According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, the upcoming release of M5-powered iPads may bring iPadOS closer to the experience of using a Mac. Although it won’t be macOS on a tablet, Gurman notes that the anticipated updates will be significant enough to please those hoping for a more desktop-like functionality.
The updates to iPadOS, expected this year, will primarily aim to enhance productivity, multitasking, and app window management, making the device operate more like a Mac, as mentioned by Gurman. These enhancements are anticipated roughly a year following the launch of the M4 iPad Pro, a powerful tablet that outstrips its software capabilities.
Gurman’s report doesn’t provide specifics on what the refreshed multitasking features will entail, so it’s wise to temper expectations until more details emerge. In 2022, Apple introduced Stage Manager with iPadOS 16, a feature designed for window management that organizes app windows in a dock-like format on the side of the screen. While it might have appeared as a promising update for those looking to replace their MacBook, the implementation felt somewhat lacking and didn’t fully meet the needs of a desktop operating system.
Since then, Apple has continued to refine the experience, including more flexible window resizing in iPadOS 17, but the overall functionality still leans more toward the iPad experience than a Mac one. This wouldn’t be an issue for everyone, but it matters for those hoping to substitute their MacBook with an Apple tablet. The effectiveness of Apple’s adjustments will become clearer when iPadOS 19 is revealed in June.
