# Elevating the iPhone App Experience on iPad with iPadOS 18
The iPad has been renowned for its adaptability and strength, yet the usage of iPhone applications on this larger screen has often been lacking. In the past, iPhone apps operating on an iPad could appear congested and less intuitive, particularly concerning features such as emoji input. Nevertheless, with the rollout of iPadOS 18, Apple has made notable improvements to this experience, especially for users who utilize emojis in their conversations.
## The Hurdle of Utilizing iPhone Apps on iPad
When an iPad is linked to an external keyboard—be it wired, wireless, or via Apple’s Magic Keyboard—the on-screen keyboard usually disappears to provide more screen real estate for content. This is typically a beneficial function, but it created a considerable obstacle for those using iPhone apps. In these scenarios, the on-screen keyboard settings menu would disappear, and the standard keyboard shortcut (Control + Command + Space) to access the emoji picker would be inoperative, causing annoyance for users attempting to insert emojis into their messages.
This restriction was especially apparent for users of popular applications such as Threads and Instagram, which lack specific iPad versions. Many users found themselves resorting to inconvenient alternatives, like detaching the Magic Keyboard to bring up the virtual keyboard or copying and pasting emojis from different apps.
## A Transformative Update in iPadOS 18
The launch of iPadOS 18 has significantly improved this situation. Apple has tackled the emoji input problem by allowing the emoji picker to work in iPhone apps on the iPad. Now, when users hit Control + Command + Space, the emoji picker will show up, facilitating effortless emoji usage even in applications that aren’t optimized for the iPad.
This minor yet crucial change enhances the overall user experience, simplifying the process for iPad users to communicate visually without the need to switch keyboards or copy emojis from external sources.
## Additional Features in iPadOS 18
In addition to the emoji picker enhancement, iPadOS 18 introduces a variety of new features that align with the forthcoming updates to iPhone via iOS 18. Users can anticipate:
– **Personalized Home Screen**: New methods to customize the Home Screen’s layout and look.
– **Revamped Control Center**: A more intuitive and user-friendly design for managing settings and controls.
– **New Calculator Application**: A new tool within the iPad’s app collection, offering a dependable resource for calculations.
– **Apple Intelligence**: A feature slated for launch in the upcoming iPadOS 18.1 update, aimed at further enhancing the device’s capabilities.
## Compatibility and Availability
iPadOS 18 is accessible for a diverse range of iPad models, ensuring that many users can take advantage of these enhancements. The compatible models include:
– iPad 7 and later
– iPad Air 3 and beyond
– iPad mini 5 and newer
– iPad Pro (2018 and newer)
## Conclusion
The advancements introduced by iPadOS 18, especially regarding emoji input in iPhone apps, represent a considerable advancement in improving the functionality of iPhone applications on the iPad. With this update, Apple continues to enhance the iPad experience, transforming it into a more versatile device for communication and productivity. As users adapt to these changes, the iPad evolves into an even more formidable tool for both work and entertainment.
