**iPadOS 26 RC Now Released With Emphasis On Productivity For iPad Users**
Three months following Apple’s preview of iPadOS 26 during the WWDC 2025 keynote, the company is close to rolling out the update for all iPad users, having just issued the Release Candidate version. With iPadOS 26 RC, Apple is revamping the iPad experience by introducing new productivity features, applications, and multitasking capabilities.
After years of requests from users for a more advanced iPadOS, Apple is finally responding. Notably, the update will benefit not only the iPad Pro models but all the iPads supported by the company. A prime example of this is the newly introduced window tiling system, which allows users to open and manage multiple windows simultaneously, similar to macOS.
A new Preview app is also included with iPadOS 26 RC. Although this software is available on the Mac, it has been specifically designed for iPad users and integrates seamlessly with the Apple Pencil for signing documents, sketching, or annotating PDFs. Additionally, the Files app is being refined, allowing users to add folders to the main dock.
**Liquid Glass and Apple Intelligence in iPadOS 26 RC**
With iPadOS 26 RC, users will experience the new Liquid Glass design. This UI refresh invigorates the Lock Screen, Home Screen, Control Center, applications, and icons. Everything feels new yet remains recognizable. The glassy aesthetic has been enhanced over the months to ensure it is visually appealing and easy to read. With increased customization compared to the previous version, users can enjoy a new Clear app design and access Mac-like menus and toggles.
Moreover, iPadOS 26 RC incorporates new Apple Intelligence features. Some functionalities are powered by ChatGPT, including on-screen awareness, enhanced Visual Intelligence search that allows users to take a screenshot and identify what they wish to find online, and new Image Playground creations. Additional features include an AI-driven Shortcuts app, a new Live Translation toggle, and Genmoji enhancements.
iPadOS 26 RC is available for iPad 8, iPad mini 5, iPad Air 3, and iPad Pro 3 or later. Apple Intelligence features are limited to iPads equipped with an M1 or A17 Pro chip or newer. Along with iPadOS 26 RC, Apple has also released the candidate versions of iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
