Mac-like multitasking and window management may come to iPad

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Apple is planning some big changes to how the iPad works, especially once the new M5 chip-powered iPads come out. 

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, by the time those iPads launch, using them could feel much more like using a Mac computer, though they still won’t actually run macOS. 

Instead, the iPadOS is expected to take a big step forward, especially when it comes to productivity, multitasking, and how apps are handled on screen. 

Basically, Apple is working to make the iPad better for serious work, not just browsing the web or watching videos, but actually managing multiple apps and tasks at once, more like you would on a Mac. 

Gurman says these changes are expected to arrive about a year after the M4 iPad Pro came out, a tablet that already has a ton of power, more than the current software really takes advantage of. 

He didn’t give exact details about what the new multitasking features will look like, so it’s probably smart to stay cautious until Apple officially announces things. 

A couple of years ago, Apple introduced something called Stage Manager to let users move and organize app windows more like they do on a computer, but it didn’t quite live up to the hype and felt a bit clunky. 

Since then, Apple has improved things slightly, for example, by letting users resize windows more easily in iPadOS 17, but the overall experience is still more “tablet” than “desktop.” 

That’s fine for casual users, but not ideal for people who want to replace their MacBook with an iPad. 

All eyes will be on Apple in June when it’s expected to reveal iPadOS 19, the next major version of the software. That’s when we’ll see just how far they’re willing to go in turning the iPad into a real Mac alternative.

What do you think about iPad finally getting the love it deserves? Do you think it’ll make you want to ditch your Mac for one? We want to hear your thoughts below in the comments, or via our Twitter or Facebook.