Can iPadOS 26 Finally Replace Your Laptop?

Apple’s newest iPad software, iPadOS 26, isn’t officially out yet, but I’ve been testing the Beta version for a few weeks to see whether it brings the iPad closer to replacing a traditional laptop. And depending on how you use your laptop, it just might.

The biggest change in iPadOS 26 is multitasking. Stage Manager, introduced in an earlier version, gets a big upgrade here, and it’s by far the most exciting part of the update. With Stage Manager turned on, you can open and resize app windows, overlap them, and move them around freely on the screen. It’s a lot like working on a Mac or PC.

Say you’re writing a note or working on a Google Doc and want to insert a photo. Instead of switching between apps, you can open the Photos app in a small window beside your document, drag the photo in, and keep going. That kind of side-by-side workflow is a big leap from the iPad’s old “one app at a time” approach.

iPadOS 26 also brings big improvements to file management. If you plug in an external USB-C drive, you can now open, save, and export files directly, just like you would on a laptop. That includes documents, photos, videos, and even project files. Apple’s Files app now looks and works more like the Finder on a Mac, making it easier to organize folders and move files between the iPad and external storage.

In fact, with Stage Manager running, you can even drag and drop files between your iPad and the external drive, right on the screen. I was able to take a large video file saved on my iPad and move it to a USB-C SSD with just a few taps. It worked exactly how I’d expect a laptop to work.

Even the system menus and settings in iPadOS 26 are more Mac-like than ever before. From the layout to the controls, the iPad is getting closer to becoming a true hybrid of tablet and laptop.

But there’s still one major consideration: price. A fully loaded iPad Pro with Apple’s Magic Keyboard costs more than a base-model MacBook Air. That’s something to think about if you’re deciding between the two.

So, is it time to ditch your laptop? For some people, especially students, travelers, or anyone who wants a lighter, more portable setup, the iPad with iPadOS 26 might be all you need. It’s not the solution for everyone, but it’s definitely Apple’s boldest push yet to make the iPad your only computer.