Your iPad is getting a serious improve without spending a dime. 4 prime options I am unable to wait to attempt in iPadOS 26

Apple on Monday introduced the most recent updates coming to the iPad’s working system — iPadOS 26 — throughout WWDC 2025. The brand new iPadOS 26 helps Apple’s aim of providing customers a extra seamless expertise throughout gadgets, making its person interface extra intuitive and constant. 

Additionally: Did Apple lastly flip the iPad right into a MacBook various? My first have a look at iPadOS 26 says sure

All of Apple’s working techniques throughout gadgets have a brand new model variety of 26, which streamlines the completely different variations for shoppers. As an alternative of every OS having a distinct model quantity, Apple is rebranding all of them in keeping with the 12 months through which most customers could have entry to them. iPadOS 26 was introduced as we speak and launches to the general public in September.

These are one of the best iPadOS 26 options that Apple unveiled throughout its yearly WWDC occasion. The corporate additionally unveiled iOS 26, WatchOS 26, MacOS 26, VisionOS 26, and TvOS 26.

1. Mac-like productiveness expertise

With iPadOS 26, Apple is giving the iPad person a extra MacOS-like expertise. iPadOS 26 brings us higher app window controls to make multitasking and app switching on the iPad simpler and extra intuitive than ever. 

Apple has put a variety of give attention to bettering productiveness and app administration on the iPad, one thing that is not at present very intuitive. Apple launched an upgraded window administration system that allows you to resize, transfer, reduce, and tile home windows, very like you are able to do on a Mac. It’s also possible to use Expose view to see all of your open home windows at a look, or use a flicking motion to tile your home windows. 

Additionally: CarPlay’s iOS 26 makeover is sort of right here: 3 new options coming to your dashboard

iPadOS 26’s new menu bar makes menus and instructions simpler to entry. 

2. Apple Intelligence (AI) options for iPadOS

Apple Intelligence was the principle occasion at WWDC 2024; this 12 months, it was extra of a supporting character. After failing to ship on some AI options and falling flat on others, Apple goes again to what it does greatest: the person expertise. This 12 months, the AI options are extra of a complement to the general iPad interface. Here is what we noticed at WWDC:

• Actual-time translation: Just like Google’s glasses announcement throughout I/O, Apple desires to convey reside translations for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. Apple says that Stay Translation will work for texts, FaceTime, and telephone calls with each captions and spoken translations. 
• A better, genAI Siri: Apple introduced a giant Siri improve final 12 months that will make the digital assistant context-aware, but this characteristic has but to be rolled out for shoppers. This characteristic remains to be to come back to Siri, however Apple introduced a brand new set of Shortcuts that now help AI-powered actions like summarizing textual content and producing photographs. 
• Genmoji and Picture Playground: Apple’s picture era options now allow you to embody new kinds and edit attributes like hair and equipment.

Additionally: Your AirPods might get 3 main upgrades without spending a dime because of iOS 26 – here is what to anticipate

3. New iPadOS apps: Video games and Preview

Throughout WWDC 2025, Apple introduced new updates to current apps, together with new apps for iPad:

• Preview for iPadOS: Apple is bringing the Preview app to the iPad. The app will allow you to view, edit, and mark up PDFs. It is going to additionally embody AutoFill for types and combine with the Information app. 
• Apple Video games: The brand new gaming hub is now Apple Video games, a brand new house for gaming on the iPad. It introduces Sport Overlay, and allows you to see invitations, settings, and updates mid-game.

4. Liquid Glass on iPad

The massive visible redesign on iPadOS 26 makes use of what Apple calls Liquid Glass, a set of clear layers that dynamically regulate with motion and scrolling. This modifications the way in which your iPad show responds to your contact and motion, and allows you to customise app icons and notifications with a brand new translucent look. Apple makes use of superior laptop imaginative and prescient strategies to create the phantasm of motion on pictures utilized in your wallpaper, making the visible expertise extra fluid.