Ipados 26: Almost a Mac – but only almost

With iPados 26, a dream comes true for many iPad users: Finally you should be able to use your Apple tablet almost as freely as a desktop calculator. Passed to Stage Manager, Split View and Slide Over, instead free mobility of windows. In addition, Apple has also solved a long-existing 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 up. If it was closed, the rendering ended. With Ipados 26, such activities also run in the background that Mac has known for eternal times.

As the first few weeks show the iPados 26 beta, not everything that shines is yet gold. In some places, the new “Liquid Gass” design ensures less overview than before, and Apple has also made some at least questionable decisions for new elements such as the new menu bar. Fortunately, all of this is not tragic because the direction is right and a lot can still be changed as part of the beta. Here is an overview of the functions, the test of which – also within the framework of the soon available Public beta of iPados 26 – is worth it.

Traffic lights, menu bar, app exposé app

Each window in Ipados 26 now has Apple’s well-known traffic lights in the top left corner. This allows windows to be closed, reduced or arranged in the dock, as you know this from the Mac. If you drive down with your finger on the edge of the screen, the new menu bar appears. It is currently not very coherent, as it is arranged in the middle and provided with a somewhat strange shadow. In addition, the traffic lights “lights” are initially very small. Nevertheless, it is extremely practical to be able to query the standard functions of an app such as the view of being able to query the file menu, window or help directly via a menu bar.

If you want to switch between apps, you can use the well-known app exposé that Apple has imported from the Mac. If you operate your apps in window mode, as is often recommended in our opinion, but not always, you get a quick look at open windows – a gesture is enough. Apple embellished the new mouse pointer: instead of the somewhat confusing circle, there is now a pointer. It still doesn’t look like on the Mac, but can be made bigger briefly as there. On request, folders now end up 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 to make the preview app (preview) onto the iPad. It is (almost) complete and also allows the editing of various file types such as PDFs or pictures and comes with Apple-Pecil support. Only the manufacturer himself knows why Apple only brings the application.

Improved file management functions have been in demand for a long time, which the new files app now finally brings. This includes assigning file types to an app – this ends the apparently random opening of files with applications that you do not want. Labored, this even works on the iPhone. Ipados 26 will appear in September according to current knowledge. Apple leads an overview of which device what supports what in the small print here.