Ever since the release of the iPad in 2010, its software has been the biggest bottleneck that prohibits it from becoming a laptop replacement. The 2018 iPad Pro with an eight-core A12X processor is faster than 92 percent of portable PCs sold today and its graphics performance rivals the graphical capabilities of an Xbox One S.
Image Source: Apple.com
It is impossible to look at the specs of the 2018 iPad Pro and not expect it to replace a laptop. But due to iOS and its limitations, the iPad has always been seen as a bigger iPhone and not like a smaller MacBook. With that being said, it was high time for iPad to break out of the iPhone’s shadow and for Apple to do something. Hence, Apple previewed the iPadOS at its WWDC event on Monday.
Image Source: Apple.com
The iPadOS builds on the same foundation as iOS but will also add features and new powerful capabilities that will be specific to the iPad and will not make its way to iOS. Here are some key highlights of the new iPadOS:
Highlights of the iPadOS:
- Desktop Sites are now default in Safari meaning you will be no longer viewing mobile sites, as iPadOS views websites in a modified desktop view. The browser will also get a download manager, 30 new keyboard shortcuts and improved tab management.
- The grid of app icons is tighter, allowing you to fit more apps on the screen. Also, widgets can be brought on the home screen with just a single swipe from the left.
- iPadOS will also bring an updated Files app which will allow sharing of folders in iCloud drive. There’s a new column view to take better advantage of the iPad’s wide screen. Moreover, the iPadOS will allow to plug in a USB drive or SD card reader into your iPad and the updated Files apps will allow to easily manage data between the iPad’s internal storage and the external drive.
- iPadOS will also allow you to use Splitview to see two app windows of the same app, or two different apps. The drag-and-drop interface on the iPadOS will also make switching between apps and windows easier
- iPadOS also brings a performance boost. Apple says Face ID unlocks are up to 30x faster, while apps launch up to 2x faster than on iOS 12.
- Apple Pencil latency is dropping from 20ms to 9ms. Apple is also bringing the PencilKit developer API so that developers can integrate some new controls.
- Apart from all this, iPadOS will also bring new gestures, updated markup which lets you mark up entire webpages, email, etc., Dark mode, custom fonts, etc.
iPadOS improves the latency of Apple Pencil from 20ms to 9ms. 
iPadOS QuickPath Typing. 
Improved Photos app in iPadOS. 
Custom Fonts support on the new iPadOS. 
iPadOS Slide-Over for quick switching of apps.
Which iPads will get an update to iPadOS?
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2018)
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2017)
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2015)
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2018)
- iPad Pro 11
- iPad Pro 10.5 (2017)
- iPad Pro 9.7 (2016)
- iPad Air (2019)
- iPad Air 2
- iPad (2018)
- iPad (2017)
- iPad Mini (2019)
- iPad Mini 4
iPadOS release date:
The release date of the iPadOS as set by Apple is “fall of 2019” which means we’ll likely see the update hit iPads in September when iPhone 11 launches.
Further Reading:
Apple iOS 13: 7 Best New Features [WWDC 2019]
Apple’s Revamped tvOS is Here, Many New Features [WWDC 2019]