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Apple May Leave iPad Pro Without Major Upgrades for Years

I’ve been shocked how many times Apple has convinced me to upgrade my iPad over the years— it’s felt pretty mature for a long time but they’ve found a way to keep making it better. If they’re out of ideas for now, I’m ok with that— leave the money in my pocket and my iPP 13” is all I’m going to need for a long time.
 
Apple, let's take a tiny little minimal micro step in improving iPad usability:

Enable container on iPadOS

That alone would make iPad usable for software developers — basically allowing us run Linux inside a container to get stuff done. 0 sandbox leakage or security implications. 0 "compromises" of UI becoming more complex for "normal" users.
 
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jole said:
Apple, let's take a tiny little minimal micro step in improving iPad usability:

Enable container on iPadOS

That alone would make iPad usable for software developers — basically allowing us run Linux inside a container to get stuff done. 0 sandbox leakage or security implications. 0 "compromises" of UI becoming more complex for "normal" users.
Click to expand...
You have a better chance at winning your state mega millions power ball, than Apple allowing container use.
 
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jole said:
Man can have a dream 🙂

While not expecting Apple to do it, I am curious to learn your reasoning why this will not happen @Apple_Robert .
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1) It is a very niche want.
2) it would require Apple opening up the OS to allow such, or creating a hybrid OS which I don’t believe Apple will do any time soon.
3) If such came to fruition, it would compete with the MBA and even the MBP, which I don’t believe Apple will risk.
 
Apple_Robert said:
1) It is a very niche want.
2) it would require Apple opening up the OS to allow such, or creating a hybrid OS which I don’t believe Apple will do any time soon.
3) If such came to fruition, it would compete with the MBA and even the MBP, which I don’t believe Apple will risk.
Click to expand...

1) There are 50M software developers in the world; so not exactly niche. Today iPad does not work for software development. Enabling containers would open up the door for apps like VSCode and Cursor what can run the development tooling inside containers.

2) I am certain that the OS already supports this under the hood. It is just disabled. Can well be that the Container project (still v0.9) is built to eventually enable this. It is not yet includes in macOS 26, but likely will be in macOS 27. Enabling the same in iPadOS 27 would not actually require that much work.

3) This might be the real concern.


I _guess_ the actual reason for Apple to hold back has been that they do not want to compromise simple iPad UX and strong security by making the platform mac like. Containers would be a clever workaround — they would be invisible to consumers; but enable developer use-cases.
 
grammatica said:
As always, the issue is the software.
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Can't agree more!! iOS 26 multi-window system has made things so complicated (so hard to resize and switch window) that my iPad reverts back to just a single app reader device. I just have zero incentive to replace my M2 iPad Air.
 
iPads last a long time and don't think many are upgrading frequently. I have the M4 iPad Pro 11 inch and think it will last for many years. However don't think Apple will ignore the device. Expecting it to get update with every new M series chip. Updates might happen every 1.5 years, i.e every alternate year. Expecting the M6 iPad Pro to launch in between April and June 2027. Would like Apple to have more color choices for iPad Pro.
 
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billibala said:
Can't agree more!! iOS 26 multi-window system has made things so complicated (so hard to resize and switch window) that my iPad reverts back to just a single app reader device. I just have zero incentive to replace my M2 iPad Air.
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It just goes to show that every decision is a trade-off.
 
All I want for iPadOS is for them to open up the USB-C port so it can be used to control my CNC machine.
 
From a hardware perspective I don't really see anything much they could meaningfully improve. Plus the iPad isn't a status object. It's a tool. So people won't upgrade (bi-)annually to not be frowned upon in public.
 
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jole said:
There are 50M software developers in the world; so not exactly niche. Today iPad does not work for software development. Enabling containers would open up the door for apps like VSCode and Cursor what can run the development tooling inside containers.
Click to expand...
Many software developers like their MacBook Pro. I'm not sure how many would use an iPad with a smaller screen, fewer ports, and need for an external keyboard, even if it ran full macOS.
 
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My iPad Pro has been such a disappointment for me. The claim of “super fast M2 CPU” never squared up with “walled garden OS and browser combine with power management to slow this tablet to a crawl and slash features.”

There are things I love about it but the Operating System Handcuffs make it a very poor performer. Use Safari or Chrome web browser? Nope. Try editing a Google Doc in the browser. Basically impossible. Try using MS Office.

The list goes on and on. Great for watching movies on a plane and for viewing content, but for content editing it is a terrible platform.
 
Alameda said:
My iPad Pro has been such a disappointment for me. The claim of “super fast M2 CPU” never squared up with “walled garden OS and browser combine with power management to slow this tablet to a crawl and slash features.”

There are things I love about it but the Operating System Handcuffs make it a very poor performer. Use Safari or Chrome web browser? Nope. Try editing a Google Doc in the browser. Basically impossible. Try using MS Office.

The list goes on and on. Great for watching movies on a plane and for viewing content, but for content editing it is a terrible platform.
Click to expand...
I edit Google Docs all the time on my iPad Air. If I need to do extended editing, I slap on the external keyboard or connect a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and work away. What troubles do you have using it?
 
I just sold my iPad Pro as Vision Pro replaced my iPad Pro for media consumption. It can never replace my Mac for production/work. And I have my iPhone for everything else.
 
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