iPadOS 26, now available as a public beta, brings a bold new era for iPad users with its Liquid Glass design and a suite of features that transform the tablet into a multitasking powerhouse. Unveiled at WWDC 2025, this update introduces a visually stunning interface, new apps, and enhanced productivity tools, making the iPad more versatile and engaging than ever.
The Liquid Glass design redefines the iPad’s aesthetic, introducing a translucent, glass-like interface that reacts dynamically to user interactions. App windows, sidebars, and toolbars feature rounded corners and a fluid, reflective quality that mimics real-world physics, creating a cohesive look across apps like Safari, Apple TV, and Notes. Sidebars in apps like Apple TV refract content behind them, maintaining contextual awareness while immersing users in their tasks. This design extends to the Home Screen and Lock Screen, where time elements adapt to photo backgrounds for a 3D depth effect, enhancing visual appeal.
Multitasking is a major focus, with a new windowing system that allows users to resize web pages and apps like on a laptop. This upgrade, building on Stage Manager, enables power users to work with multiple windows and tabs simultaneously, streamlining workflows for tasks like research or content creation. The revamped Spotlight search, now positioned at the screen’s bottom for easier access, delivers faster, more relevant results, making it a productivity booster for finding files or apps.
iPadOS 26 introduces four new apps: Phone, Preview, Games, and Journal. The Phone app brings iPhone-style calling to the iPad, complete with live translations for Messages, FaceTime, and calls, facilitating seamless communication. The Games app centralizes App Store games, supports controllers, and includes leaderboards, turning the iPad into a gaming hub. The Journal app supports multiple journals, inline images, and a map view to track entry locations, encouraging creative expression. Preview enhances document and image viewing, making the iPad a more robust tool for professional tasks.
Apple Intelligence enhances functionality with features like task suggestions in Reminders, which analyzes emails and texts to propose tasks or grocery items. The Photos app benefits from a streamlined interface and a new 3D effect for photos, which can be applied to the Lock Screen for a spatial, immersive feel. Accessibility improvements include a Braille-focused experience and expanded Vehicle Motion Cues to reduce motion sickness, ensuring inclusivity.
For users with AirPods, iPadOS 26 integrates camera control and studio-quality audio, aligning with iOS 26’s enhancements. The public beta, accessible via the Apple Beta Software Program, allows users to explore these features before the fall 2025 launch.
Read About: iOS 26 public beta is now available. Everything you need to know
