Apple announced iPados 26 during the WWDC 2025 and that is good news. Your iPad becomes a little smarter and faster, but also much nicer!
iPados 26 makes your iPad smarter, faster and … much more beautiful
Apple iPados 26 officially unveiled during WWDC 2025. This update brings a large number of new functions to the iPad. Many of these innovations correspond to the functions that have also been introduced for iOS 26, so also check our iOS 26 article with all functions!
A new name for iPados …
Instead of iPados 19, Apple has chosen this year to go straight to iPados 26. Apple does this to create more clarity between the different versions of the operating system. The number 26 refers to the year in which the operating systems are used. That means that next September (in 2026) will not be iOS 20, but iOS 27 will make its appearance.
… and a new look
With the update to iPados 26, Apple has given the operating system a new look. The new design has a fresh appearance, with transparent parts, subtle shadows and … lots of glass!
Parts seem to be on top of the screen, just like a kind of glass miniature. Beams, buttons and controllers have also received this new look. Apple calls it Liquid Glass itself, because the parts can also change shape. This is a bit reminiscent of the Dynamic Island.
The color of the surrounding content is reflected on the ‘glass’ and it also adapts to the light and dark environments. Buttons become transparent and you even see parts of the parts underneath.
Apps such as camera, photos, safari, Facetime, Apple Music, Apple News and Apple Podcasts have thus been given a new look. With this, the new version of iPados finally has a really renewed appearance.
New functions (and improved apps)
Apple also adds more functions to various apps from iOS and iPados. In addition, some apps are better cleaned up. For example, the camera app has gotten more and more functions over the years, but this made the app rather messy. With iPados 26 (and iOS 26), Apple is now trying to do something about it. The camera app has a new look and functions are now easier to find.
In addition, the photos app has received quite a few new features. The overview with all photos now has tabs. All controls, toolbars and more have also been given a new look.
Multitasking has also received some functions and it is now easier to increase or reduce windows. Also moving is now more flexible and it is easier to put window under each other or next to each other. The iPad also always has a menu bar at the top of the screen.
Apple has also taken care of the app files. For example, the overview screen has been improved and you can add colors and icons to your folders so that you can recognize them faster.
There is also a preview app now. Handy to quickly make a sketch, but also to view, edit and mark PDFs and images. Preparation gives you direct access to all your PDFs and images in the files app.
A new function is background tasks. With this you can, for example, render a video, while in the meantime you open another app. In the background, rendering the video continues.
Also new is that the telephone app comes to the iPad. In addition, the app messages and telephone has received more functions anyway. This way you can now translate texts live with messages and FaceTime has a kind of live subtitles. Handy if you want to talk to someone you don’t speak to the language.
In addition, the Pencil will have new functions for calligraphy, and the calculator has new features for 3D calculations. Notes has a new import and export function and, among other things, support for transcriptions.
There will also be new accessibility functions. A new mode to make text easier for users who have blind, visually impaired or other limitations. There will also be an option to share accessibility settings and to be used temporarily on someone else’s device.
Apple Intelligence
Also nice: Apple has indicated that Apple Intelligence will also be available in Dutch this year. And with that also comes to the iPad. Each app can then use Apple Intelligence functions, as long as the developer has added the functionality for it.
These iPads get iPados 26
There is one sticking to the new update. The update is available for all iPads that are now running iPados 18, except the 7th generation iPad from 2019. It will fall this year
This is when you can install the update
You still have to wait until iPados 26 appears for everyone. First of all, several betas are coming. The first beta for developers is available later today.
The final version of iPados 26 is only planned when the new iPhones appear. That will only be in September. Usually that is the second Tuesday of September. This year is that on September 9.
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