I’m a frequent user of the iPad Pro, and I push its capabilities to the limit. I edit videos, manipulate photos, and work on machine learning projects, often finding myself frustrated by the limitations of iPadOS. Apple’s recent release of iPadOS 18, with its promise of a computing-worthy overhaul, was met with great anticipation. However, the reality falls short of the hype.
While iPadOS 18 does introduce some welcome features, such as live transcription and summarization in Notes, a more flexible Control Center, and enhanced organization tools in Photos, many of these are simply ports from iOS 18. The much-anticipated Apple Intelligence, a suite of generative AI capabilities, is still in its infancy and doesn’t offer the significant functional boost many were hoping for.
Despite these additions, iPadOS 18 continues to struggle with fundamental issues that have plagued the operating system for years. Multitasking remains a frustrating experience, with the slide-over format lacking intuitive controls and often leading to unexpected behavior. App scaling and resizing are still limited, hindering the iPad’s potential as a productivity device. Basic keyboard shortcuts, often taken for granted on other platforms, are unreliable or even absent. The iPad Pro’s ability to keep background apps active is inconsistent, leading to lost work and interruptions.
Even the most basic tasks, such as writing an email in Gmail, are hampered by clunky interface design that feels ill-suited for the iPad’s screen size. The overall experience feels like a stretched version of iOS, failing to leverage the iPad Pro’s powerful hardware for a truly transformative computing experience.
While the iPadOS 18 update does offer some improvements, it fails to address the core shortcomings that have held back the iPad’s potential as a serious computing device. Apple’s promise of a computing-worthy overhaul remains unrealized, leaving power users yearning for a truly innovative and functional operating system. The hope is that Apple Intelligence, when it’s fully released, will bring the necessary boost to iPadOS, but even with its arrival, there’s concern that the fundamental issues will remain unaddressed.
