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iPadOS 26 is an Absolute Mess
- Thread starter tweaknmod
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You can set the resolution on the bigger iPads - Zoomed, Normal, and More Space.
Kal Madda
macrumors 601
You can do this with the 11” M-series iPads as well. I used the More Space setting on my 11” M1 iPad Pro to make better use of the screen space for multi-windowing. 🙂👍🏻
I7guy
macrumors Westmere
I just set mine to “more space”. No issues making the switch.
Strangely enough it works fine for me now. Maybe 26.3.1 fixed something.
actcyclist
macrumors 6502
I’ve given up on safari with this update. Duck Duck Go is so much faster.. it’s a dream on my iPad Pro compared to safari which kept on stalling despite trying all the fixes I could find.
To break the web browser when it was working fine for years really is bad
To break the web browser when it was working fine for years really is bad
iPadOS 26 multitasking enters the fuzzy borderline between iPad intuitiveness/quickness and Mac versatility. It's what many were asking for and what many didn't want, so people are divided. Apple knew the division would happen, which is why they added the multitasking toggle. Unfortunately, the toggle only gives all or nothing. I think this only satisfies a small group because many of those who want "all" probably want more. And many of those who don't want "all" don't want nothing. Those for whom v26 multitasking adds too much complication still want some multitasking--as much as possible while still clearly keeping the iPad's intuitive/quick identity. In my opinion, v18 hit this balance the best. I thought it was peak iPad multitasking because it added the most flexibility in a still simple way that clearly maintained the intuitive/quick identity of iPad, and was invisible when not used.
I think there are people who will always be unsatisfied with the iPad, but Apple can still satisfy much of the user base by reinstating a "simple multitasking" (v18) mode. This can either replace the 'no multitasking' toggle option, with the current v26 multitasking mode labeled as "power multitasking" (I don't think v18 got in the way of anyone who wanted to use the iPad without multitasking, but if there were any for whom it did get in the way, they could turn off multitasking completely in Settings), or "simple multitasking" could be switched to more semi-permanently in the Settings app.
I think there are people who will always be unsatisfied with the iPad, but Apple can still satisfy much of the user base by reinstating a "simple multitasking" (v18) mode. This can either replace the 'no multitasking' toggle option, with the current v26 multitasking mode labeled as "power multitasking" (I don't think v18 got in the way of anyone who wanted to use the iPad without multitasking, but if there were any for whom it did get in the way, they could turn off multitasking completely in Settings), or "simple multitasking" could be switched to more semi-permanently in the Settings app.
eltoslightfoot
macrumors 68040
This is a great point. I am always thinking about the parts of the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard that simply don't measure up to the way that I do things. I went back to using a Surface Pro 9 and it finally clicked. I really need a PC that can act as a tablet for note-taking or sketching WAY more than a tablet that can sort of act as a Mac.
Haven't looked back. (Although I am suddenly seeing a large number of posters think about a Macbook Neo the same way I think about a Surface Pro 9--minus the pen.)
I too have a Surface device--Laptop Studio. I use it for heavy work which also involves drawing. I also have a 13" iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil that I use for personal productivity which includes some drawing. As the adage goes, right tool for the job.
Kal Madda
macrumors 601
I’m glad to hear the Surface Pro works well for you. 🙂👍🏻. A family member of mine has a Surface Pro X, and loves it. I’ve tested them out before, they’re not the worst tablet hardware I’ve seen, but the hardware has always fallen short compared to the iPads in my opinion. Now granted, I have not seen the OLED version yet, so maybe that’s better. But the LCD panels always felt kind of blue-cast to me. I think that’s probably more of a Windows thing than a display panel thing to be fair though. And I imagine the battery life is probably much better than it was before, now with the ARM versions.
I actually did consider a Surface Pro 6 or 7 back when I was first looking at tablets, but decided to go with the iPad after doing research to figure out which would better fit my needs and wants, and I’m glad that I did. 👍🏻
I just don’t really like Windows. I use it for gaming, but that’s it, and even then, I’m using the Xbox Fullscreen experience most of the time so I can avoid Windows.
And as I’ve said before, I prefer iPadOS, and there are several apps I use on iPadOS that just don’t have great alternatives on other platforms. 👍🏻. But I totally understand why some may have use-cases or preferences for other software. 👍🏻
But happy to hear that the Surface is working out well for you. 🙂👍🏻
And the MacBook Neo simply can’t really replace an iPad. The MacBook Neo is a laptop that can only be used like a laptop and nothing more. It isn’t a tablet, nor can it be used like one.
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I’m still annoyed that YouTubers/influencers that don’t even use the iPad as a daily driver have pushed Apple into ruining the iPad in this way.
All these ‘reviewers’ praise iPadOS 28 after apparently using it for 30 minutes and it’s insane. Anyone that uses this OS for a day for general use will realize it’s just a mess - inconsistent, full of bugs, unintuitive and just annoying to use.
It actually turned my iPad from my favorite mobile device of all time into something I don’t enjoy using anymore.
I can’t ever use it without running into bugs. Hamburger menu’s that can’t be clicked because they’re behind the traffic light buttons. Typing into active windows that doesn’t work and required opening and closing the app. Just crazy behavior when it comes to full screen video’s combined with multitasking, causing windows to just randomly move and resize in such chaotic ways.
It’s just so incredibly bad. Don’t get me started on the horrible huge Liquid Glass border around the sidecar window. Why? No other window on iPad has a glass border around it? Why is it so big?
It’s just all too much. The hybrid touch/keyboard+trackpad UI, the slide over, the Liquid Glass, the floating video windows, the UI inconsistencies.
And just a little nitpick: why doesn’t it have multilingual keyboards like the iPhone? Like, really?
All these ‘reviewers’ praise iPadOS 28 after apparently using it for 30 minutes and it’s insane. Anyone that uses this OS for a day for general use will realize it’s just a mess - inconsistent, full of bugs, unintuitive and just annoying to use.
It actually turned my iPad from my favorite mobile device of all time into something I don’t enjoy using anymore.
I can’t ever use it without running into bugs. Hamburger menu’s that can’t be clicked because they’re behind the traffic light buttons. Typing into active windows that doesn’t work and required opening and closing the app. Just crazy behavior when it comes to full screen video’s combined with multitasking, causing windows to just randomly move and resize in such chaotic ways.
It’s just so incredibly bad. Don’t get me started on the horrible huge Liquid Glass border around the sidecar window. Why? No other window on iPad has a glass border around it? Why is it so big?
It’s just all too much. The hybrid touch/keyboard+trackpad UI, the slide over, the Liquid Glass, the floating video windows, the UI inconsistencies.
And just a little nitpick: why doesn’t it have multilingual keyboards like the iPhone? Like, really?
You already have iPadOS 28? I'll bet it's so pre-release that I'm not surprised it's buggy.
Kal Madda
macrumors 601
I love the iPad and iPadOS 26. I use my iPad as my primary computer. I even run the dev betas and rarely encounter any bugs. It’s an awesome update! 🙂👍🏻
achappy
macrumors 6502
6 months later and I see the hyperboles are still coming. I’ve used it since Dev beta 3 and it’s the best iPadOS update I’ve used. I know serveral people that love it. Stage Manager is used daily with and without a keyboard.
I’m sitting here with my M4 13” iPP on a Magic Keyboard connected to an external 2K monitor watching golf while also having the World Baseball Classic on. Two nights ago I sat on the couch with the iPad on my lap watching the WBC. No issues in either case managing all of the Stages and windows.
Kal Madda
macrumors 601
Yep, everyone I know who’s using it absolutely love iPadOS 26. And I use it daily, and I’ve never encountered any major issues. I run the developer betas even, which makes me far more likely to encounter bugs.
urnotl33t
macrumors 6502a
Totally agree. All points.
Yep, the inconsistent mess of the traffic-light icons in multi-window mode (whatever that’s called), inconsistent placement, unnecessary appearances, misalignments.
Multi window mess that requires incredible cognitive load, when iOS 17 (didn’t use 18; I kick myself for missing it) “just worked”. Sure 17 only had the three options (although those stupid three dots at the top of every window were dumb, too).
Now apps open in wildly inconsistent ways and always require some interaction.
Even with 26’s accessibility options, there are some really bad elements that are obvious they didn’t get proper attention.
Yes I turned on a lot of accessibility things to turn OFF the effects (show borders, reduce white point, use tinted mode, … just reset the UI back to hybrid of ios 6 and iOS 9-ish era).
This is really bad UI/UX work all around. They did something here because they “could” and to make it appear to work like visionOS; totally different environments and they should not treat them both the same.
eltoslightfoot
macrumors 68040
To be fair, this is the kind of crap that annoyed me as well. But I really, really like full blown OSes. Which is my problem, TBF.
says_stuff
macrumors regular
Funny how you skip being able to do the same on ipados18 while also claiming the others’ opinions are hyperboles.
Kal Madda
macrumors 601
The multi-windowing buttons only block in-app-elements if the app developers don’t do anything to fix that. That’s the app developer’s fault, not Apple’s. They have had plenty of time and resources to update their app UIs to accommodate this. And those who actually follow the standards Apple has recommended the past few years don’t have to change anything, it automatically works fine… And the button being in the left gets less in the way in most app UIs than in 18 where it was in the top center, and could overlap toolbar items in some apps that used a custom UI scheme.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
You and me both.
The squeaky wheel got the grease and they don’t even really care.
They’re just going for clicks.
My favorite is the guy who was most vocal about all this kind of stuff and ended up getting a Mac… after his public complaining got them all the way to ruining the iPad.
Yea - I left iPad OS - went with a Neo as after two months I couldn't deal with it.
Apps that haven't made the right updates to support all these split pane options are a mess. Even Messages if you try and have occupy 1/3 of the screen, and say Mail on the 2/3 - randomly you won't be able to open messages.
There are many apps like WhatsApp where the three window buttons cover the back button - making the back button unusable.
Maybe these will get worked out over time.
Apps that haven't made the right updates to support all these split pane options are a mess. Even Messages if you try and have occupy 1/3 of the screen, and say Mail on the 2/3 - randomly you won't be able to open messages.
There are many apps like WhatsApp where the three window buttons cover the back button - making the back button unusable.
Maybe these will get worked out over time.
Kal Madda
macrumors 601
iPadOS is as great as ever, and I love the new features. Nobody ruined it. Though I do agree that many tech writers have come across as far too whiny and overly critical of the iPad and iPadOS. And I feel that some who built their careers on iPad content, like Federico Vittici at MacStories and Fernando Silva over at 9to5Mac to name some names, are kind of betraying the iPad user base with nonsensical comparisons to the MacBook Neo… Hopefully they come back around to better iPad content. Honestly, I was getting really frustrated with Vittici’s constant negative content streak there for a while, but then he had some positive stuff about iPadOS 26 and I thought maybe we’re getting back to that positive and useful iPad content I loved from him. But it seems now we’re back at more negativity again… It’s frustrating to me. I respect him and really like some of his content (and owe him for some of his work I’ve greatly benefited from), so I don’t want to be too hard on him. But it is sad to see. It feels like he’s just trying to fit in with the narrative of other tech writers, where before he wasn’t afraid to “think different”…? I don’t know, it’s just really frustrating and sad.
All that said, I find iPadOS 26 to be a great update, and the new features improve my workflow on a near daily basis. At first I was a little worried about the new windowing feature possibly being more cluttered than the prior Stage Manager system, but I think they struck the perfect balance. App windows can still sort of autosnap on a grid if you want your window to be centered, and you’re moving it more slow and intentionally, but windows can also be placed wherever on the screen. It’s hard to describe, but it just works… I do think they could add basic split screen to the fullscreen windows mode, or an in-between option, but I think they wanted to simplify things and cut down on the multiple separate multitasking systems thing. Perhaps they’ll add an intermediate mode or something. Personally, I think the new multitasking mode works perfectly fine, and Split View and Slide Over aren’t that terribly different from the way it was before…
App UIs that don’t behave within the system’s UI paradigms are solidly the fault of app developers, not iPadOS or Apple. App developers have had plenty of time to correct their app UIs for the windowing controls. And I think some must either be encountering user error based things, or rare bugs. Because I run the developer betas (dramatically ups my risk of encountering major bugs), and also use it as my daily driver (further ups my risk of encountering major bugs), yet I have rarely encountered a single bug, and nothing that was unusable…
All that said, I find iPadOS 26 to be a great update, and the new features improve my workflow on a near daily basis. At first I was a little worried about the new windowing feature possibly being more cluttered than the prior Stage Manager system, but I think they struck the perfect balance. App windows can still sort of autosnap on a grid if you want your window to be centered, and you’re moving it more slow and intentionally, but windows can also be placed wherever on the screen. It’s hard to describe, but it just works… I do think they could add basic split screen to the fullscreen windows mode, or an in-between option, but I think they wanted to simplify things and cut down on the multiple separate multitasking systems thing. Perhaps they’ll add an intermediate mode or something. Personally, I think the new multitasking mode works perfectly fine, and Split View and Slide Over aren’t that terribly different from the way it was before…
App UIs that don’t behave within the system’s UI paradigms are solidly the fault of app developers, not iPadOS or Apple. App developers have had plenty of time to correct their app UIs for the windowing controls. And I think some must either be encountering user error based things, or rare bugs. Because I run the developer betas (dramatically ups my risk of encountering major bugs), and also use it as my daily driver (further ups my risk of encountering major bugs), yet I have rarely encountered a single bug, and nothing that was unusable…
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turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
I agree with you. It's nice to find some points of agreement. 🤝
Kal Madda
macrumors 601
Absolutely, I’m happy to find points of agreement. 🙂👍🏻. And I really appreciate your input, even if I strongly disagree sometimes. 🙂👍🏻
I7guy
macrumors Westmere
I just bought an iPad Pro m5 and love the multitasking options. iPadOS has been stellar. Going to add an Apple pencil pro to the stable. We also just bought the Neo with Touch ID for my OH to replace a windows laptop. That will be there Tuesday.
Kal Madda
macrumors 601
Awesome! 👍🏻. The M5 iPad Pro looks like a great piece of hardware! The Apple Pencil Pro is awesome, I think you’ll really like it. The squeeze gesture is great, and the double-tap gesture now benefits from haptics, which adds another subtle form of confirmation that the gesture worked. I think you’re really going to like it! 👍🏻
Are you an iPad-primary user? I first switched from a MacBook to the 11” M1 iPad Pro about 5 years ago, and ever since, I’ve been using the iPad as my primary computer. I just upgraded to the 13” M4 iPad Pro last year, and have been really enjoying it. 👍🏻