Apple Explains Why iPad Multitasking Took So Long to Arrive
iPadOS 26: Why True Multitasking Took So Long to Arrive on the iPad
iPadOS 26 marks a significant leap forward for iPad users, finally delivering a truly Mac-like multitasking experience. For years, users have clamored for the ability to seamlessly work with multiple apps simultaneously, resizing windows and arranging them as needed. Now, with iPadOS 26, that dream is a reality. But the journey to get here was a long one, filled with technical hurdles and design considerations. In a recent interview with Ars Technica, Apple's software chief, Craig Federighi, shed light on the reasons behind this extended development process.
Early Hardware Limitations and Design Choices
Federighi explained that the early iPad's hardware simply wasn't powerful enough to handle true multitasking without significant compromises. The touch-first interface of the iPad presented an additional challenge: responsiveness was paramount.
"It is a foundational requirement that if you touch the screen and start to move something that it responds," Federighi told Ars. "Otherwise, the entire interaction model is broken – it's a psychic break with your contract with the device."
The initial iPads lacked the processing power to effortlessly run multiple apps simultaneously while maintaining the smooth, responsive experience users expected. Furthermore, apps at the time weren't designed with dynamic resizing in mind; the ability to resize app windows on the fly was a significant technical hurdle.
The Stage Manager's Rocky Start and Hardware Advancements
The introduction of Stage Manager in 2022 presented its own set of challenges. To guarantee a consistent and fluid experience with multiple apps, Apple initially restricted Stage Manager to its high-end iPad Pro models. This limitation frustrated many users who owned older iPads, creating a sense of exclusion. However, the situation has changed drastically.
Over time, the power of the iPad Pro has increased significantly. The hardware has reached a point where it's on par with many Mac computers in terms of processing capabilities. This technological advancement removed a major bottleneck in the path to true multitasking.
"Over time the iPad's gotten more powerful, the screens have gotten larger, the user base has shifted into a mode where there is a little bit more trackpad and keyboard use in how many people use the device," Federighi told Ars. "And so the stars kind of aligned to where many of the things that you traditionally do with a Mac were possible to do on an iPad for the first time and still meet iPad's basic contract."
iPadOS 26: A New Approach to Multitasking
With iPadOS 26, Apple adopted a new strategy. Instead of waiting for perfect performance across all devices, they prioritized making multitasking features available to as many users as possible. This means that while newer iPads will support a larger number of simultaneously open apps, even older models will benefit from improved multitasking functionality, albeit with some limitations on the number of apps that can be open concurrently. Older iPads might be limited to four apps, while newer models can handle more.
Federighi stated that, "We decided this time: make everything we can make available, even if it has some nuances on older hardware, because we saw so much demand."
A Familiar Interface with Key Differences
iPadOS 26 introduces Mac-like window controls—the familiar traffic lights for closing, minimizing, and maximizing windows—providing a consistent experience for users who are already familiar with macOS. Furthermore, apps now feature Mac-style menu bars for quick access to settings. The operating system also includes improved background processing capabilities, allowing for more efficient handling of system-intensive tasks. However, Apple has carefully managed this, focusing on discrete tasks like file transfers rather than allowing continuously running background processes like some Mac applications.
"We've looked and said, as [the iPad and Mac] come together, where on the iPad the Mac idiom for doing something, like where we put the window close controls and maximize controls, what color are they – we've said why not, where it makes sense, use a converged design for those things so it's familiar and comfortable," Federighi told Ars. "But where it doesn't make sense, iPad's gonna be iPad."
This approach ensures that the iPad retains its unique identity while borrowing useful interface elements from the Mac ecosystem. It's a careful balance between familiarity and preserving the iPad's distinctive user experience. The system retains Stage Manager as an optional feature, alongside the new windowed multitasking system, giving users a choice between different multitasking approaches. Moreover, iPadOS 26 retains the traditional single-app full-screen interface for users who prefer the original iPad simplicity.
A Significant Step Toward Laptop Replacement
The changes in iPadOS 26 represent Apple's most significant step yet in positioning the iPad as a genuine laptop alternative. This is particularly true for the more affordable base models, which stand to benefit the most from enhanced multitasking capabilities. The ability to handle multiple apps effectively greatly enhances productivity and makes the iPad a more compelling option for users who need a versatile and portable computing device.
iPadOS 26 is currently available in developer beta, with a public beta rollout expected in the coming month and a general release anticipated in the fall.
Discussion and Conclusion
The improvements to multitasking in iPadOS 26 are significant. They show a commitment by Apple to enhance the iPad's capabilities and position it as a more serious productivity tool. The balance between adding powerful features and preserving the iPad's unique identity is a testament to Apple's design philosophy. While the journey to achieve true Mac-like multitasking on the iPad has been long, the result is a refined and powerful system that truly unlocks the iPad's potential.
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