When Apple unveiled iPadOS 26 at WWDC 2025, most of the spotlight fell on the flashy visuals and cross-platform AI features. But tucked beneath the surface are several features that genuinely improve the iPad experience — especially for those using it as a productivity machine.
If you’re running the public beta of iPadOS 26, here are 10 underrated features that deserve your attention..
New Lock Screen Customizations
Just like iOS 16 brought personalization to the iPhone’s Lock Screen, iPadOS 26 introduces a customizable Lock Screen with adjustable fonts, widgets, and a depth effect for wallpapers. It also adapts to lighting conditions using dynamic themes.
A Visual Makeover That Finally Feels Desktop-Class
Visually, iPadOS 26 marks a bold new direction. The entire system adopts Apple’s new Liquid Crystal design language, which adds dynamic transparency and soft 3D effects across the UI. From the redesigned Lock Screen with its adaptive clock widget and photo depth effects, to the subtle blurring on app windows and widgets, everything looks smoother, sleeker, and more polished.
If you’re using one of the newer OLED iPad Pro models, these design touches shine even brighter — literally. Apple has fine-tuned the system’s visual layers to take full advantage of the OLED panel, adjusting opacities and textures for depth and contrast. It’s the most "alive" iPadOS has ever looked.
Smarter Windowing and Multitasking
For years, iPad users have struggled with the system's limited multitasking tools. Stage Manager tried to bridge the gap, but it never quite nailed the full desktop feel.
That changes with iPadOS 26.
Apple is introducing a new windowing system that complements Stage Manager rather than replaces it. Now, apps can be launched in flexible, resizable windows — and the OS remembers each app’s window size and placement the next time you open it.
There’s also a new Expose-style overview: with a single gesture, you can view all open apps tiled across the screen and jump to the one you want instantly.
Even better, Apple brought the familiar three-button window controls from macOS (close, minimize, maximize) to iPad. You can now tile windows to either side of the screen just by flicking them to the edges — and pick from up to eight preset layouts for precise control.
The Menu Bar Arrives
One of the biggest macOS features finally makes its way to iPad: the Menu Bar. Sitting at the top of the screen, it gives you quick access to app-specific settings without diving into nested menus.
Developers now have the freedom to customize this bar, offering context-specific controls that match each app's workflow. Core menus like File, Edit, Format, and Window remain universal, giving power users consistency across apps.
While the Menu Bar doesn’t drastically change how you interact via touch, it’s a game-changer when using a keyboard and trackpad. Productivity apps like Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve will instantly benefit from this desktop-like interface.
A Phone App That Actually Belongs on iPad
One surprising but welcome addition is the redesigned Phone app for iPad. Unlike the barebones version on iPhone, the iPad variant feels optimized for video calls and productivity.
You’ll find support for FaceTime, Teams, and more — all baked into a slick UI that includes your contact posters, recent calls, and advanced controls that match what you’d expect from a Mac or desktop VoIP app.
More impressively, Apple has finally added live translation, call assist, and native call recording to the iPad — all features that users have been asking for. Even better: recorded calls are automatically transcribed and summarized, thanks to Apple's new on-device intelligence.
AI Meets Shortcuts: The Automation Revolution
Apple is taking its Shortcuts app to a whole new level in iPadOS 26 by integrating AI. You can now simply describe what you want to automate, and the system will build the sequence for you — using text, audio, or image recognition.
Want to create a workflow that scans a document, translates it, and emails it to your team? Just type the prompt, and AI takes care of the rest.
You can choose whether the shortcut runs using on-device AI models for privacy, or leverage Apple’s secure cloud-based compute for heavier tasks. Either way, this update lowers the barrier to automation dramatically.
Final Thoughts: The iPad's Turning Point
iPadOS 26 isn’t just an update — it’s a turning point. With this release, Apple is finally closing the gap between iPad and Mac in a meaningful way. From smarter windowing and system-wide design polish, to desktop-class features like the Menu Bar and advanced automation, the iPad is no longer "just a big iPhone."
It’s still not a Mac. But for millions of users, especially those who pair the iPad with a keyboard and Apple Pencil, iPadOS 26 might be the moment the iPad becomes their primary computer.
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