While iOS 16 has been available for a month, iPad users have had to wait a long time. But now the big function update is ready for download.
With iPadOS 16, Apple further encapsulated the tablet operating system from iOS. The update brings many innovations that can also be found in iOS 16 and 16.1. But many more have been specially developed for the iPad.
The most important innovations in iPadOS 16
Stage manager for multitasking like on the Mac
While an iPad Pro delivers as much performance as a MacBook Air, its capabilities have so far been held back by iPadOS. The Stage Manager aims to change that. At first, Apple only wanted to make the new multitasking feature available for the new iPad Pro. However, after user complaints during the beta phase, the company changed its mind. The feature is now available for all iPad Pro from model year 2018.
With Stage Manager, users can arrange up to four apps or windows side by side or on top of each other on the iPad Pro. You can determine the size and position yourself. This allows multitasking similar to that on the Mac. You can even create pairs of apps that you use a lot so that you can access them quickly.
display zoom
In order to be able to use Stage Manager more effectively in iPadOS 16, the iPad also gets a display zoom. This makes use of the high display resolution to offer “more space” – i.e. to display the screen elements smaller. This allows more apps to fit side by side on the display when multitasking.
External display support
iPad Pro with M1 or M2 should get full support for external screens up to 6K resolution in the course of 2022. This means that the iPad display is not mirrored, but an extended workspace appears. This means that iPad Pro users with the M1 or M2 can display even more apps at the same time.
Reference mode for iPad Pro 12.9
From the 2021 model year, the iPad Pro 12.9 has been given a “Liquid Retina XDR” display as a unique selling point. This is a mini LED panel that can switch off individual areas of the display in order to display deeper black tones. Now Apple is making use of the feature and integrating a color reference mode into the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. This allows color calibration in professional photo and video editing apps. This also works if you use the iPad as a second display next to a Mac.
Shared iCloud Photo Library
With iCloud Photo Library, six family members can share, edit, and delete photos and videos in a separate library. Users can easily switch between shared library and personal library or mix both.
The Share feature in the Camera app allows you to add shots directly to the iCloud Shared Photo Library. Even if family members are nearby, iPhone automatically suggests sharing.
More professional apps are to come
Apple has announced that a number of new professional apps are coming to the iPad. These include DaVinci Resolve for video editing and color correction and Octane X for cinematic 3D rendering. Affinity Publisher for page layouts will also be available soon.
“Focus” for a better separation of private and professional life
New in iPadOS 16 are focus filters. Previously it was only possible to block certain apps. Now there is the ability to set limits within the apps themselves. For example, it can be used to set access to selected tab groups in Safari. This is also interesting for separating work and personal time. For example, users with their personal focus can make their mail account and calendar inaccessible for work in the mail app and the calendar.
weather app
For the first time in the history of the iPad, Apple is providing its own weather app for the tablet. As on the iPhone, the app comes with severe weather alert notifications and tappable fields that show more information about temperature and precipitation over the next 10 days.
Message app iMessage and FaceTime
The news app gets a whole range of practical innovations with iPadOS 16. Not only is there finally an editing function for sent messages up to 15 minutes after sending. It is also possible to undo a message up to two minutes after sending it. In addition, messages can be marked as unread and restored up to 30 days after deletion.
When inviting to collaborate in a conversation, all participants now automatically get access. This works with Files, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, Notes, and Safari, among others. Also, SharePlay is now integrated into Messages, so participants in a conversation can play movies or music together right away.
FaceTime calls seamlessly transfer from iPhone to iPhone or Mac and vice versa. Even headphones connected via Bluetooth automatically switch to the other device. For English, FaceTime also gets live captions as subtitles in real time. This allows people with hearing impairments to monitor FaceTime calls.
Passkeys for more security
Apple already announced Passkeys at WWDC 2022. These keys are intended to replace passwords, making login more secure and easier. Since passkeys always stay on your own devices and are only valid for the respective website, phishing attempts become ineffective.
Also, the keys cannot leak into the Internet and thus endanger other accounts. Signing in with a passkey also works on non-Apple devices. All you have to do is scan a QR code and authenticate with Touch ID or Face ID.
Other innovations in iPadOS 16
virtual memory
Even before that, the iPad Pro was able to convert part of it into main memory in the versions with more memory. Apps can now access up to 16 gigabytes of virtual memory. Apple is also expanding the feature to more models. It also supports the iPad Air from the 5th generation with at least 256 GB memory. In addition, there is no longer a minimum storage requirement for the iPad Pro 12.9 from the 5th generation and the iPad Pro 11 from the 3rd generation.
Desktop class files apps
The files app gets numerous new functions that bring it closer to the functionality of a desktop program. Below that are more navigation buttons to find folders and easier access to options like duplicate, rename, and change the file extension.
Similar to the messaging app iMessage, the Mail app also gets the ability to undo emails within ten seconds of sending them. E-mails can also be scheduled in advance.
Siri
Confirmation is no longer required when composing messages with Siri. In addition, emojis can now be dictated directly via Siri.
Live text to video
The practical live text function can also be used in videos. In a paused video, text can be copied and pasted somewhere else – for example for reference or translation. Text recognition is also available in three other languages: Japanese, Korean and Ukrainian.
Freeform as pinboard
With Freeform, iPadOS 16 gets a whole new app. This provides a canvas for new projects, brainstorming and brainstorming. Multiple people can collaborate in real-time on the canvas, such as drawing or freely inserting and moving text, images, audio, video, documents, and web links.
Freeform is not yet available at the launch of iPadOS 16, but is expected to appear in the course of 2022.
Apple Maps are getting bigger
Multiple stops can now be added to a route in the Maps app. Users can plan the route on Mac and then view it on iPad.
Maps is also getting an update for public transport. The fare view shows how much a trip will cost. In addition, tickets can be added directly to the Apple Wallet and credit can be topped up without closing the app.
Should you install iPadOS 16 right away?
iPadOS 16 brings with it a slew of new features that make it one of the most worthwhile updates in recent memory. Above all, the professional features for the iPad Pro make it all the more a real laptop alternative.
In our beta test, TECHBOOK could not find any major problems. Every now and then there were small dropouts and app crashes, which Apple has hopefully fixed with the final version. Report occasionally users on social media via rapid battery discharge. However, the problem doesn’t seem to be of the same magnitude that plagued iPhones running iOS 16. TECHBOOK could not determine any deterioration in battery life on the iPad Pro (2nd generation).
Which iPads will get iPadOS 16?
As with iOS 16, Apple is also discontinuing support for several iPad models with iPadOS 16. Both the iPad mini 4 and the iPad Air 2 no longer receive the update. Supported models are therefore:
- iPad Pro (all generations)
- iPad Air from 3rd generation
- iPad mini from 5th generation
- iPad from 5th generation