Apple just dropped iPadOS 26, and I’m excited about some of these changes. I’m downloading it now and will be testing it over the coming days, but looking at the feature list, there are some things that caught my attention as someone who writes code for a living.

I’m not going to tell you what’s “useful” or what you “should” care about. Usefulness is subjective, and what matters to me might not matter to you. But here’s what I’m noticing from the feature list.

Journal app on iPad

I’m excited about the Journal app now being available on iPad. This is new - it was previously exclusive to the iPhone. The iPad version has some interesting features that take advantage of the larger screen and Apple Pencil.

New features include:

• Handwriting support with Apple Pencil integration for handwritten entries and drawings
• Multiple journals to organize entries by different topics or themes
• Map integration to view journal entries on a map with geographical context
• Inline images that can be added directly within text entries

I use the iPhone Journal app every day, so having it on iPad might make me use it more. The Magic Keyboard support could make it easier to write longer entries, and the Apple Pencil integration could be useful for sketches or handwritten notes.

Enhanced multitasking

There’s a new windowing system that brings desktop-like multitasking to iPad. You can resize app windows, place them anywhere on the screen, and open multiple windows simultaneously. There are familiar window controls like close, minimize, and resize.

There’s also a new menu bar accessible by swiping down from the top or moving the cursor to the top edge. It organizes app actions and includes system-provided functions.

I’m curious about this. The iPad has always felt like it was trying to be more like a laptop, and this windowing system seems like a step in that direction. I’ll have to see how well it works in practice.

Apps I use frequently

Preview app

The Preview app is now available on iPad. This is interesting because it was previously only available on macOS. You can view, edit, and mark up PDFs and images using touch or the Apple Pencil.

Features include: accessing PDFs and images from the Files app, creating new pages, and using AutoFill to quickly complete PDF forms.

This could be useful for document management. Having a proper PDF viewer and editor on iPad could be genuinely helpful for work tasks.

Files app improvements

The Files app has been improved with an updated List view. It displays more document details in resizable columns and collapsible folders. You can customize folders with colors, icons, and emojis that sync across devices.

You can also drag folders directly into the Dock for quicker access, and set default apps for opening specific files or file types.

These improvements could make file management more efficient. The resizable columns and collapsible folders sound like they’d make it easier to organize files.

Reminders app

The Reminders app now leverages Apple Intelligence to categorize reminders into different sections automatically. It can suggest adding tasks, grocery items, and more based on your activity on the iPad.

I’m skeptical about this. My experience with Apple Intelligence has been pretty disappointing so far. The writing tools are mediocre, and the image generation is basic. But the automatic categorization could be helpful if it works well.

Background tasks

There’s a new Background Tasks API that allows apps to perform long-running tasks in the background. This means you can initiate processes like video exports and continue using other apps without interruption.

Progress is displayed via Live Activities, so you can see how long-running tasks are progressing.

This could be genuinely useful for productivity. Being able to run intensive tasks in the background without keeping the app open could improve workflow.

Camera app changes

The Camera app has a simplified design with just Photo and Video tabs. Swiping up or down expands to other photo modes, and tapping on buttons reveals additional settings.

There’s also a feature that notifies you if the camera lens is dirty and needs cleaning.

I’m curious about the simplified interface. The current Camera app can feel cluttered, so a cleaner design might be an improvement.

Gaming changes

There’s a new Games app that comes pre-installed on the iPad. It consolidates all games from the App Store, including Apple Arcade titles, into one place.

Features include: a Library section for installed games, a Play Together feature for inviting friends to “Challenges,” and a Game Overlay for seeing new events and adjusting settings without interrupting gameplay.

I game a lot on my iPad, mostly games like Balatro and Slay the Spire. The new Games app might be useful for organizing my game library, but I’m not sure if the social features will be relevant for the types of games I play. The Challenges feature might be interesting if it works with single-player games.

Live Translation

Live Translation is integrated into FaceTime, Messages, and the Phone app. It enables real-time translation during conversations, with translated captions displayed during FaceTime calls.

This could be useful for international communication. I’m curious to see how well the translation works in practice.

Regional availability

Some features may not be available in all regions. Apple Intelligence features, Live Translations, and some other capabilities have regional restrictions. It’s worth checking Apple’s documentation to see what’s available in your area.

What I’m excited about

The Journal app on iPad is genuinely exciting to me. I already use it daily on my iPhone, so having it on the larger iPad screen with Magic Keyboard support could make it easier to write longer entries.

The enhanced multitasking features could be useful for productivity. The windowing system and menu bar might make the iPad feel more like a laptop for work tasks.

The Background Tasks API is interesting from a development perspective. Being able to run intensive tasks in the background could open up new possibilities for apps.

It seems like Apple is continuing to push the iPad toward being more laptop-like. The windowing system, menu bar, and Preview app all seem designed to bridge the gap between tablet and desktop experiences.

I’ll be testing it over the next few days to see what actually makes a difference in daily use.