iPadOS 26: Release Date, Features, Specs, Compatible Devices

iPadOS 26, unveiled at Apple’s WWDC 2025, introduces a transformative update that enhances multitasking, modernizes the user interface, and integrates advanced AI features. Here’s an overview of its key features and supported devices:

New Features in iPadOS 26

Liquid Glass Design

With Liquid Glass, iPadOS 26 is receiving a new update, much like Apple’s other platforms, including iOS, macOS, watchOS, and Vision Pro.

The “Liquid Glass” interface is a new transparent material layer characterized by translucent elements and a cohesive aesthetic that reacts to the content behind. It is used in the redesign of numerous user interface elements.

Enhanced Multitasking with Window Management

Expose, a feature of macOS that iPadOS 26 inherits, allows you to rapidly view all of your open windows on a single screen. The update introduces a macOS-style windowing system, allowing users to resize, reposition, and tile app windows. Additionally, you can divide windows into internal and exterior displays by grouping them into distinct stages using Stage Manager.

The Expose feature, along with the Stage Manager, facilitates a more desktop-like experience on the iPad.

However, while Stage Manager is now supported on all compatible iPad models, some users may still experience performance limitations on older devices due to hardware constraints.

Top Menu Bar

The menu bar is another significant macOS feature that is being imitated. With a simple swipe down or by dragging the mouse pointer to the top, apps can now have a menu bar at the top. Like on a Mac, this displays a full-featured menu bar that developers may alter to fit their apps. Additionally, you may see close, minimize, and resize controls in the corner, similar to those found in macOS.

Journal App with Apple Pencil Support

The Journal app, previously exclusive to iPhone, is now available on iPadOS 26, offering enhanced note-taking capabilities with Apple Pencil integration.

Apple Intelligence Enhancements

Apple’s AI suite has been expanded to include features like real-time translation in FaceTime, live captions, and visual intelligence in apps such as Photos and Messages.

Games App and Game Overlay

A new Games app consolidates Apple Arcade and downloaded titles, adding social features. Additionally, a Game Overlay allows users to adjust settings and communicate during gameplay without leaving the current app.

Preview App for PDF Editing

With iPadOS 26, the Preview app from the Mac also appears on the iPad. In addition to opening and editing PDF files, you can also open all of your photos within this app. With the Apple Pencil, you can even write and draw on it.

Improved Files App

iPadOS 26 also brings a redesign to the Files app. It features an upgraded list view with a redesigned user interface that displays more files with more details on the screen at once. To make folders more recognizable, you can add unique colors, symbols, and emojis. For simpler access, folders can also be dragged out onto the dock.

Live Activities

Updates to background tasks further enhance the multitasking capabilities. Apps that create lengthy processes, like exporting a movie or uploading a big file, can now show up in Live Activities so you can monitor them while working on other projects. To enable their apps to utilize this capability, developers will have access to the revised Background Tasks API.

Improved Recording Features

The ability to select distinct mics for every app or even website is one of the other new capabilities. Voice Isolation eliminates background noise from audio recordings, and users of specific AirPods models will also experience “studio-quality” recording. Using any video conferencing program, local capture enables you to record voice and video in high quality for later sharing or saving.

Supported Devices

iPadOS 26 is compatible with the following models:

iPad (8th generation) and later
iPad Mini (5th generation) and later
iPad Air (3rd generation) and later
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) and later
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and later.

Notably, support for the 7th-generation iPad has been dropped

Release Timeline

Developer Beta: Available now
Public Beta: Expected next month
General Availability: Scheduled for the fall.

Conclusion

iPadOS 26 marks a significant step in Apple’s vision to position the iPad as a versatile computing device, bridging the gap between tablets and traditional desktops.

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