With iPadOS 26, Apple overhauled its approach to multitasking with a new system that more closely resembles the way users interact with software on a Mac. Many different apps can now be used on the iPad’s screen at once, with more intuitive controls for resizing and rearranging windows.
Other improvements include a Mac-like menu bar at the top of the screen when working inside apps and the ability to place folders directly in the home screen dock. All recent iPad models can take advantage of the revamped windowing interface, but the iPad Pro is able to juggle the most apps simultaneously.
Vision Pro
Apple is equipping the second-generation Vision Pro with the brand new M5 chip. It offers a big jump in overall processing power compared with the ageing M2 from the original headset. The company’s latest silicon should let the Vision Pro handle advanced augmented reality experiences, as well as processing-heavy artificial intelligence features.
The more ergonomic head strap, meanwhile, is designed to reduce fatigue and discomfort that can result from wearing the Vision Pro for an extended period of time.
Since its release in early 2024, the Vision Pro has been viewed as too heavy and expensive to become a hit product. But it’s still an impressive technology showcase. The device’s displays are top-notch and offer a better movie-watching experience than other headsets. Even so, Apple has been slow to roll out immersive 3D videos that play to the Vision Pro’s strengths.
The Vision Pro now has better processing power and an ergonomic head strap, targeting business use.
With many consumers unwilling to splurge on a US$3499 product, Apple has increasingly been touting the Vision Pro as a good fit for businesses or organisations.
Even as it introduces a new Vision Pro, Apple has already shifted its priorities to smart glasses, a category that consumers have shown far greater interest in.
The company recently shelved a planned overhaul of the Vision Pro that would have brought a lighter design and more affordable price, Bloomberg has reported. Instead, it’s racing to catch up with Meta Platforms in the glasses market. The company’s just-released Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are an impressive demonstration of the progress it’s made in the category.
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