Apple's iPad in 2025: the highs, lows, and what we want to see in 2026

But perhaps the most exciting additions were to Apple’s iPad lineup. We got three new models: the entry-level 11th-Gen iPad, the iPad Air with M3 chip, and the iPad Pro with the M5. There was nothing new design-wise, but, with a nod to Bruce Springsteen, it was all about the fuel injection rather than the chrome wheels. (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) The fuel injection came courtesy of the latest Apple silicon, and Apple made the most of that extra power with arguably the biggest changes to iPadOS yet. With true windowing and the introduction of some of the best aspects of macOS, iPadOS 26 is what really made 2025 a landmark year for Apple's tablets. Apple showed more of its cards with the iPad than ever before (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) It’s clear that Apple has been performing a balancing act with the iPad for many years - many users rely on their tablets for a mix of entertainment and productivity, and want their iPad to be the one device to rule them all. Much of what iPadOS 26 delivered was productivity focused, in the shape of a proper menu bar and dock; more flexible, reliable, and customizable multitasking; a major update to the Files app; and support for background tasks. It’s more macOS-like than ever before, including the red, yellow and green buttons for closing, minimizing and expanding windows, and even a menu bar that feels right out of macOS. We got a Mac-like experience in a form factor that offers easier portability, unique experiences, and - maybe most importantly - flexibility in terms of input. You can operate the iPad with your fingers, a trackpad, the Apple Pencil, or even a connected mouse or trackpad. It’s a supremely versatile performer, but given how far Apple had taken performance - remember the redesigned iPad Pro launched in 2024 with the M4 chip, before that piece of silicon hit the Mac - the company needed to offer a more robust software experience. As my colleague Lance Ulanoff learned from senior Apple execs, it was something the company had been working on for quite some time. iPadOS 26 shipped with most of its promised features in September 2025. I’ve used it across a broad range of iPad models, including the current 11th-Gen lineup (mini, Air, and Pro) and the 9th-Gen entry-level iPad - while that model isn't as capable as the 11th-Gen iPads or the iPad Pro, the software upgrades have blurred the lines between models when it comes to performance. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. As I wrote back shortly after Apple unveiled the fresh software, while it was still in beta, it was a purpose-built upgrade for the iPad - one that catered to the iPad faithful and stayed true to Apple’s ethos. It wasn’t blowing up the classic iPad experience, but it did introduce...

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