Announced at WWDC 2022, iPadOS 16 promises new features worthy of Apple’s support. In addition to the weather app, the iPad is multitasking for the first time. However, not all iPad models offer this feature. In this article, we’ve rounded up what you need to know about Apple’s new iPadOS 16.
- Update finally brings true multitasking to select iPad models
- Beta is already available for developers
- The official version of iOS 16 is scheduled to be released in the fall
Apple’s update to iPadOS 16 could mark a turning point in Apple’s history. In fact, with the new Stage Manager, Apple is bringing true multitasking capabilities to its tablets. As a result, the selected model becomes a reliable alternative to your own MacBook model, especially when combined with the keyboard as an accessory.
Since this is a massive update, we’ve put together all the new content on one page. You’ll find that iOS 16 and watchOS 9 are the same. If you want to install the new iPadOS 16 directly, skip to our paragraph about the new OS release.
To summarize:
What’s new in iPadOS 16
Stage Manager for M1 iPad
Let’s start with the biggest features iPadOS 16 brings to the iPad. With Stage Manager, you can use the new window manager in the future, which will also launch on macOS 13. With it, one window moves to the center of the screen, while all other apps move to the battery screen on the left.
With Stage Manager, you can group software that you want to use at the same time. For example, if you need to transfer text from Safari to Photoshop images – you can simply place these applications next to each other. If at the same time, you have to communicate with customers via email, the task becomes more complicated. With Stage Manager, you can easily switch from this pair of apps to your messaging program.
Stage Manager finally brings true multitasking to the iPad! /©Apple; Screenshot: kwgeek
Stage Manager is useful because of its ability to have up to 8 applications open in a window at the same time. You can freely resize and move them on the screen, just like on your computer. Since the iPad is only available up to a 12.9-inch version, you can also use this feature with an external monitor. According to Apple, up to 6k displays are supported thanks to the M1 chip.
With a keyboard, your iPad will thus be a better replacement for a MacBook – with one big limitation: Stage Manager is only available on iPad models with SoC M1. It’s a shame, but Apple probably wants to guarantee the performance of the iPad (or just make you buy the most expensive model).
Support for external monitors has also been improved. /©Apple; Screenshot: kwgeek
Weather app declared best
The next “big” feature is actually pretty small: Apple is launching its own weather app on the iPad. If you’ve been using an Apple tablet for a while, you know the tablet hasn’t been ported to iPadOS. If you’ve already wanted to check weather information on your iPad, you’ll find an overview of the best weather apps.
Freeform and new collaboration features
Apple showcased new capabilities for collaborative work during an iPad-only event. The new “Freeform” application is a digital whiteboard. On it, you can create diagrams, mind maps, and various Apple Pencil-related documents.
Freeform is a collaborative work tool. /©Apple; Screenshot: kwgeek
Instead of sending copies of documents, Apple now allows other Apple users to access them. As with documents in Google Drive, you can work on files together instead of assembling different versions.
Reference Mode and Screen Scaling
Since Apple products are often used in creative work, Apple has introduced two new display features. When using a MacBook or Mac with an Apple display, the reference mode should give you consistent color fidelity on your tablet. Unfortunately, this mode is only available on the Liquid Retina XDR display of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Apple launches Weather app on iPad / © Apple; Screenshot: kwgeek
On the other hand, scaling the screen changes the pixel density on an iPad with an M1 chip. This allows you to see more of the screen content on the tablet, which should be especially useful in split screen. It is here that the way in which you can activate this function is decisive. If Apple came up with a gesture, zooming the screen would be handy for briefly showing more information in an app.
Apps for the desktop
If you use a Mac and an iPad at the same time, you know that Apple generally restricts its apps to make them look better on small screens. With “desktop apps”, some apps should look more like full-fledged apps. For example, you can view folder sizes in the Finder or configure the taskbar in the Mail application.
A rather anecdotal feature, but one I don’t want to ignore. Because thanks to it, Apple is once again bringing its iPad closer to the MacBook.
Other features inherited from iOS 16
In addition to features unique to the iPad or Mac, Apple has also moved other new features from iOS 16. These include new possibilities in Live Text or extensions to the Messages app. But you can head over to our iOS 16-specific article to learn more.
Availability: Which iPads will get the iPadOS 16 update?
While many of the new features in iPadOS 16 will remain exclusive to the M1 model, the new operating system will be available on many models. Apple announces the following availability:
Release Date: When will iPadOS 16 be available on iPads?
If you use a developer account, you can directly download the first developer beta of iPadOS 16 since June 6, 2022. This version already includes some new features, but it is not fully stable yet.
Apple plans to release the first public beta in July of this year. Following the WWDC 2022 livestream, Apple announced that this version should launch “next month.”
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The official release of iPadOS 16 is expected in the fall of 2022. Most likely, Apple plans to release it at the same time as iOS 16, which in turn will be released at the same time as the iPhone 14 release. It will take another 4 months to get the official version of iPadOS 16 online.
What features are you looking forward to in the fall? Do you think the iPad will be a better replacement for the MacBook?