iPadOS 26 Public Beta Redefines the iPad Experience
So, I’ve just spent some time diving into the iPadOS 26 Public Beta , and let me tell you—this is not just a tweak or a polish. This is the most transformative update the iPad has seen in years, maybe ever. From a total design overhaul to productivity upgrades that rival the Mac, iPadOS 26 isn’t trying to be a computer anymore. It is one—on its own terms.
First off, the new interface looks and feels fresh. Apple’s new design language brings in rounded edges, “Liquid Glass” effects, and transparent elements that shift and respond to what you’re doing. Album art slides under the frosted-glass sidebar in the Music app, and the whole OS feels more alive. It’s not all perfect—some transparency choices make readability a little sketchy—but Apple seems committed to refining it.
But the real breakthrough here? Windowing. Apple finally gave up on trying to reinvent multitasking and just embraced the Mac way of doing things. You get freeform windows—resize them, move them, overlap them, even throw them halfway off the screen if you want. And those familiar Mac “stoplight” buttons? They’re here too. You can go fullscreen, tile windows, or use keyboard shortcuts and gestures to manage your workspace. I’ve had multiple windows open on my iPad Pro, attached to my Studio Display, and honestly? I forgot I wasn’t on macOS.
Oh, and for those worried—yes, you can toggle this new multitasking off. A simple button in Control Center flips your iPad back to the classic single-window mode. Apple’s finally giving us control instead of forcing a vision.
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One thing that made me chuckle was the new Menu Bar —yep, you heard that right. Like on the Mac, it appears in multi-window mode and reveals app options and shortcuts. It feels oddly natural and brings a sense of structure to complex apps that were once a maze of hidden icons and taps. I already caught myself using it instinctively. And honestly, Apple should just let us pin it permanently.
Another feature that’s long overdue is local background recording —a godsend for podcasters and creators. You can now record locally while on a Zoom call, directly from the iPad. Just plug in a USB mic, turn on the feature, and you're good to go. No more dragging laptops around just to capture clean audio.
The Files app also got a glow-up. You can finally customize columns, sort files your way, open them in default apps, and manage folders with expandable arrows—hello, Finder vibes. And if you’re doing long file transfers, there’s now a Live Activity that shows progress even after you leave the app. These are little features that finally make the iPad feel like a serious productivity machine.
And speaking of productivity, Shortcuts are now powered by AI . You can tie in on-device and cloud AI models—including ChatGPT—to automate complex tasks. I rebuilt a workflow to upload images, and now the AI generates filenames based on the content. That’s insane. What used to take several clunky steps now happens in one smooth motion.
There are also new and updated apps— Preview finally comes to iPad and it’s exactly what you’d expect: clean, useful, and Apple Pencil-friendly. The Journal app has landed too, which makes more sense here than it ever did on the iPhone. And in Photos, Apple rolled back last year’s UI change, letting you stick to the traditional Library view while still having Collections just a tap away.
In short, iPadOS 26 isn’t just trying to mimic the Mac anymore—it’s building on its strengths and accepting that pro users want real tools. Apple’s not forcing you into complexity, but if you want it, it’s all right there. For the first time in a long time, the iPad feels like it’s fulfilling its promise. And honestly? I think this update changes everything.
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