Apple has officially introduced iPadOS 26 at its annual developer conference, promising the most powerful iPad experience to date. Packed with features that bring the iPad closer to a full-fledged laptop replacement, this update could be a game changer—especially for professionals, creators, and students in India who rely on tablets for work and study.
Enhanced Multitasking and Mac-Like Experience
One of the most anticipated updates is the new windowing system, which finally allows users to freely resize app windows, move them around, minimize, tile, and restore their position—offering a desktop-style experience previously unseen on the iPad. Users can now manage multiple apps more effectively using the familiar Mac-style “Exposé” feature, which displays open windows in a grid view for easier navigation.
Apple is also introducing a menu bar, just like macOS. Accessible via swipe or mouse click, it brings structured menus such as File, Edit, View, and Help to the iPad, making it easier to perform detailed tasks with touch or a trackpad.
Upgraded Productivity Tools
The Preview app, widely used on MacBooks, is now part of iPadOS, enabling users to open, edit, and annotate PDFs using Apple Pencil or touch gestures. Meanwhile, the Files app has received a much-needed refresh with new views, collapsible folders, and the ability to assign default apps to specific file types—a feature that power users in India’s design, tech, and education sectors will appreciate.
Users can also dock folders, just like on macOS, for quicker access to frequently used files.
Expanding Beyond iPad Pro
For the first time, Apple is bringing these high-end features to its entire iPad lineup, including the entry-level iPad and iPad mini. This inclusion ensures that a broader range of users—including budget-conscious buyers in India—can benefit from the advanced multitasking and productivity upgrades.
All-New Look with Liquid Glass
The Liquid Glass design language—also featured across all of Apple’s upcoming operating systems—adds a sleek visual upgrade with translucent layers and rounded icons. This design is inspired by the interface used in Apple’s mixed reality headset and aims to create a more unified, futuristic user experience.
A Unified Naming Strategy
With iPadOS 26, Apple is also aligning all its software version numbers with the upcoming calendar year. Going forward, every major software release will carry the name of the next year, simplifying the update cycle for users. That means no more confusion over iPadOS 19 or macOS 15—everything will move in sync.
Bonus Features and Availability
Other enhancements include:
- A dedicated Games app for better gaming access
- The new Phone app, which separates calling features from FaceTime
- Live translation and smarter microphone input options for individual apps
- Integration of Apple Intelligence tools, adding AI-powered assistance to the iPad experience
The developer beta is already live, while the public beta will roll out in July. The final version is expected to launch globally, including India, this September.
