After over a month of daily use, running the iPadOS 26 developer beta on both the iPad Pro M2 and the new iPad Air M3, one thing is clear: the iPad has matured into a true productivity machine. While it may not be a full Mac replacement for everyone, iPadOS 26 marks a significant shift in how Apple’s tablet fits into serious workflows—and in many ways, it even surpasses the traditional laptop experience.
A Long-Awaited Evolution
When Apple unveiled iPadOS 26 at WWDC, the reception was immediate and enthusiastic. For years, users and developers had asked for a more flexible, computer-like interface on the iPad. With this update, Apple has delivered.
The biggest headline feature is the overhauled window management system. The awkward limitations of Split View and Slide Over are gone. Now, apps can be freely resized, overlapped, and positioned on-screen much like on macOS. You can snap windows to halves, float them, or toggle back to the classic full-screen tablet mode with a quick Control Center tap. It’s fluid, intuitive, and surprisingly fun—finally bridging the gap between tablet and desktop interaction.
Daily Driving the iPad
To truly test the limits of iPadOS 26, I left my MacBook Air out of my workflow entirely. For over a month, the iPad became my only device on the go. From email, Slack, and Docs to browser-based CMS platforms, Zoom calls, and even PDF signing, I relied exclusively on the iPad—and it performed admirably.
There are still occasional reminders that this isn’t macOS. Workflow quirks—like handling AirDropped files in the Files app or signing documents directly from third-party apps—can require extra steps. Some window resizing actions lag slightly, and background media playback limitations persist. But overall, the friction is lower than ever, and the gains in portability and efficiency outweigh the occasional compromises.
Hardware and the iPad Paradox
Both the iPad Pro M2 and the iPad Air M3 shine with iPadOS 26. They’re fast, responsive, and pair perfectly with accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. The cursor experience is no longer a novelty—it’s a core part of the system. Battery life remains excellent, and display quality is exceptional across both devices.
Yet, the physical transformation required to mimic a laptop—adding a keyboard case, trackpad, and stand—inevitably brings the setup closer to the size and weight of a MacBook Air. This is the paradox of the iPad: to make it feel like a laptop, you have to outfit it like one. And yet, it can do so much more. It’s a sketchpad, a media player, a camera, a console, and a cellular-connected companion—all in one.
Should It Replace Your Laptop?
The question isn’t whether the iPad can replace a laptop—it clearly can for many users. The real question is: do you want it to?
There are days when the iPad is the better tool. Its single-app focus fosters productivity. Its light weight and long battery life make it a perfect travel companion. Its touchscreen and Pencil integration offer an experience that laptops simply can’t match. And with the ability to run up to eight windows simultaneously, multitasking no longer feels constrained.
But there are still moments when macOS wins out—especially for power users who rely on advanced file management, more seamless external monitor support, and deep system-level control.
Final Verdict
iPadOS 26 doesn’t aim to turn the iPad into a Mac—and that’s a good thing. Instead, it enhances what makes the iPad unique, while dramatically boosting its viability as a standalone productivity device.
With the right hardware and workflows, the iPad is now more than capable of handling serious work—making it the most complete and versatile iPad experience to date. It won’t replace every laptop, but for the right kind of user, it may be the only device you need.
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