rant: iPad (9th-gen) kneecapped by OS26

[klasma]

Yeah, hope my rant will help some people be a bit more vigilant about not inadvertently hitting the update button.

It’s too late for you, but for the possible benefit of others: You can enroll your account into the Public Beta program and then switch your device to Beta updates in Settings, after which you won’t get reminded about updating to iOS 26 anymore.

 

[urnotl33t]

Thank you for taking the grenade for the rest of us.

I will definitely be keeping my iPad 9 on iPadOS 18.

I’d have avoided 26 too if I didn’t have the collaboration requirement for a Numbers spreadsheet. Otherwise I’d be forced to do it all on my Mac because Apple are borderline terrorists with disallowing edits in Safari when I have the app installed.

Read only works but not edits. I know because I tried many times, even three or four days ago.

 

[rui no onna]

It’s particularly annoying when you own a bunch of iPads, there’s always one that needs recharging. I resorted to automations that notify my other devices when the battery level drops below 25%. But the automations stop working when you don’t unlock the iPad every other day or so… it’s maddening!

Absolutely yes! I have several iPads so I totally understand. I use a smart plug and a multi-port charger to top up infrequently used iPads for 30 minutes every 2 days. That seems sufficient to keep a decent charge when needed.

The iPad mini is used daily so that goes on a separate charger.

My 12.9" iPP is almost permanently docked at my workstation (as a complement to my desktop. That's on a smart plug, too, with an automation set to keep it charged between 70-90%.

 

[I7guy]

It’s more than that, too: it’s the cognitive load for this crap version. Everything requires two or three actions where it was once one. Notifications now need at least two or three actions to see something needing a response (messages). What buffoons thought that was a good idea?

This is exaggerated. A couple of things may take an extra touch but some things take less. Notifications to me are similar to iOS 18.

As soon as Ternus is in the Big Chair, his first task should be to rehire Forstall at whatever price it takes. Whomever resigns in protest will make apparent who was responsible for this disaster.

You really think Apple leadership will let forstall back in the door?

 

[zephonic]

This is exaggerated. A couple of things may take an extra touch but some things take less. Notifications to me are similar to iOS 18.

I think he's talking about compared to twelve, thirteen years ago, before iOS 7, hence the reference to Forstall.

 

[zephonic]

Follow-up:

I didn't notice this at first because the iPad hadn't left the house in a while, but the OS update also broke my cellular connection.

Trying to resolve this with a chatbot (carrier is Google Fi) is tons of fun:

"Thank you for confirming", "I understand your concern." etc.

 

[bradbomb]

My daughter's 9th Gen iPad has been on iPadOS 26 since release and we have definitely not experienced crazy battery issues. She could be streaming videos for hours from Disney+ and YouTube Kids and the battery goes down. I see her use it for like 6 hours and maybe have a 10% drain. You just mentioned now that your cellular may be affected. Did you always have the cellular on at home, or do you only turn it on when necessary?

 

[xxFoxtail]

There's a couple older iPad Pros in my family (2018 and a 2020). Both run iPadOS 26, but they're both very sluggish compared to iPadOS 18.

 

[zephonic]

You just mentioned now that your cellular may be affected. Did you always have the cellular on at home, or do you only turn it on when necessary?

Not may be, the OS update broke it. Google sent me a code for a new eSIM and now it's working again.

I have cellular always on, but I do put both my phone and iPad on airplane mode when I go to sleep.