How To Experience iPadOS 26 on iPad Pro: A Comprehensive Review

iPadOS 26 just dropped in beta, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag. If you’re the kind of person constantly switching between apps or pushing your iPad to its limits, these updates could make a difference—or add some headaches. The big hitters here are the window tiling feature, some visual overhauls, and a few productivity tweaks. But beware, since it’s a beta, stability can be dodgy, and not everything will be perfect at first glance. Still, if you’re eager to try out the latest, understanding what these features do and how they might help (or disrupt) your workflow is key. This guide’s gonna break down what’s new, what’s worth experimenting with, and what might be worth waiting on until the official release.

Size of the Update

The update clocks in at around 8.11 GB, which is pretty hefty. Don’t forget to check how much free storage you’ve got—if you’re tight on space, you’ll either need to clear some out or stash the download for later. This size suggests a lot of underlying changes, maybe even some under-the-hood stuff that could cause hiccups initially.

Window Tiling Feature

This one’s the shiny new toy. Tiling lets you snap apps side-by-side, resize them, and basically multitask better. It’s kind of like taking the split-screen idea and making it more flexible. Dragging the edges to resize works smoothly on the iPad Pro’s 120Hz display, which is a nice touch. You can overlap windows if you want—useful if you need to reference info while working on another app. It’s a game changer for productivity, especially if you’re used to a desktop setup. But heads up—sometimes the tiling gets a bit buggy during beta, and on first tries, it might not be perfect. On some setups, it works flawlessly right away, but on others, a reboot or toggling the feature on/off might be needed.

To get this going: go to Settings > Home Screen & Dock > Multitasking > Tiled Windows (or similar, depending on your beta version). If it doesn’t work, a quick restart usually fixes it.

Liquid Glass UI

Apple’s playing with a slick, glossy UI look here—a.k.a. Liquid Glass. It’s kind of weird at first, shiny and a bit over-the-top, but it aims to give the whole interface a more modern and fluid feel. Not everyone will love it, and honestly, on some screens it can be a little distracting or hard to read, especially if the contrast isn’t dialed in. Wouldn’t say it’s a game changer yet, but it’s interesting enough that future updates might refine or settle it into something more usable. The idea is that it adds a more dynamic aesthetic, kind of like liquid flowing over the interface elements.

Expect to find this toggle in the Settings > Visual > Liquid Glass UI menu. Turning it on adds that glossy effect across system menus and app backgrounds—kind of polarizing, but definitely different from the usual flat design.

Updated Application UI

Lots of apps got a facelift here—new icons, smoother animations, and in iMessage, some background customization. It’s a visual overhaul that makes using the apps feel fresh. The larger screen of the iPad is perfect for these updated interfaces; you really notice the difference especially when browsing or messaging. Some might find the new look cleaner and more modern, others might miss the old simplicity. If you’ve always been a fan of minimalist design, this might be a bit too flashy at first—but hey, it’s beta, so tweaks could be underway.

To see these changes, just update your apps through the App Store, and look at the iMessage settings for background options. It’s mostly UI polish, but it does make a difference when flipping through apps quickly.

New Phone Application

Yes, the phone app finally got an update for iPads and Macs, syncing the experience across devices. It’s similar to the iPhone’s interface now, so managing calls, contacts, and recent calls feels more integrated. Especially handy if you use your iPad as a secondary device for calls or messaging. Still, beta or not, sometimes the calls don’t connect right away or the UI bugs out—so don’t be surprised if it’s not perfect instantly. Just make sure your numbers are correctly synced in Settings > Phone > Calls on Other Devices.

Apple Games Application

They’ve also rolled out a dedicated Apple Games app—think of it as a hub for your gaming data, progress, and achievements. It’s a pretty tidy way to keep track, especially if you game a lot. On iPads, it feels polished, but on iPhones, you might see some inconsistency since it’s optimized more for larger screens. If you’re into gaming, exploring this app could help you organize your library better. Just be ready for some quirks—the beta isn’t fully polished, and syncing might sometimes delay or not work initially.

Find it right in the app dock or by searching in Settings > Apps > Apple Games. It’s worth poking around if you’re a gamer trying to keep things tidy.

Real-World Impact and Recommendations

All in all, the beta feels promising but unpredictable. The window tiling can seriously boost multitasking, and the UI tweaks add a fresh vibe. But bugs and stability issues are to be expected — on some days, everything works smooth, on others, not so much. Especially during betas, it’s worth keeping an eye on updates or holding off on critical tasks until things settle. If you want to experiment, just don’t expect perfection right away. And keep backups in case something weird happens.