offline, thanks to Apple’s emphasis on privacy and on-device processing.
📁 3. Revamped Files App
A significantly upgraded Files app now brings:
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Tabbed browsing of files.
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Integration with external drives and cloud services like OneDrive and Google Drive.
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New file preview and editing capabilities — especially with the Preview app ported from macOS.
🖱️ 4. Full Trackpad and Pointer Support
While pointer support was introduced in earlier versions, it now feels natively integrated into the system UI. With iPadOS 26:
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Right-click menus and hover states work like macOS.
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External mouse/trackpad support feels fluid, unlocking new productivity workflows.
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iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard is now essentially a MacBook replacement.
🧱 5. Liquid Glass UI
Design-wise, iPadOS 26 debuts a new visual language called Liquid Glass. It features:
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Transparent, fluid UI elements.
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Depth-based shading.
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Dynamic lighting that responds to ambient conditions.
The effect is elegant and futuristic — Apple’s most significant visual overhaul since iOS 7.
🗂️ 6. App Enhancements
Some native apps have received desktop-grade capabilities:
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Preview App: Markup PDFs, sign documents, and view nearly every file format.
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Safari: Now offers extensions and profiles similar to the Mac version.
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Notes: Adds collapsible sections, AI-generated summaries, and voice-based tagging.
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Calendar & Reminders: Unified under a new productivity suite, syncing intelligently.
📱 7. Phone App on iPad
Surprising many, Apple added a Phone app to iPadOS 26 — allowing you to make and receive calls via iPhone, Wi-Fi, or even independently (on cellular iPads). This inches the iPad closer to becoming a hybrid productivity and communication device.
💻 iPadOS 26 vs. macOS: Blurring the Line
With iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe announced in parallel, Apple seems less interested in keeping them separate. The iPad is not just “like a Mac”; it’s becoming one in experience:
| Feature | macOS Tahoe | iPadOS 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Windowed Multitasking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Menu Bar | ✅ | ✅ |
| Preview App | ✅ | ✅ |
| AI-Powered Tools | ✅ | ✅ |
| Full Trackpad Support | ✅ | ✅ |
But the iPad keeps its touch-first advantage, pencil support, and lighter form factor — arguably giving it the best of both worlds.
✅ Compatible Devices
Not all iPads get the update. Here’s the confirmed compatibility list:
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iPad Pro (M1, M2, M4)
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iPad Air (M1 and M2)
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iPad (10th Gen and above)
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iPad mini (6th Gen only)
📌 iPad mini 5 and iPad 9th Gen have officially been dropped.
🧪 Availability
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Developer Beta: Available now.
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Public Beta: July 2025.
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Stable Release: September 2025 (alongside iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe).
💬 Community & Industry Reaction
The tech world is stunned — and delighted.
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The Verge: “Hang on, did the iPad just become a computer?”
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TechRadar: “The iPad just won WWDC 2025.”
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Creative Bloq: “They finally had the balls to do it.”
Meanwhile, power users are already envisioning replacing their travel laptops with iPads, thanks to the Preview app and improved multitasking.
However, some concerns have been raised:
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The learning curve of new window management.
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No upgrade path for older iPads.
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Developers must optimize their apps for the new windowed environment.
🧠 The Bigger Picture: iPadOS 26 in the AI Era
Apple is clearly responding to criticism about the iPad’s long-standing identity crisis. With iPadOS 26:
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It’s not just a consumption device anymore.
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It’s not stuck between an iPhone and a Mac.
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It is a versatile, AI-enhanced productivity machine.
And with the added Apple Intelligence, this iPadOS iteration is built not just for today — but for the generative future.
✍️ Final Thoughts
Apple has never used the word “computer” lightly when it comes to the iPad. But this time, it’s different. With iPadOS 26, the iPad has finally earned its stripes as a true computing platform — one that balances power, portability, intelligence, and design elegance.
Whether you’re a creative, student, gamer, business professional, or casual user — the iPad just became a lot more relevant to you.
