iPadOS 26 is arguably the most significant update to the iPad to date, evolving it into a device that resembles a Mac in terms of both interface and functionality.
However, considering that iPads have been equipped with the same chips as Macs since 2021, what caused the delay? This is the question Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi addresses in a recent interview…
The advancements in iPadOS 26 are so revolutionary that I contend Apple has finally made this device deserving of the title ‘computer.’
The most significant change by far is the introduction of true windowing. The iPad initially functioned as a single-tasking device, limited to one full-screen app at a time. While Slide Over and Split View allowed for some multitasking, it often felt cumbersome and unintuitive. Stage Manager enhanced usability, but in my opinion, it still lagged behind the window flexibility available on a Mac. Now, the iPad operates almost identically to a Mac in this regard. You can launch multiple apps and adjust, size, and overlap each window according to your preferences—plus, the iPad finally features a menu bar!
Given that the iPad received an M1 chip back in 2021, which means the hardware was fully capable of such functionalities, why the long wait for software enhancements? Arstechnica prompted Federighi for clarification.
He indicates that one reason is that iPads must respond more quickly than Macs.
“You have to start with the grounding that the iPad is a direct manipulation touch-first device,” Federighi explained to Ars. “It is essential that when you touch the screen and attempt to move something, it reacts promptly. Otherwise, the entire interaction model fails—it creates a disconnect with the device.”
According to Federighi, Mac users are generally more forgiving of slight delays since their interaction with apps is more indirect.
Additionally, he suggests that using the iPad with a keyboard and trackpad has only recently gained traction.
“As time progressed, the iPad has become more powerful, the screens have increased in size, and the user base has started to incorporate more trackpad and keyboard usage,” Federighi told Ars. “Thus, the circumstances aligned, enabling many traditional Mac functionalities to now be performed on an iPad for the first time while still adhering to the iPad’s fundamental interaction principles.”
Why do older iPads support full windowing despite not receiving Stage Manager? Federighi explains this more simply: iPadOS 26 was built from the ground up.
We completely redesigned our windowing system and revamped how we handle background tasks and processing, allowing us to extract capabilities from other devices that were not feasible at the time we launched Stage Manager.
The full article is definitely worth a read.
Image: Apple
