It has been one year since Apple unveiled iPadOS 26, promising a leap forward in iPad productivity. As a full-time iPad Pro user since day one of the beta, I have experienced every twist and turn of this update. The introduction of proper app windowing—after 15 years of waiting—was the headline feature. For the most part, it has delivered on its promise, but the journey has not been without frustration.

What’s working for me in iPadOS 26

The new windowing system is the star of the show. I can now freely resize app windows to suit my workflow. Typically, I keep certain apps in a mostly fullscreen view, while others stay compact as popovers on either side of the screen. This flexibility has transformed how I multitask on the iPad.

One of my favorite capabilities is the ability to keep the dock visible at all times, similar to macOS. A new setting allows the dock to stay on-screen as long as windows avoid the bottom edge. This has been a game-changer for quick app switching, especially since Apple now supports adding more apps and even folders to the dock.

The Files app also received a major overhaul in iPadOS 26, and when combined with the new Preview app, file management on the iPad feels nearly on par with the Mac. I can now effortlessly browse, organize, and preview documents without reaching for another device.

The menu bar, while not as robust as macOS, serves as a useful hub for exposing app features. I appreciate having a persistent location for controls, though I hope future updates make it more Mac-like. Finally, Apple Journal has been a delightful addition to iPad, offering a space for personal reflection that was previously missing from the tablet.

For the first time, iPadOS feels like it matches the massive potential of the iPad’s hardware. The M5 iPad Pro with 16GB of RAM and a 10-core CPU is an absolute beast, and iPadOS 26 finally lets it stretch its legs.

Where iPadOS still feels like a work in progress

Despite the triumphs, daily use reveals several cracks in the foundation. One of Apple’s advertised features is “persistent size and placement”—windows should stay where you put them, exactly as you resize them. In practice, this works most of the time. But every day or every other day, an app crashes and resets to fullscreen view, forcing me to move and resize it again. This is unacceptable on a device like the M5 iPad Pro, which has more than enough power to handle modern multitasking. Such behavior simply does not occur on the Mac with this regularity.

Another regression is Slide Over. I was thrilled when Apple brought it back in iPadOS 26.1, but the current implementation is a step backward from iPadOS 18. In the previous version, I could keep multiple apps stacked in Slide Over, easily switching between them. Now, Slide Over only holds one app at a time, making it far less useful for quick lookups. For an update that otherwise pushes the iPad forward, this feels like an unnecessary compromise.

Several minor issues also detract from the experience:

• Right-clicking in iPadOS often feels slow and laggy, while on a Mac it is instantaneous.
• Even with a trackpad and cursor, I frequently move app windows when I intend to resize them, and vice versa.
• Keyboard bugs in Safari cause characters I type in the address bar to be erased by software auto-suggestions.
• Some websites still have buttons that are unclickable in Safari on iPad, forcing me to switch to a Mac to complete a task.

These problems are not isolated—many users report similar experiences. The Mac, of course, is not perfect either; macOS Tahoe has its own share of complaints. But for a device marketed as a professional tool, these inconsistencies undermine trust.

The big picture: A foundation for the future

Despite the bugs, iPadOS 26 remains the most significant software update in iPad history. It marks a turning point where Apple finally treats the iPad as a serious computing platform. The introduction of freeform windowing, an always-visible dock, and a much-improved Files app are all tectonic shifts. The menu bar, while basic, hints at a deeper alignment with macOS.

Looking ahead, the iPad’s role in Apple’s ecosystem is still evolving. With rumors of foldable iPhones and touchscreen Macs, the iPad may face an identity crisis. However, the investment Apple has poured into iPadOS 26 suggests they are committed to making the iPad a distinct and capable device. I am optimistic that iPadOS 27 will address many of the current shortcomings—especially window persistence, Slide Over versatility, and general polish.

The M5 iPad Pro is, without question, the most powerful tablet ever built. iPadOS 26 finally gives it an operating system worthy of that hardware. But the software must continue to mature. The next update needs to iron out the stability issues, reintroduce multiple Slide Over apps, and make right-clicking as responsive as on a Mac. If Apple can deliver on those fronts, the iPad will become an even more compelling alternative to traditional laptops.

For now, I continue to use my iPad Pro as my full-time computer. The highs are genuinely high—windowing and the dock alone have changed my workflow for the better. The lows, however, are a constant reminder that iPadOS is still a work in progress. I hope that in another year, I can write a follow-up with fewer caveats.

What are your highs and lows with iPadOS 26? Which features would you like to see refined in iPadOS 27? The conversation is far from over.

Source: 9to5Mac News