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Report: iPadOS 19 to be ‘more like macOS’ in major overhaul

Avatar for Michael Burkhardt  | Apr 13 2025 - 5:13 am PT
41 Comments
Apple provides iOS 19 clues as leakers battle

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to make its upcoming iPadOS 19 overhaul “more like macOS.” This comes after many, many years of complaints about the capability of the iPad’s operating system.

This will accompany other large overhauls across Apple’s ecosystem, including a massive iPhone redesign with iOS 19, as well as the Mac’s first design overhaul in half a decade.

Here’s how Gurman describes the iPadOS 19 upgrade:

I’m told that this year’s upgrade will focus on productivity, multitasking and app window management — with an eye on the device operating more like a Mac. It’s been a long time coming, with iPad power users pleading with Apple to make the tablet more powerful.

Top comment by Connor DC

Liked by 14 people

Two major issues for the iPad.

  1. the OS, maybe this year it is improved and fixed

  2. The apps from major developers are nowhere close to their Mac equivalent. Microsoft and Google apps are particularly awful on iPad OS. But even the pretty good adobe apps are still limited.

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This has been a long time in the making. iPads have had hardware that far outpaces its software for at least four years now, and that’s definitely been a top complaint from enthusiasts. Obviously, this is just ‘more like macOS’, not macOS directly, so I’m sure there’ll still be a number of shortcomings.

Regardless, this sounds like a massive step in the right direction.

My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:

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Author

Avatar for Michael Burkhardt Michael Burkhardt

Michael is a 9to5Mac Reporter, leading all of our Apple news coverage on weekends and reviewing the newest Apple products and accessories. He got started in the world of Apple news during the pandemic, and it became a growing hobby. He’s also an indie iOS developer, and started the weekly Indie App Spotlight series, which has covered hundreds of blooming new apps since it launched. In his free time, he enjoys shooting street photography around New York City on his Sony A7RV.

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