iPad Pro Why I’ve Grown to Love Stage Manager on iPadOS

[WU27f1xcCs]

I wanted to share my thoughts on Stage Manager in iPadOS and why it’s become a feature I genuinely appreciate, because before I upgraded to an iPad Pro capable of stage manager I’d only heard bad things.

Initially, I had a rocky start with it. It actually took me three separate attempts where I'd turn it on, get frustrated, and then give up.

What stands out for me is how Stage Manager nudges the iPad closer to feeling like an advanced operating system. It transforms multitasking into something more fluid and dynamic. The ability to have overlapping windows and easily switch between tasks feels liberating compared to the traditional split-view setup. It’s not just about having multiple apps open—it’s about the way you can organise and interact with them seamlessly.

Once I got past the initial learning curve, I realised how powerful it is. It’s not perfect, and there’s definitely room for refinement, but it fundamentally changes the iPad experience for the better, admittedly I am not a power user, doing coding or video editing.

Curious to hear if you gave up after one attempt, and if you’d consider trying again, or if it’s over. I wonder if no one does use stage manager, then what hope is there that Apple will make a more advanced iPadOS.

 

[snipr125]

I wanted to share my thoughts on Stage Manager in iPadOS and why it’s become a feature I genuinely appreciate, because before I upgraded to an iPad Pro capable of stage manager I’d only heard bad things.

Initially, I had a rocky start with it. It actually took me three separate attempts where I'd turn it on, get frustrated, and then give up.

What stands out for me is how Stage Manager nudges the iPad closer to feeling like an advanced operating system. It transforms multitasking into something more fluid and dynamic. The ability to have overlapping windows and easily switch between tasks feels liberating compared to the traditional split-view setup. It’s not just about having multiple apps open—it’s about the way you can organise and interact with them seamlessly.

Once I got past the initial learning curve, I realised how powerful it is. It’s not perfect, and there’s definitely room for refinement, but it fundamentally changes the iPad experience for the better, admittedly I am not a power user, doing coding or video editing.

Curious to hear if you gave up after one attempt, and if you’d consider trying again, or if it’s over. I wonder if no one does use stage manager, then what hope is there that Apple will make a more advanced iPadOS.

I love using it on my Asus Pro Art 24" monitor, and sometimes on my 55" LG QnED. Its simple and works really well in my opinion, needs some further refinement like having to resize windows when using another application etc. Also because of Stage Manager, Apple should have included a direct A/C mode (use electricity direct from power socket) on the iPP/Air to ease the pressure on the battery during long sessions.

Also Apple should be adding more multitasking features with IOS 19, so hopefully they will improve Stage Manager further.

 

[WU27f1xcCs]

I love using it on my Asus Pro Art 24" monitor, and sometimes on my 55" LG QnED. Its simple and works really well in my opinion, needs some further refinement like having to resize windows when using another application etc. Also because of Stage Manager, Apple should have included a direct A/C mode on the iPP/Air to ease the pressure on the battery during long sessions.

Also Apple should be adding more multitasking features with IOS 19, so hopefully they will improve Stage Manager further.

I am excited to see what they do with it in iPadOS 19. Having used it for a few weeks I’d like to see:

• The three dots at the top of the window should just be buttons to close the window on a 1 second press, a button for full screen and a minimise button
• Audio multitasking, being able to change the volume from multiple apps by long-pressing the volume bar.
• Multiple videos, I want to be able to play a video whilst having a sport window on mute in another window.
• More granular resizing, does not need to be pixel level, but just not such a big jump

Unlike you I don’t use a mouse/keyboard/monitor, but I wonder if some of the more advanced features could require being plugged into a mouse and keyboard.

 

[Reverend Benny]

I am excited to see what they do with it in iPadOS 19. Having used it for a few weeks I’d like to see:

• The three dots at the top of the window should just be buttons to close the window on a 1 second press, a button for full screen and a minimise button
• Audio multitasking, being able to change the volume from multiple apps by long-pressing the volume bar.
• Multiple videos, I want to be able to play a video whilst having a sport window on mute in another window.
• More granular resizing, does not need to be pixel level, but just not such a big jump

Unlike you I don’t use a mouse/keyboard/monitor, but I wonder if some of the more advanced features could require being plugged into a mouse and keyboard.

I have an USB-C dock and just thought i'd give it a try back on iOS 16. And I'm impressed how well it works.Small bugs that annoyed me a bit in the beginning (such as not being able to select sound output) have been fixed but my guess that we are only seeing the start of something that will get a lot better in upcoming OS versions.

My guess it that we'll also se someting similar being released to iOS and that we can use the phones in a docked mode with something like stage manager. Maybe the iPhone fold will reveal a lof these features, who knows.

I would like to see some sort of a intelligent swap between standard mode and stage manager, but that's coming from a docked mode with external screen.

 

[WU27f1xcCs]

I have an USB-C dock and just thought i'd give it a try back on iOS 16. And I'm impressed how well it works.Small bugs that annoyed me a bit in the beginning (such as not being able to select sound output) have been fixed but my guess that we are only seeing the start of something that will get a lot better in upcoming OS versions.

My guess it that we'll also se someting similar being released to iOS and that we can use the phones in a docked mode with something like stage manager. Maybe the iPhone fold will reveal a lof these features, who knows.

I would like to see some sort of an intelligent swap between standard mode and stage manager, but that's coming from a docked mode with external screen.

My dream for years is an iPhone that is also a Mac when in proximity to a monitor/mouse/keyboard.

 

[Reverend Benny]

My dream for years is an iPhone that is also a Mac when in proximity to a monitor/mouse/keyboard.

Yea, it would have been a cool feature to have.
Having seen what Samsung has done with their DeX on their more expensive S models I'd say that Apple must have something similar brewing.

My guess is that we'll see a iPhone/iPad hybrid so that when we dock the iPhone we'll get a iPad on the external screens. Stage manager might be something of a teaser but also to get developers designing apps to use more in a desktop mode.
The benefit of using iPad "mode" or maybe MacOS mode for that matter is that there are already apps developed for it.

Looking back at MS vision/concept with their Lumera phones in docked mode giving the full desktop experience (that didn't take off) I can absolutely see how MacOS could work.

Have a look at the link below, that was 10 years ago now.

 

[WU27f1xcCs]

Samsung has done with their DeX

I had no idea this existed, very cool.

 

[WU27f1xcCs]

Yea, it would have been a cool feature to have.
Having seen what Samsung has done with their DeX on their more expensive S models I'd say that Apple must have something similar brewing.

My guess is that we'll see a iPhone/iPad hybrid so that when we dock the iPhone we'll get a iPad on the external screens. Stage manager might be something of a teaser but also to get developers designing apps to use more in a desktop mode.
The benefit of using iPad "mode" or maybe MacOS mode for that matter is that there are already apps developed for it.

Looking back at MS vision/concept with their Lumera phones in docked mode giving the full desktop experience (that didn't take off) I can absolutely see how MacOS could work.

Have a look at the link below, that was 10 years ago now.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-19-rumored-to-add-stage-manager-support-to-usb-c-iphones.2455901/

I have an USB-C dock and just thought i'd give it a try back on iOS 16. And I'm impressed how well it works.Small bugs that annoyed me a bit in the beginning (such as not being able to select sound output) have been fixed but my guess that we are only seeing the start of something that will get a lot better in upcoming OS versions.

My guess it that we'll also se someting similar being released to iOS and that we can use the phones in a docked mode with something like stage manager. Maybe the iPhone fold will reveal a lof these features, who knows.

I would like to see some sort of a intelligent swap between standard mode and stage manager, but that's coming from a docked mode with external screen.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipados-19-rumored-to-show-mac-like-menu-bar-when-connected-to-magic-keyboard.2455902/

This thread is being monitored by Apple/leakers