Apple Aiming to Make iPad More Mac-Like With iPadOS 16 Multitasking Changes - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Aiming to Make iPad More Mac-Like With iPadOS 16 Multitasking Changes

Apple wants to make the iPad behave more like a laptop than a smartphone and plans to implement changes in iPadOS 16 to further that goal, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iPad Pro Big Ol Logo
iPadOS 16 will feature a redesigned multitasking interface that makes it easier to swap between tasks and see which apps are open, plus it will allow users to resize windows. Apple plans to implement new ways for users to deal with multiple apps at once, in what sounds like a much more Mac-like multitasking experience.

The revamped iPad experience will be one of the biggest upgrades announced at WWDC, according to Gurman.

Apple's iPad Pro models are as powerful as its Macs as they use the same M1 chip, but the software experience has always lagged behind and prevented the tablet from being used in the same way as a laptop or desktop machine.

The new iPadOS 16 experience will premiere on Monday, June 6, with Apple previewing the software for developers. Developers will get beta access that same day, and Apple will refine the iPadOS 16 software over the course of several months before launching it in the fall alongside iOS 16.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2026

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...
apple tv 4k new orange

tvOS 26.4 Adds These New Features to Your Apple TV

Wednesday March 25, 2026 3:33 pm PDT by
Apple this week released tvOS 26.4, and the software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the Apple TV. tvOS 26.4 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released since 2015. To update your Apple TV, open the Settings app on the device, navigate to System → Software Updates, and select Update Software. Below, we have recapped what is new in tvOS...

Top Rated Comments

GreenPixel Avatar
50 months ago
I’d love an iPad that had a touch OS on the go and macOS as needed or when docked.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
50 months ago
Any improvement is welcome. Particularly in this area.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sherwinzadeh Avatar
50 months ago
I'm torn by this... on the one hand it's very welcome. But after MacBooks went M1, I really don't use my iPad as a "laptop" anymore. Sorta wish they would go back to the "tablet" roots and really innovate more in this space. I really do want a *third* device that is different than my laptop and my iPhone as Steve Jobs presented it.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
50 months ago
Resizable windows? Welcome to 1990! 😂

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_3.0
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
50 months ago
I'm all for iPad improvements. But some of the speculation about basically making it turn into a Mac-like interface seems a terrible idea. Let the Mac have a Mac interface. Let the iPad spread its wings and have multiple monitor support (touch-on-monitor would be awesome). Windows if they can do it without making touch targets that only a mouse can find.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
50 months ago
Also, how about bringing the macOS to the iPad. Let's transform it to have that macOS experience. That will be a game changer!

Imagine, An iconic glowing Apple logo on iPads. :oops:
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)