Apple previewed iPadOS 26 at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2025 (WWDC 2025). It further expands the versatility and productivity of the iPad.
It debuted alongside the new Liquid Glass material, iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and more.
iPad OS 26
Liquid Glass material took center stage across all the different operating systems of Apple and this includes iPadOS 26. The new material brings a translucent aesthetic that reacts to your input and dynamically transforms to bring focus to the content you’re viewing.
It shows itself in things like the Lock Screen and Control Center, to name a few.
Windowing System
To aid with productivity and multitasking, Apple introduces a new windowing system to iPadOS. It allows you to resize app windows and place them wherever you want, as well as open even more windows in one go. iPadOS also remembers the exact size and position of your apps.
Window tiling is also designed for the capabilities of the iPad. Meanwhile, Exposé allows you to quickly see all your windows spread out.
A new menu bar allows you to access the commands available in an app with a swipe down from the top of the display or by moving your cursor to the top.
New Features Powered by Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is also powering new features in iPadOS 26. This includes:
- Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime, and Messages
- New ways to create Genmoji
- Shortcuts – new intelligent actions like summarizing text with Writing Tools or a shortcut that uses Apple Intelligence models to compare an audio transcript of a class lecture to notes
New Ways to Work with Files
An enhanced Files app with an updated List view lets you see more of your document details in resizable columns. Moreover, you can also customize your folders by adding custom colors, icons, and emojis that sync across your devices.
Other Features
Apple also introduces the Preview app to iPad that allows you to view, edit, and mark up your PDFs and images with the Apple Pencil or by touch.
There are also new audio features that offer more flexible input and streamlined recording. iPadOS 26 lets you select your input device, and recorded audio will be made better with the availability of Voice Isolation.
Other features include:
- Journal app
- Games app
- Messages app update
- Phone app updates
- Reed Pen
Like all the other updates announced at WWDC 2025, iPadOS 26 will be available starting today via the Developer Program followed by a public beta next month. It will officially be rolled out later this fall.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
