iPadOS 19 will include a menu bar at the top of the screen like the one in macOS, according to a noted tipster on Thursday. If true, it’ll be a major step toward making iPads act more like Macs.
In addition, the system for managing floating application windows is supposedly in for an upgrade in iPadOS 19.
iPadOS 19 could make the iPad more Mac-like
iPadOS emphasizes simplicity, but macOS goes for power. As such, the two computers target different groups of users. Nevertheless, many power users want their iPad to be more Mac-like.
Multiple leaks indicate that Apple is answering the call. A recent report said that iPadOS 19 focuses on “productivity, multitasking and app window management,” and will include features closer to macOS than iOS.
A new report goes into more detail on the upcoming OS version by predicting that “the interface will adapt to show a menu bar at the top, just like on macOS, turning the iPad into a much more laptop-like experience.”
But the menu bar allegedly isn’t a permanent part of the UI. It’ll appear when the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad is attached, an accessory that converts the tablet into a laptop.
This information comes from Majin Bu, who frequently shares Apple-related leaks.
Stage Manager 2.0, too
The same unconfirmed report also indicates that Stage Manager 2.0 will be part of iPadOS 19. This is an upgraded version of the optional system that provides resizable, floating windows for applications on mid-range and high-end iPad models.
Majin Bu says it “will make managing apps and windows smoother and more productive than ever.”
Stage Manager 2.0 supposedly will also become active when a Magic Keyboard is attached to the tablet.
iPadOS 19 must satisfy power users plus everyone else
Apple is pulled in two directions by iPad users. Those who buy a $350 iPad usually want a simple-to-use consumption device, while those who buy a $1,300 iPad Pro expect much more. Designing iPadOS so it satisfied both groups is a challenge.
Power users want much more functionality, with some even asking that iPadOS be replaced with macOS. That likely wouldn’t please the millions of people who bought a budget iPad because it works like their iPhone.
If Majin Bu’s latest report is correct, then Apple’s compromise involves having advanced new features appear only when a keyboard and trackpad are attached to the tablet. Those looking for a light-duty tablet don‘t ever connect a keyboard, but most power users do.
iPadOS 19: Coming soon
Apple will almost certainly give the world its first look at iPadOS 19 at WWDC25, its developers conference scheduled for June. That is when we’ll learn whether these rumors are correct.
While beta testing is likely to begin at WWDC, the full release of the upcoming operating system version isn’t expected until the autumn.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
