iPadOS 26 Beta: Apple Brings Desktop-Class Multitasking to Tablets, But Refinements Needed
Apple’s upcoming iPadOS 26 promises to fundamentally change how users interact with their tablets, bringing long-awaited desktop-like multitasking capabilities and addressing longstanding limitations. For many iPad users, this update represents a significant step towards true device versatility, finally allowing for a more fluid and powerful experience akin to using a traditional computer.
Early access to the iPadOS 26 beta reveals a transformative, though not yet flawless, experience. While the direction is promising, some design choices and new features require further refinement before the expected September release.
A New Era of Multitasking
A core frustration for iPad users has been the limitations of previous multitasking features like Stage Manager, Split View, and Slide Over. iPadOS 26 eliminates these constraints, offering free mobility of windows – a feature long standard on macOS. This means users can now seamlessly move and resize windows, enabling a truly parallel workflow. One key improvement highlighted is the ability to run background tasks, such as rendering in Final Cut Pro for iPad, even after closing the app – a capability previously unavailable and a major workflow impediment.
First Impressions: Hits and Misses in the Beta
Despite the significant advancements, the initial beta release isn’t without its quirks. According to early testers, the new “Liquid Glass” design, while visually ambitious, sometimes results in reduced clarity and overview. The new menu bar, appearing with a swipe from the screen’s edge, has also drawn criticism for its somewhat awkward placement in the middle of the screen and a noticeable shadow effect. Additionally, the “traffic lights” – the close, minimize, and arrange buttons – are initially quite small.
However, these issues are not considered dealbreakers. “Fortunately, all of this is not tragic because the direction is right and a lot can still be changed as part of the beta,” one analyst noted. The ability to access standard app functions, such as file menus and help options, directly through the new menu bar is seen as a significant usability improvement.
Familiar Mac Features Arrive on iPad
Apple is leveraging its existing macOS ecosystem by importing several familiar features. Each window in iPadOS 26 now features the standard macOS “traffic lights” for window management. The App Exposé, also borrowed from macOS, provides a quick overview of all open windows with a simple gesture. Apple has also refined the mouse pointer, replacing the previous circular design with a more traditional pointer shape, though it still differs slightly from the Mac version. Users can now also stack folders in the dock for improved organization.
Enhanced Productivity Tools
The update also brings significant improvements to core productivity apps. The Preview app, now available on iPad, offers (almost) full functionality for editing various file types, including PDFs and images, with full Apple Pencil support. The reason for the delayed release of this application remains unclear.
Improved file management is another key area of focus. The Files app now allows users to assign specific file types to preferred applications, eliminating the frustrating issue of files opening with unintended programs. This functionality is also being rolled out to iPhone users.
Apple provides a detailed compatibility overview on its website for those seeking to determine which devices will support the new features.
iPadOS 26 is currently slated for release in September, promising a substantial upgrade to the iPad experience and blurring the lines between tablet and desktop computing.
