iPadOS 16: what you need to know about your next iPad update
If you own a recent iPad, then iPadOS 16 is something you might want to know about: it's the next version of Apple's software that it makes for its tablets, and it's coming to most iPads later in the year.
This new version of iPadOS was launched at Apple's annual WWDC 2022 conference, which is where the company shows off all its new operating systems, and iOS 16 was the biggest such upgrade shown off.
This is the fourth generation of iPadOS, since Apple spun it off from its iOS smartphone operating system - saying that, iPadOS 16 does share many features in common with iOS 16. Upgrades include changes to the way you collaborate with people, an experience that's closer to a computer, and a new joint mark-up app.
We've collected all the features that Apple announced on-stage, with details about what they do, and you can find them below as well as information on when iPadOS 16 will roll out, and who can get it.
iPadOS 16 release date
The iPadOS 16 developer beta is already available, with the public beta opening in July, but the true rollout is later.
According to Apple, iPadOS 16 will come to compatible iPads in the "Fall "of the year - for those of you in the rest of the world, we actually expect to see it around September.
iPadOS 16 compatibility
So which iPads will get iPadOS 16? Here's the official list that Apple has provided.
By the way, if you need to check what iPad you have, go into the Settings app, select the About option then find Model Name.
- iPad (fifth generation) and newer
- iPad Mini (fifth generation) and newer
- iPad Air (third generation) and newer
- Every iPad Pro model
iPadOS 16 features
Here's what you need to know about the iPadOS 16 update:
iPadOS 16 borrowed features
Lots of iPadOS 16 features are ones that are primarily iOS 16 features. These include lock screen changes, letting you see more notifications and customize to a better extent, what you see on your iPad before it's unlocked.
Another comes from Apple Maps: you'll be able to create a route in the app, including with different stops and routes, and send it to your iPhone. That lets you plan the journey on a big screen before you view it on the small one.
There are certain macOS features coming, and like a change to the Mail app. Now you'll be able to schedule emails to be sent at a certain time, retract emails you've just sent and set reminders for emails you don't want to deal with straight away.
Apple's new Weather app is also coming to iPad, if that's something you care about.
A creative app that's coming is Reference Mode, which is meant to keep your iPad screen more color-accurate to other devices which would be useful for color graders - though Apple didn't go into much detail on what this actually does.
iPadOS 16 collaboration
Improved collaboration is seemingly a big focus for the next iPad update.
Now, when you share a document (from certain apps) with your friends or co-workers, you'll now send the actual document, not a copy of it - this makes it easier to make edits together.
You can also use FaceTime to work on these documents with other people, also by sharing links and files across that video calling platform to make it convenient.
This should make it super convenient to use Freeform, another feature which we'll get to later.
iPadOS 16 desktop focus
Apple is finally making a point of differentiating iPadOS from iOS, so hopefully iPads won't just feel like oversized iPhones anymore.
A key macOS mode coming to iPadOS is Stage Manager, which gives you desktop-like functionality - you can have overlapping windows, you can shove all your background apps to the side to see them in one list, and you can resize windows too.
Apple has also pledged to upgrade more first-party apps to make them 'Desktop-class' though this seems to involve hundreds of tiny little tweaks, like different ways to list files or view folders, instead of anyone massive change. It makes sense, though, since iPadOS feels basically like a giant version of iOS at the moment.
iPadOS 16 Freeform
An upcoming app called FreeForm was detailed, though this is coming to iPadOS 16 later in the year.
It's basically a joint digital message board, or a shared version of the Notes app, so you can sketch and jot down ideas, and other people can collaborate on the board too.
In its presentation, Apple showed lots of people drawing loads of different mind maps with sticky notes, colored lines and annotations - the Apple Pencil was shown as a useful tool for contributing to this kind of document.
If anyone hased used Google Jamboard, this feels like Apple's equivalent, except since it works on a stylus-toting tablet it should be a little more convenient.
iPadOS 16 gaming
After detailing the Mac's gaming prowess earlier in the presentation, we've heard that the iPad will get loads of these features too.
This includes a feature called Metal 3 which automatically upscapes gaming footage (basically it adds to the framerate and resolution), and it should make iPadOS games feel a little bit more like console alternatives. Now we just need Fortnite back!
Game Center is now getting an activity list so you can see what your friends are doing - it's very similar to the features that exist in many other game networks like Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. So you can see if they get an achievement in a game, or have spent 20 hours playing a certain title.
Finally, it's now easier to instantly share links with your friends so they can join you in a multiplayer game.
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