iPadOS 16’s Stage Manager offers an improved multitasking experience, but will it be available for all iPads compatible with iPadOS 16? One of the key features in Apple’s iPadOS 16 is Stage Manager, which offers a plethora of multitasking options ideal for large-screen devices. The feature allows multiple apps to open simultaneously in overlapping windows for an improved multitasking experience.
IPads are currently relatively limited in terms of multitasking options, especially compared to the flexibility of macOS. With Stage Manager, iPadOS 16 aims to bridge that gap and help iPads become possible laptop replacements, especially with the rumored 14.1-inch iPad Pro that is expected to be launched early next year. However, will Stage Manager be available to non-M1 iPads as well?
Unfortunately for many iPad users, Stage Manager will only be available to iPad models powered by Apple’s desktop-grade M-series processors. That means only the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air models will get the new feature, while devices with the A-series chips will not get the new feature. In a statement to YouTuber Rene Ritchie, Apple explained the reason for its decision to leave out most of the current iPad models from the ambit of Stage Manager.
Stage Manager Needs The Extra Power
According to Apple, Stage Manager needs ultra-powerful hardware to handle all the open apps smoothly and without any lag. To be precise, it requires a large amount of memory, fast storage and external display support, all of which are only available in the models powered by the M1. For example, the M1-powered iPad Pro comes with up to 16GB of RAM, while earlier iPads were offered with only up to 6GB of RAM. Apple also claims that the M1 iPad Pro has 2x faster storage than its predecessor, which should also help with the Stage Manager implementation in the two latest iPads.
While Stage Manager will only be available to a select few iPad models, Apple will roll out iPadOS 16 to many more devices this fall. According to Apple, the latest version of its tablet operating system will be available to all iPad Pro models, as well as third-gen iPad Air and newer, fifth-gen iPad and newer, and the fifth-gen iPad mini and newer. Apart from Stage Manager, some of the other features in iPadOS 16 include Collaboration, which allows users to communicate with people on apps like Safari, iWork suite and more. There’s also a new weather app and the ability to undo send mails and schedule emails with the native Mail app. Overall, iPadOS 16 will be an exciting update and one that will go a long way in making iPads the creative powerhouse that Apple always intended them to be.
