iPadOS 26: Almost a Mac – but only almost
Apple is giving its tablet more desktop features than ever before. In practice, however, there are still pitfalls, at least in the beta.
New features in iPadOS 26.
(Image: Apple)
iPadOS 26 is a dream come true for many iPad users: finally, they will be able to use their Apple tablet almost as freely as a desktop computer. Gone are the constraints of Stage Manager, Split View and Slide Over; instead, windows can be moved freely. Apple has also solved a long-standing iPad problem: the lack of "real" multitasking. For example, if you wanted to export something from the very professionally usable Final Cut Pro for iPad, you had to leave the app open. If it was closed, rendering also ended. With iPadOS 26, such activities also run in the background, as has been the case on the Mac for ages.
However, as the first few weeks with the iPadOS 26 beta have shown, not all that glitters is gold. In some places, the new "Liquid Gass" design provides less clarity than before and Apple has also made some at least questionable decisions when it comes to new elements such as the new menu bar. Fortunately, none of this is tragic because the direction is right and some things can still be changed in the beta. Here is an overview of the functions that are worth testing – in the soon to be released public beta of iPadOS 26.
Traffic light, menu bar, App Exposé
Every window in iPadOS 26 now has Apple's familiar traffic light display in the top left-hand corner. This allows windows to be closed, minimized to the dock or rearranged, just like on the Mac. If you slide your finger down the top edge of the screen, the new menu bar appears. It is not yet very visually coherent, as it is positioned in the middle and has a somewhat strange shadow. In addition, the traffic light "lights" are initially tiny. Nevertheless, it is extremely practical to be able to call up standard app functions such as the view, the file menu, windows or help directly via a menu bar.
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If you want to switch between apps, you can use the familiar App Exposé that Apple has imported from the Mac. If you run your apps in windowed mode, which in our opinion is often, but not always, recommended, you can get a quick view of open windows – with just one gesture. Apple has improved the new mouse pointer: instead of the somewhat confusing circle, there is now a pointer. Although it still doesn't look like the one on the Mac, it can be briefly enlarged by wiggling it. Folders can now also be placed in the dock and can be arranged as a stack.
Preview and file management
In connection with the new, desktop-like functions, Apple can also be praised for the fact that the preview app (Preview) has made it onto the iPad. It is (almost) complete and also allows you to edit various file types such as PDFs or images and comes with Apple Pencil support. Only the manufacturer itself knows why Apple is only launching the application now.
Improved file management functions, which the new Files app finally brings, have also been in demand for a long time. This includes the assignment of file types to an app, which puts an end to the seemingly random opening of files with applications that you don't want. Commendably, this even works on the iPhone. iPadOS 26 will be released in September according to current information. Apple provides an overview of which device supports what in the small print here.
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