iPadOS 16: Release date, price, specs, features, and more details

If you own a recent iPad, you'll want to know about iPadOS 16 - it's the next version of Apple's iPad software, and it'll be available on most iPads later this year. This new version of iPadOS was introduced at Apple's annual WWDC 2022 conference, when the firm showcases its new operating systems, with iOS 16 being the most significant improvement. iPadOS 16 is the tablet OS's fourth edition since Apple separated it from its iOS smartphone operating system - yet it shares many features with iOS 16. Improved collaboration capabilities, including a new, shared mark-up app, and new features bringing the iPad experience closer to that of working on a computer are among the new features. We've broken down all of the new features Apple announced on stage, as well as when iPadOS 16 will be available and who will be able to obtain it.

iPadOS 16 release date

The developer beta for iPadOS 16 is now available, and the public test will begin in July, but the complete deployment will take place later this year. Apple says iPadOS 16 will be available in the "fall" for eligible iPads, but we're guessing it'll be around September.

iPadOS 16 compatibility

If you want to know what iPad you have, open the Settings app, go to About, and then Model Name.

• iPad (fifth generation) and newer
• iPad Mini (fifth generation) and newer
• iPad Air (third generation) and newer
• Every iPad Pro model

iPadOS 16 features

Many of the features in iPadOS 16 are largely iOS 16 features. Changes to the lock screen allow you more control over notifications and other customization choices, for example. Another comes from Apple Maps: you'll be able to design a route on your iPad and then send it to your iPhone, allowing you to plan a trip on a larger screen before viewing it on a smaller one. Certain macOS enhancements, such as a modification to the Mail app, are on the way. You can now plan emails to be sent at a specific time, retract emails that have already been sent, and set reminders for emails that you don't want to deal with right now.

If you're interested in weather, Apple's new Weather app is also coming to iPad. Another new iPad app is Reference Model, which is supposed to maintain the colors on your iPad in sync with monitors and other displays, which could be beneficial for color graders - but Apple didn't go into much detail. Apple is finally distinguishing iPadOS from iOS, so perhaps iPads won't just feel like larger iPhones any longer.

To that end, Stage Manager, a major macOS mode coming to iPadOS, gives you desktop-like capabilities, including the ability to create overlapping windows, move all your background programs to the side to see them in one list, and resize windows. Apple has also promised to update more first-party apps to make them 'Desktop-class,' though this appears to entail hundreds of small changes, such as alternative methods to list files or view folders, rather than a single major change.

iPadOS 16 gaming

Following a demonstration of Mac's gaming capabilities earlier in the presentation, Apple said that the iPad will acquire many of the same features. This adds Metal 3, a tool that automatically upscales gaming footage (essentially increasing framerate and resolution) and should make iPadOS games feel more like console alternatives. Now, all we need is for Fortnite to return!

Game Center now has an activity list, allowing you to see what your friends are up to – it's similar to features found in other game networks such as Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, allowing you to see, for example, if someone has earned an achievement in a game or spent 20 hours playing a specific title. Finally, sharing links with your friends so they may join you in a multiplayer game is now much easier.