iPadOS 26 introduces significant enhancements that allow iPads to mirror some functionalities traditionally associated with Macs. This new operating system features an advanced app windowing system and a convenient swipe-down menu bar positioned at the top of the screen. Despite these improvements, Apple has decided against enabling iPads to run macOS, and the reasoning behind this choice has been clarified by one of the company’s top executives. In a recent interview with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier, Craig Federighi, Apple’s software engineering chief, discussed the balance that iPadOS 26 aims to achieve between productivity and simplicity.
He noted that while macOS is not fully optimized for touch screens, iPadOS retains the essential characteristics that define the iPad experience. Federighi emphasized the importance of maintaining the iPad’s unique touch interface, stating, “We want to retain all the simplicity of the iPad, but still allow iPad users who want to go deeper and further to push it at their own pace.”
He added that incorporating macOS elements could compromise the distinctiveness of the iPad as the ultimate touch device. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that both platforms have valuable lessons to learn from one another, which has inspired iPadOS to integrate some of the best ideas from macOS. For those dreaming of a device that seamlessly combines the features of an iPad and a Mac, Apple is reportedly exploring concepts such as touch-screen Macs and even a 19-inch foldable iPad.
These innovations suggest that the possibility of using macOS on a touch-screen device may not be far off in the future.
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