iPadOS 26 Review: Has My iPad Truly Become a Computer

When iPadOS 26 was unveiled at WWDC this year, it truly looked like a game-changer. I wasn’t the only one who felt that way; many shared the same excitement watching all the new features being showcased. It seemed as if the internet, which had waited for years for Apple to finally “do the thing,” was witnessing that moment. They appeared to have transformed the iPad into a true computer. However, this is Apple we’re talking about, and they still need to sell Macs, so there had to be some catch, right?

As any logical tech reviewer would do, I immediately installed the iPadOS 26 beta on my iPad as soon as it became available. Then, I took my trusty MacBook Pro, which I use daily, out of my backpack and committed to using my iPad in its place for the past three weeks. My goal was to provide a real, in-depth iPadOS 26 review to answer the burning question: Can the iPad truly replace a laptop for my daily workflow?

My Relationship with the iPad Before iPadOS 26

Full disclosure: I already loved my iPad before this update. It was, and still is, one of my favorite pieces of tech. However, I must admit that I didn’t use it to its full potential. With a MacBook Pro readily available for work tasks and all the things I needed to get done outside the studio, my iPad often became a glorified media consumption device.

I’d spend hours:

• Watching YouTube videos
• Browsing the web
• Occasionally checking emails or Slack
• Editing images or playing games

But if my laptop was with me, which it almost always was, this incredibly powerful iPad often went underused.

For me, this iPadOS 26 update would be a success if it meant I could stop carrying my MacBook Pro. Editing will likely always require my laptop due to my specific workflow, but for everything else, I wanted to see if the iPad could handle it.

Over the past few years, many YouTubers have taken on similar challenges with previous versions of iPadOS, often with titles like “Can this iPad be a laptop?” or “Can the iPad be my full-time productivity machine as a student?” Each of those videos typically detailed the “walls” you’d encounter when trying to perform computer-like tasks on iPadOS. With this latest update, some of those walls have indeed come down, but some are definitely still there.

The Game-Changing Window Management

The most talked-about feature in iPadOS 26 is undoubtedly the new window management system and menu bar. And let me tell you, it is awesome—or at least, dramatically better than before.

• You can resize any app window by dragging the corner.
• Multiple overlapping windows can be moved around freely.
• Switching between apps feels more Mac-like than ever.

There are also plenty of clever tricks for managing these windows once they’re open:

• Flick a window to either side to split the screen.
• Double-tap the top of any app to return to full screen.
• Swipe down to reveal the menu bar, complete with Mac-like window controls (red, yellow, green).

It’s crucial to remember that this multi-window mode is just that: a mode. You can toggle it on and off in the Control Center. When it’s off, apps open full screen, just like before.

What’s truly powerful is how multitasking now remembers groups of windows and even their sizes. With iPadOS 26, you can now have up to eight windows open simultaneously, compared to just four with Stage Manager.

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Still Not a Mac: Lingering Differences

While the windowing improvements are undeniable, the iPad is still distinct from a Mac. For example:

• Some apps don’t resize smoothly in real-time.
• Macs offer virtually unlimited multitasking with more RAM and multiple desktops.
• The iPad Mini also supports multi-window features, though with fewer pixels it feels less practical.

The ceiling for multitasking on an iPad is undeniably higher than ever before, but it’s still not at the Mac’s level.

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My Daily Grind: Little Hurdles, Big Wins

As I continued to use the iPad, my experience was mostly pain-free. I often used it in the usual full-screen mode, punctuated by occasional bursts of multitasking.

For example, when I had to sign a PDF sent via Slack, the process involved:

1. Opening it
2. Choosing “Open in browser”
3. Sharing → “More” → “Markup”
4. Signing, saving, and reattaching in Slack

It wasn’t a hard wall, but definitely more steps than on a Mac.

This led me to an important realization:

• Can I replace my laptop with an iPad? → Yes, I can.
• Do I want to? → That’s a different question.

The Persistent “Dangs”: Where the iPad Still Falls Short

Every once in a while, small limitations reminded me this is still an iPad:

• I can’t play two audio sources at the same time (music + YouTube).
• The keyboard case, while improved, is less stable compared to a laptop.
• The Files app is much better now, but file destinations (e.g., AirDrop) can still be confusing.

These are not deal-breakers, but they do add friction.

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The iPad’s True Strength: Versatility

Let me be clear: I adore the iPad’s:

• Stunning display
• Lightweight design
• Fun, touch-first experience
• Excellent stylus support
• Cellular connectivity

The iPad is not just a “laptop replacement.” Instead, it is:

• A powerful media machine
• A creative notepad or artist’s canvas
• A portable productivity tool

If all you need is a computer, get a laptop. But if you want something that can be most of a computer while offering so much more, the iPad is unmatched.

Conclusion: iPadOS 26 Redefines, But Doesn’t Replace

Without a doubt, iPadOS 26 has significantly raised the ceiling for what an iPad is capable of as a computer. It’s closer than ever to being a true laptop replacement, but at its heart, it’s still an iPad. And that’s not a weakness—it’s what makes it special.