Update: Our WWDC 2022 live blog will bring you all the important information that will be announced from Apple's event.

iPadOS 16 is expected to launch in late 2022; if it is anything like iPadOS 15, Apple's tablet OS update should introduce many new features and improvements. Given that the current iPad Pro and iPad Air are powered by the powerful M1 chip, iPadOS 16 could be the most significant update for the iPad to date.

At this time, there are not many rumors about iPad OS 16. However, as Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2022) kicks off today (June 6), along with updates to the OS that runs on the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, it is likely that during the keynote It is expected that more details about the new OS will be discussed during the keynote.

Below are the early iPadOS 16 rumors we have heard so far.

Apple has a track record of announcing software updates at WWDC and we have no reason to believe they will stop now. This year's event kicks off today, Monday, June 6, and continues through June 10. We expect the company to officially unveil iPadOS 16 during the keynote of today's event.

As usual, Apple will likely release a beta version of iPadOS 16 to developers and some general users during the summer, shortly after WWDC concludes.

During that period, regular updates will be released as bugs are worked out, and the official version of iPadOS 16 will be released in September, just as iPadOS 15 was released in September 2021. While the dates for beta and official releases are always subject to change at Apple's whim, we believe this is the way things will unfold.

While we cannot say which iPads will support iPadOS 16, it is reasonable to assume that tablets like the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air will support the firmware update. The big question is which older iPads will be incompatible with iPadOS 16.

As noted by Tech Advisor (opens in new tab), the 2014 iPad Air 2 supports iPadOS 15. Therefore, it is possible that iPadOS 16 will work with iPads released within the past 7-8 years. However, we can't say for sure right now, so don't take our prediction as truth.

We don't know if your iPad will work with the next version of iPadOS. We are not certain either, but we can share a list of iPads that will work with the current version of iPadOS 15. If your iPad is not on this list, it almost certainly does not support iPadOS 16.

Here is a list of iPads that support the current version of the iPadOS 15 operating system:

We have not heard much about what new features we can expect in iPadOS 16. The latest rumor comes directly from Bloomberg reporter and Apple expert Mark Gurman, who claims to have heard from reliable sources that Apple plans to make iPadOS more like a full-fledged laptop OS (opens in new tab). According to Gurman, that could mean new ways to resize windows and organize them on the screen to facilitate multitasking.

Since the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets are powered by the Apple M1 chip, we also expect iPadOS 16 to introduce features to take advantage of the powerful processor.

According to an iDropNews report (opens in new tab), xCode, Logic Pro, and Final Cut Pro are coming to the iPad. However, these apps are expected to work only on iPads with the M1 chip, namely the iPad Pro 2021 and iPad Air 2022. It is not certain whether Apple will take this course of action, but bringing these long-requested apps to the iPad OS would be a welcome move that would help creators improve their productivity on the iPad alone.

The site also states that iPadOS 16 will feature the same lock screen and home screen design changes expected in iOS 16. Widgets may also make an appearance on the lock screen.

Elsewhere, tipster Majin Boo (opens in new tab) tweeted that Apple is working on a smart system named Apple Mixer, which will introduce floating app windows similar to desktop operating systems like macOS and Windows He said.

As the tweet states, the app opens in full screen, but automatically shrinks when the keyboard and trackpad are connected. The informant in question is not sure if iPadOS 16 will have this feature at launch, but seems confident that it will be exclusive to iPads with the M1 chip.

Developer Steve Troughton-Smith (opens in new tab) has also found evidence of this windowing feature in WebKit, the engine Apple is building to create an iOS/iPadOS browser for developers. This is not yet evidence that Apple is preparing this feature for iPadOS 16, but it appears to be actively being worked on.

We were generally pleased with iPadOS 15 due to its multitasking buttons and the way it incorporates widgets on the home screen. The keyboard shortcuts and floating Quick Note window also make the OS feel more like macOS. iPadOS 15 is great, but we expect iPadOS 16 to be even better. There are several things that this OS can do to improve the iPad experience.

Leverage the M1 chip

Like iPadOS 15, iPadOS 16 should take full advantage of the M1 chip found in the iPad Pro and iPad Air. iPads don't necessarily need macOS features and apps, but it doesn't hurt to have them - especially for those always on the go. For those who are always on the go. since the M1 is a desktop or laptop chip, it would be nice to have the same features that are on a Mac or MacBook.

Interactive Widgets

A leaker named @LeaksApplePro (opens in new tab) says iOS 16 may introduce interactive widgets that allow users to interact with widget shortcuts without going to the actual app He tweeted. The leaker in question was talking about iOS 16, but we wouldn't mind having interactive widgets in iPadOS 16. Widgets on the lock screen would be great too.

Smoother Magic Keyboard experience

The Apple Magic Keyboard turns the iPad Pro and iPad Air into half-assed laptops, but it's certainly not a laptop replacement.

iPadOS 16 may make the Magic Keyboard trackpad (especially the on-screen cursor) more intuitive to use. While the current experience is not terrible, it is clear that iPadOS 15 is first and foremost a tablet OS. We hope that iPadOS 16 will make the dream of turning the iPad into a laptop a reality.