According to the reports, WWDC 2022 will start in a few weeks. On June 6, Apple will release iPadOS 16, which will mark the arrival of the next major version of Apple’s iPad software platform.
When will iPadOS 16 be released?
iPadOS 16 will be released during the keynote at WWDC22 on June 6. The event will take place online, but some students and developers will be able to attend the Apple Park keynote in person. Following the announcement, Apple will test the operating system for several months before releasing it to all users around September.
Devices supported by iPadOS 16
One of the top questions users ask every year is whether Apple will drop support for older iPad models. With the release of iPadOS 15 last year, Apple maintained compatibility with all devices supported by iPadOS 14, but limited many features.
Early rumors suggest that Apple plans to drop support for the iPhone 6s and the original iPhone SE. If this is the case, iPadOS 16 may no longer be compatible with the iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad (5th generation) and original iPad Pro models.
With that in mind, the following iPads will be updated to iPadOS 16:
- iPad Pro 12.9 (5th generation)
- iPad Pro 11 (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9 (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 11 (2nd generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9 (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 11 (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2nd generation)
- iPad Pro 10.5 (2nd generation)
- iPad Air (5th generation)
- iPad Air (4th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad mini (sixth generation)
- iPad mini (fifth generation)
- iPad (9th generation)
- iPad (8th generation)
- iPad (7th generation)
- iPad (sixth generation)
What’s new in iPadOS 16
iPadOS 16 is expected to have two main features: a new multitasking interface and an improved notification look. The rumored focus on notifications is interesting because Apple has made many changes to the iOS notification system over the past two years, introducing features like notification summaries and focus mode. However, Apple still seems to be unhappy with the implementation of notifications throughout iOS and plans to make more changes this year.
Additionally, iPadOS users have been asking Apple to bring a better multitasking interface to Pro users year after year. For example, a window would be the safest bet to really improve the iPad experience with a larger screen. While the company has made it easier to use Slide Over and Split View, the experience is still lacking.
Pro apps like Final Cut Pro and the ability to have different accounts on the same iPad (as on macOS and tvOS) have also been feature requests from users over the years. The way Apple has improved notifications makes it clearer and easier for users to see the latest notifications without awkward groupings. Users are also expecting some updates to the Home screen widgets, especially in terms of interactivity, as well as general updates to the Home app and HomeKit.