I’ve waited countless years for Apple to transform the iPad to resemble its laptops, and now the company is finally catering to what the community desires. Unveiled at WWDC 2025, iPadOS 26 introduces significant design modifications to the iPad with Liquid Glass, featuring a new Mac-style menu bar and window tiling system that enhance the resemblance of Apple’s tablet to its laptops.
For quite some time, it’s been clear that Apple was undergoing a substantial redesign for iPadOS 26 (formerly iPadOS 19). Speculations have been rampant for months, and the new look is undeniably Apple while presenting a slightly different approach compared to previous design aesthetics.
A key element of this revamped design, termed Liquid Glass, provides a more consistent look across all of Apple’s operating systems, commencing with iOS 26 and expanding from there. This should facilitate a smoother transition between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, avoiding the feeling that they don’t integrate well.
However, Apple isn’t halting there. iPadOS 26 aims to enhance the iPad’s functionality as a productivity tool by finally acknowledging that users want it to serve as a substitute for their MacBooks. This comes with new functionalities that Apple asserts will make it even more integral to your workflow, including a significant update to work in conjunction with Stage Manager, which previously allowed you to set your iPad up like a mini-laptop with “stages” that incorporated various windows and applications.
To begin with, Files are receiving a substantial design overhaul in iPadOS 26, introducing an improved list view along with options to adjust column sizes so you can display more files simultaneously. Working with Files has historically been somewhat frustrating on the iPad, so this should hopefully enhance accessibility.
Apple is also finally introducing the Preview app to the iPad, enabling you to swiftly view and modify sketches, PDFs, and images in the Files app. Combine this with the redesigned menu bar, which Apple claims will permit easier interaction with applications similar to that of a Mac by swiping down from the top of the screen or maneuvering the cursor up there.
Moreover, Apple indicates that developers will have the capability to tailor the menu bar to meet the specific needs of their apps. The standout feature, however, pertains to the enhancements in window tiling, which Apple asserts will be significantly smoother in iPadOS 26. You will be able to resize windows with a simple “flick,” and any adjusted windows will retain their size for future reopening.
It is designed to integrate seamlessly with Stage Manager, which has been accessible on iPadOS for several years. Additionally, the new Exposé feature will provide a quick glance at all your open windows, allowing you to switch between them effortlessly, like you would on a Mac. The capability to place folders directly on the dock should further simplify interaction with your files in this new configuration.
