Apple Expands Stage Manager and Window Features to More iPad Models

Apple is set to enhance its tablet functionality with the introduction of window management features in iPadOS 26, scheduled for release this autumn. The update will also broaden the availability of the Stage Manager functionality, previously limited to select iPad models.

Under the current iPadOS 18, Stage Manager was only accessible on certain devices such as the fifth-generation iPad Air, first-generation iPad Pro 11, third-generation iPad Pro 12.9, and the iPad Pro equipped with the M4 chip. However, with the upcoming iPadOS 26, Apple will allow Stage Manager to be used on a wider array of devices, including the standard iPad starting from the eighth generation, the fifth-generation iPad mini, and the third-generation iPad Air.

This development suggests that the technical constraints initially cited by Apple may not have been as significant as previously thought. Instead, the restrictions may have been a strategy to differentiate between lower-cost and higher-end models. Nevertheless, Apple has not provided explicit reasons for this prior limitation.

In iPadOS 26, the Stage Manager feature has been redesigned to offer a more flexible window arrangement, allowing users to freely position windows akin to the macOS interface. Additionally, the update will phase out the previous 'Split View & Slide Over' modes, integrating their functionalities into the new window management system.

Craig Federighi, Apple's software chief, remarked that the new window system operates with greater efficiency. This optimization has enabled the company to lift the previous restriction that confined Stage Manager to iPads with M-series chips. Observers may wonder why such capabilities were not made available sooner, as window management has been a common feature in computing for many years.

Overall, the upcoming iPadOS 26 promises to significantly enhance user experience by making advanced multitasking features accessible to a broader audience of iPad users.