Wondering how iPadOS 26 vs iPadOS 18.5 stacks up? iPadOS 26, currently in its developer beta (released June 2025), brings major updates like a Mac-like windowing system, new apps, and a sleek “liquid glass” design, making your iPad feel like a laptop. In contrast, iPadOS 18.5 focuses on smaller quality-of-life improvements, such as Mail app tweaks, better parental controls, and battery life boosts.
In this post compares the two, covering new features, updates, performance, and more, to help you decide whether to stick with iPadOS 18.5 or explore the iPadOS 26 beta. Let’s dive in!
Release Date and Availability
iPadOS 18.5 was released to the public in April 2025 as the last major update. It’s a stable version, available for download via Settings > General > Software Update, with a build number of 22F76 and a size of about 7.5 GB, requiring 12–15 GB of free storage.
iPadOS 26 Beta 1, launched for developers in June 2025, is much larger at around 15 GB. The public beta is expected by late June or early July 2025, with the final version likely arriving in September or October 2025. Since iPadOS 26 Beta 1 has performance issues, it’s best to avoid installing it on your main iPad. For a deeper look at iPadOS 18.5’s release, check out our iPadOS 18.5 Review.
iPadOS 26 vs iPadOS 18.5
The main difference between iPadOS 26 and iPadOS 18.5 lies in their scope. iPadOS 26 transforms the iPad into a Mac-like device with a new multitasking system, menu bar, and enhanced apps, while iPadOS 18.5 refines existing features with smaller, practical updates. Here’s a detailed comparison of their key features and changes.
Design and User Interface
iPadOS 26: Introduces a “liquid glass” design with transparent, borderless app icons, widgets, and system elements like the control center, lock screen, and keyboard. You can customize icons to clear, tinted, light, or dark modes by long-pressing the home screen and selecting “Customize.” The lock screen clock can be resized or recolored, but some users find the low contrast of clear icons hard to read, especially with bright wallpapers. Adjusting wallpaper brightness helps.
iPadOS 18.5: Keeps the standard iPadOS 18 design with no major visual overhaul. It adds new Pride wallpapers in Settings > Wallpaper > Add New Wallpaper > Pride section, featuring colorful, animated designs that change each time you lock or unlock the iPad. These wallpapers support Pride Month and similar celebrations like Black History Month.
Comparison: iPadOS 26’s bold design refresh makes the iPad feel modern and customizable, while iPadOS 18.5 sticks to a familiar look with only new wallpapers as a visual update. If you love a sleek, Mac-like aesthetic, iPadOS 26 wins.
Multitasking and Windowing
iPadOS 26: The multitasking system is a game-changer, replacing the three-dot menu with Mac-style traffic light buttons (red, yellow, green) for closing, minimizing, or maximizing apps. You can resize and move up to 12 windows freely, snap them into layouts like split view or quad view, and access all open apps via “App Expose” (four-finger swipe up on a trackpad or swipe up and hold). Split view remains, but Slide Over is removed. This works on all supported iPads, though smaller screens like the iPad mini feel cramped.
iPadOS 18.5: Relies on the older Stage Manager and split view system, limiting you to four apps at once. It offers no significant multitasking updates, sticking with the familiar iPadOS 18 setup of three-dot menus and Slide Over for temporary app access.
Comparison: iPadOS 26’s windowing system is far more powerful, making multitasking feel like using a Mac, while iPadOS 18.5’s system is simpler but less flexible. For power users, iPadOS 26 is a clear upgrade. Learn more about mastering iPadOS 26’s multitasking in our Tips and Tricks for iPadOS 26.
Mail App Enhancements
iPadOS 26: Doesn’t introduce specific Mail app updates in Beta 1, focusing instead on broader system changes. Any Mail improvements would likely build on iPadOS 18.5’s features, but none are noted yet.
iPadOS 18.5: Improves the Mail app with several tweaks:
- A “peek” animation shows the next category (e.g., All Mail) in the primary section, making navigation easier.
- The ellipses menu (three dots) lets you toggle “Show Contact Photos,” disable Apple Intelligence priority messaging, or turn off categories without going to Settings.
- The All Mail category is always visible in the category list, unlike iPadOS 18.4, where you had to tap the current category.
- The toolbar is customizable, allowing you to rearrange options like unread mail, mute, or flag, and swipe to access the full mail library when categories are enabled.
Comparison: iPadOS 18.5 offers practical Mail app improvements for better usability, while iPadOS 26 Beta 1 doesn’t focus on Mail. If email is a priority, iPadOS 18.5 has the edge for now. See how these changes evolved from iPadOS 18.5 vs iPadOS 18.4.
Files App and Menu Bar
iPadOS 26: The Files app is revamped to resemble macOS Finder, with a list view, resizable columns, and folder customization using emojis or tags (color changes are tied to tags, not direct selection). You can set default apps for file types and drag folders to the dock for fan-out access. A new Mac-like menu bar (File, Edit, View) appears in every app, accessible by swiping down, replacing the Command key shortcut menu for easier navigation.
iPadOS 18.5: No Files app updates are mentioned, sticking with the standard iPadOS 18 version. There’s also no system-wide menu bar, so apps rely on their own settings or the three-dot menu for options.
Comparison: iPadOS 26’s Files app and menu bar make file management and app navigation more powerful and Mac-like, while iPadOS 18.5 offers no changes in these areas. iPadOS 26 is better for productivity.
New Apps and Features
iPadOS 26:
- Preview: A macOS-ported app for viewing, editing, and annotating PDFs and images, with export options (JPEG, PNG, PDF, TIFF).
- Journal: Now on iPad, supporting multiple journals, location-based entries, and Apple Pencil handwriting recognition.
- Phone: A new app with a dialer, contact posters, recent calls, and live translation.
- Games: Replaces Game Center, offering a hub for Apple Arcade and App Store games with multiplayer and activity tracking.
- Calligraphy Tool: A Notes app feature for Apple Pencil users, with customizable opacity, thickness, and angle for handwriting.
iPadOS 18.5:
- News Plus: Adds a recipe catalog with 70,000 recipes from premium publications (subscription required), promoted via a new Food section splash screen.
- Music App: Some users see a “Viral Hits” category with trending songs from platforms like Instagram and TikTok, though availability varies.
Comparison: iPadOS 26 introduces more new apps and creative tools, enhancing the iPad’s versatility, while iPadOS 18.5’s app updates are niche and subscription-dependent. iPadOS 26 is more exciting for most users.
Parental Controls and Screen Time
iPadOS 26: Improves parental controls with easier child account setup, enhanced screen time management, and updated communication and App Store limits. Specific details are limited in Beta 1.
iPadOS 18.5: Adds notifications when a child enters the Screen Time passcode, alerting parents if limits (e.g., one hour on social media) are bypassed. Screen Time settings show the last passcode entry time, helping parents adjust restrictions.
Comparison: Both versions enhance parental controls, but iPadOS 18.5’s passcode notifications are more specific and immediately useful, while iPadOS 26’s broader improvements are less detailed in the beta.
Battery Life and Performance
iPadOS 26: Beta 1 is sluggish, with choppy app performance and poor battery life (e.g., 54% drained in 1.5 hours of screen time on an M4 iPad Pro) due to background indexing. This should improve in later betas or the final release.
iPadOS 18.5: Offers excellent battery life on an M4 iPad Pro, with 9–12 hours of screen-on time. For example:
- 7 hours (Blackmagic, ChatGPT) used <50% battery.
- 3 hours 43 minutes used 35–40%.
- 6 hours 15 minutes used <50%. Intensive apps like Lumafusion reduce life to 8–9 hours, while light tasks (Safari) reach 12 hours, even with a Magic Keyboard.
Comparison: iPadOS 18.5 is stable and battery-efficient, while iPadOS 26 Beta 1 struggles with performance. Stick with iPadOS 18.5 for reliability. For more on iPadOS 26’s performance, read our iPadOS 26 Review.
Other Key Features
| Feature | iPadOS 26 | iPadOS 18.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cursor | New precise arrow cursor for Magic Keyboard/mouse, replacing the morphing circle. | Standard iPadOS 18 circular cursor. |
| External Display | Extends workspace for M-series iPads; mirrors for others. Precise cursor support. | No specific external display updates. |
| Apple TV App | No updates noted. | Approves purchases on non-Apple smart TVs via iPad notifications (may be delayed). |
| Cellular (India) | No updates noted. | RCS messaging and 5G standalone for Airtel on cellular iPads. |
| Apple Care & Warranty | No updates noted. | Redesigned Settings section for easier coverage management. |
| Photos, Safari, etc. | New Photos layout, Safari side menu, Calculator clear-all button, Podcasts tweaks. | No updates to these apps. |
| Creator Tools | High-quality microphone support (e.g., Scarlet 2i2) for FaceTime/Zoom. | No creator-specific updates. |
Device Compatibility
Both versions support a wide range of iPads:
| Device | iPadOS 26 | iPadOS 18.5 |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro | 2018 and later (M4, 12.9-inch 3rd gen+, 11-inch 1st gen+) | Same as iPadOS 18 |
| iPad Air | 3rd gen and later (M-series) | Same as iPadOS 18 |
| iPad (Entry-Level) | A16, A-series and later | Same as iPadOS 18 |
| iPad mini | A17 Pro, 5th gen and later | Same as iPadOS 18 |
iPadOS 26 brings pro features like windowing to older devices, while iPadOS 18.5 supports all iPadOS 18-compatible iPads without new requirements.
Should You Update to iPadOS 26 Beta?
iPadOS 26 Beta 1 is exciting but not ready for daily use due to bugs, slow performance, and battery drain. Install it on a secondary iPad if you want to test it, and back up your data first. iPadOS 18.5 is the better choice for stability and battery life on your main device. For tips on using iPadOS 18.5, see our 15 Tips and Tricks for iPadOS 18.5.
Small Screen Experience
iPadOS 26: The windowing system works on smaller screens like the 11-inch iPad Pro or iPad mini, but overlapping windows make the mini’s 8.3-inch display feel crowded. All features are available, but practicality is limited.
iPadOS 18.5: No specific small-screen changes, but the standard iPadOS 18 interface scales well on all supported iPads, including the mini, without new multitasking demands.
Comparison: iPadOS 18.5 is more comfortable on small screens due to its simpler interface, while iPadOS 26’s advanced multitasking can feel cramped.
FAQ
1. What’s the biggest difference between iPadOS 26 and iPadOS 18.5?
iPadOS 26 introduces a Mac-like windowing system, menu bar, and new apps (Preview, Journal), while iPadOS 18.5 focuses on smaller updates like Mail app tweaks and parental control notifications.
2. Can I install iPadOS 26 Beta 1 on my main iPad?
Avoid installing iPadOS 26 Beta 1 on your main iPad due to performance issues and battery drain. Use a secondary device and back up your data.
3. Which iPads support iPadOS 26 and iPadOS 18.5?
Both support iPad Pro (2018+), iPad Air (3rd gen+), entry-level iPads (A-series+), and iPad mini (5th gen+). iPadOS 18.5 works on all iPadOS 18-compatible devices.
4. Does iPadOS 26 improve battery life compared to iPadOS 18.5?
No, iPadOS 26 Beta 1 has poor battery life (e.g., 54% in 1.5 hours), while iPadOS 18.5 offers 9–12 hours of screen time on an M4 iPad Pro.
5. Are the Mail app updates in iPadOS 18.5 carried over to iPadOS 26?
iPadOS 26 Beta 1 doesn’t mention Mail app updates, but it likely builds on iPadOS 18.5’s features like the peek animation and customizable toolbar.
Conclusion
iPadOS 26 vs iPadOS 18.5 shows a clear divide: iPadOS 26 is a bold leap toward a Mac-like iPad with powerful multitasking, new apps, and a fresh design, but its beta stage means bugs and battery issues. iPadOS 18.5 is a polished, reliable update with practical tweaks for Mail, parental controls, and battery life, ideal for everyday use. Stick with iPadOS 18.5 for now, and wait for iPadOS 26’s public beta or final release for a smoother experience.