Only three iPad models are supported by the new Stage Manager feature.
Stage Manager was the big draw for me when Apple announced iPadOS 16 at WWDC 2022. My frustration has only grown after finding out that I won’t be able to use it on my own iPad.
There are four resizable windows on the screen, and other programmes are reachable down the side of the display, in case you missed the revelation of Stage Manager. The iPad may also be used as a desktop extension with an external monitor, allowing you to run four additional windowed programmes simultaneously.
Recently, I wrote about how I hoped the iPad could be a better laptop replacement with some new software, and Stage Manager appears to be just the ticket. The amount of open programmes and the appearance of your windows are still more customizable on a Mac or PC. The rest of my daily routine consists of text editing, browsing the web, managing tasks, and chatting with friends, thus Stage Manager was more than adequate.
When I read the small print of the iPadOS 16 announcement, my hopes were dashed (opens in new tab). Currently, Stage Manager is only compatible with Apple M1-powered iPads: the iPad Pro 2021 (12.9-inch), iPad Pro 2021 (11-inch), and iPad Air 2022.
To be more exact, I recently purchased an iPad Pro 2020, the final model before Apple debuted their M1 chip. So my money-saving strategy has cost me the feature I was most excited about. Thank you for your congratulations, I’ve cheated.
In the past, Apple has kept a few features in every software update solely for its newest hardware, whether it was for true power and performance reasons or simply to entice you to upgrade. This decision isn’t completely unexpected. Many iPad owners, however, are missing out on one of the most notable new iPad features.
For the 2017 iPad and most subsequent models, Stage Manager will be accessible on iPadOS 16, however it will only be available on the three models I have listed above. To launch this function with other features that operate on all iPads that are compatible is a little sleazy.
Although it’s been rumoured, it’s possible that Apple would have done better to wait until a next M1-powered iPad (such the iPad Pro 2022) to introduce Stage Manager for iOS instead of unveiling it at the same time as iPadOS 16’s release.
This annoys me to no end, as I’m on the verge of purchasing a MacBook Air 2022. Even though I’ve been on the lookout for a Mac for years, I managed to keep myself from making a hasty purchase when the WWDC keynote concluded since I was reminded of how my iPad would soon be capable of being used like an actual computer. However, this will not be the case. There is a good chance that I will be able to resist the temptation to buy the new Air when it goes on sale in a few weeks.
Let’s focus on the positive developments instead. It’s not simply Stage Manager that iPadOS 16 has to offer. Passkeys, an iOS 15/iPadOS 15 feature I enjoy, are all included, as is a Weather app, which has been missing from the iPad home screen for some time now.