iPadOS 26 marks the biggest update to Apple’s tablet platform yet, introducing a sleek new “Liquid Glass” design with translucent, dynamic interface elements and iconography that adapts to light and dark modes laptopmag.com+15cincodias.elpais.com+15theverge.com+15businessinsider.com+2laptopmag.com+2washingtonpost.com+2. The OS brings Mac‑style multitasking to iPad: users can freely resize, place, and tile multiple app windows, access a new menu bar via drag‑down or cursor hover, and employ Stage Manager-like workflows en.wikipedia.org+9theverge.com+9apple.com+9.
🚀 Key Features:
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Windowing & multitasking: Intuitive controls like resize, minimize, tile, Exposé, and Stage Manager, ideal for power users en.wikipedia.org+5apple.com+5techcrunch.com+5.
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Apple Intelligence enhancements: Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime, and Messages; Genmoji creation; Image Playground; and smarter Shortcuts automations apple.com+9cincodias.elpais.com+9apple.com+9.
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Files & Preview: Upgraded Files app with list view, customizable folders, dock access; dedicated Preview app for PDFs and images with markup and autofill 9to5mac.com+3apple.com+3theverge.com+3.
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Creative enhancements: Background audio/video tasks, selectable mic inputs, Voice Isolation for crisp recordings en.wikipedia.org+6apple.com+6techcrunch.com+6.
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Four new default apps: Journal, Games, Preview, and Phone all come to iPadOS 26 apple.com+159to5mac.com+15theverge.com+15.
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Updated tools: Map, Calculator with 3D graph support, Notes with Markdown import/export, expanded accessibility (Braille, screen reader, Share Settings) cincodias.elpais.com.
📅 Availability & Compatibility
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Developer beta: Already available from June 9, 2025 cincodias.elpais.com+89to5mac.com+8forbes.com+8.
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Public beta: Rolling out in July 2025 9to5mac.com+1theverge.com+1.
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Final release: Expected in September 2025 elpais.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2.
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Supported devices: iPad Pro M4, iPad Pro 12.9″ (3rd gen+), iPad Pro 11″ (1st gen+), iPad Air (3rd gen+ & M2/M3), iPad (8th gen+), iPad mini (5th gen+ & A17 Pro) economictimes.indiatimes.com+5cincodias.elpais.com+5macworld.com+5. Apple Intelligence features require an M‑series or A17 Pro iPad