The jump from iPadOS 18 to 26 is so big that it affects each and every iPad in the lineup, especially the entry-level one.
The Inclusion of the New Windowing System in iPadOS 26 Makes the Basic iPad One of the Best Devices from Apple
For a lot of people, the iPad 11 represents great value for money, despite its shortcoming – lack of Apple Intelligence features. But, quite frankly, though AI is great, but it’s the other features that make or break a product.
With iPadOS 26, Apple is bringing all the best iPad Pro features to the entry lineup, and it all surrounds multitasking.
With this change alone, the iPad 11 instantly turns into a multitasking behemoth. But, there’s a problem with how I’m portraying this. Because, if you read the compatibility list for iPadOS 26, the 8th-generation model is getting the multitasking upgrade too.
What this means is, if you have an iPad as old as the 8th-generation model, the iPadOS 26 update brings it closer to the Mac in terms of functionality. You even get the menu bar on Apple’s entry-level iPad, a feature which isn’t exclusive to newer models either.
I totally get how iPad is not a ‘proper’ computer like the Mac. But for people who just want to do straightforward tasks, an iPad is more than enough, and with the new windowing system in place, you can skip thinking about getting a Mac for a while.
