Skip to main content

Apple just gave you a reason to ditch your Mac for an iPad

Promotional logo for WWDC 2023.
This story is part of our complete Apple WWDC coverage

Apple has added support for multiple windows and external displays to iPadOS at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), bringing the iPad closer to the Mac than at any other point in its history. For many people, it could be the final push to abandon their laptop or desktop computer for good.

The key to this near-revolutionary change is a feature Apple calls Stage Manager, coming in iPadOS 16. When you open Stage Manager, your main open window is shown at the center of your display. On the left-hand side is a list of your other open apps, with multiple windows of the same app grouped together. You can tap an app in the sidebar to bring it to the front.

An iPad using Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.
Apple

But what makes this so momentous on the iPad is the window-management features it enables. You can group multiple apps together, meaning that for the first time, iPad users will be able to have multiple windows open and overlapping at once.

Recommended Videos

You can then move and reposition each window as you like, just as you would on a Mac or PC. And the feature goes further, allowing you to resize each window as required.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Previously, iPadOS has only allowed somewhat rudimentary window management. Sure, you could run two apps side by side with Split View, but they could not overlap or be resized relative to each other beyond the most basic of concessions.

External display support

An iPad and an external display using Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.
Apple

What’s more, Apple also debuted full external display support for Stage Manager on iPadOS. Connect a secondary monitor and Stage Manager will show open windows across the two devices. You can move a group of apps from your iPad to your external display and back again, making window management much more efficient.

In total, Apple explained you can run up to eight apps at once across an external display and an iPad, and these can be connected into groups of up to four apps.

WWDC has brought a slate of new features, with updates to Apple’s operating systems alongside M2-enabled MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops. And with Stage Manager and external display support, Apple fans might find they can pass on the laptops and just stick to their iPads.

Alex Blake
Alex Blake has been working with Digital Trends since 2019, where he spends most of his time writing about Mac computers…
Is your child safe from inappropriate apps on Apple App Store? A report says no
App Store screenshot on iPhone.

Apps aimed at children have been available since the inception of the App Store. However, not all apps created for minors are safe to use. This is the main finding of a new survey conducted by two child safety organizations. The report presents the results of a 24-hour research study in which 800 apps were reviewed, and the findings are concerning.

The Heat Initiative and ParentsTogether Action study found that Apple's App Store is a mass distributor of risky and inappropriate apps to children. Many apps have features that put children at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, low self-esteem and poor body image, disordered eating, exposure to sexual and violent content, and more. Apple claims that the App Store is a safe place for children, but the study found that Apple takes no legal responsibility for the veracity of age ratings.

Read more
An Apple insider says a new iPad is coming in spring 2025. Here’s what we know
Someone holding the iPad (2022) with the display turned on.

Apple did not release any new iPads in 2023. However, this year marked a significant change with the introduction of all-new versions of the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. Notably absent from this list is the standard iPad, which hasn't been updated in nearly three years. This is expected to change in the coming months. According to MacRumors, Apple plans to release an updated iPad alongside the iPhone SE 4 in spring 2025.

While limited information about the upcoming iPad is available, several details have emerged in recent months. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new tablet is expected to support Apple Intelligence, just like all iPads released in 2024 do. This support suggests that the 11th-generation iPad will likely have a newer A-series chip and at least 8GB of RAM.

Read more
Have an old iPhone or iPad? You can no longer use this iCloud feature
An iPhone 6S in gold held against a red pipe.

If you own an older iPhone or iPad, it may be time to consider upgrading. As of December 18, the minimum requirement for using iCloud backups is iOS 9 or later, as support for iOS 8 and earlier versions has ended. This information was initially communicated to Apple users in November.

As noted by MacRumors, while iCloud support for devices running iOS 8 or earlier has ceased, you can still create manual backups on a Mac or Windows PC. If your device is currently on iOS 8, but can upgrade to a newer version, your iCloud backup capabilities will be restored.

Read more