- By Konark Tyagi
- Wed, 18 Jun 2025 01:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
iPadOS26: Apple recently showcased their new OS upgrades for 2026 at WWDC 25, and I have been testing the iPad OS 26 Developer Beta from the very moment it came out. Here are my thoughts.
For years, there’s been a significant group of users – including me, who have been on the fence about fully transitioning from a MacBook to an iPad. I love the convenience, portability, and modularity that an iPad offers, since I travel so much, but somewhere down within, I am deeply accustomed to the familiar UI and tactile feel of a MacBook and the whole idea of 'oh no, I need to work on this on a laptop – my laptop or iPhone won't cut it'. Understandably, the ecosystem and fluidity of macOS have been hard to replicate—until now.
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I have been testing the new iPad OS 26 Developer Beta on the iPad Air M3 11-inch, and here are my two cents.
Floating windows – Love it
One of the standout features of iPadOS 26 is its advanced multitasking capabilities. Apple has taken floating windows to the next level. Imagine the seamlessness of managing multiple apps, dragging and dropping content between them, and resizing windows with intuitive gestures—all without the lag or clunkiness that previously plagued iPad multitasking.
Image Credits: Apple
Floating windows are no longer just a gimmick; they are a fully functional, integrated feature that transforms how you interact with the device. Whether you’re working on a document, chatting on WhatsApp (there's an iPad-specific WhatsApp app too now, btw), attending a video call, or managing your emails, the flexibility rivals that of macOS.
It's literally the MacBook chip in here.
Thanks to the powerhouse that the M3 chip is, performance is buttery smooth. Apps launch instantly, and even heavy-duty software handles like a breeze. Graphics-intensive tasks, video editing, and gaming shine with the power of Apple’s silicon. This is not just an incremental upgrade; it’s a leap forward that bridges the gap between tablet and laptop.
Do it!
Having been part of the Apple ecosystem for years, testing every iteration of iPadOS since the original iPad launched, I can confidently say that iPadOS 26 is the most refined iPad OS version yet. The synergy between hardware and software is unmatched, providing an experience that could finally make the MacBook feel redundant for many users.
Image Credits: Apple
If you’ve been contemplating the switch, now is the time. iPadOS 26 doesn’t just promise; it delivers.
Note – The author is currently running a test Developer beta of the iPad OS 26, which comes with certain bugs. If you plan to enrol in the beta programme, do so at your own risk or just wait for the public iPad OS to come out later this fall.
