Stage manager is a new window management feature on the iPad. Full screen app windows may be resized to any predetermined size by dragging the app's corner markers.[3] Calculator, for example, may be resized to a smaller window having iPhone's tall aspect ratios.
Home screen
iPadOS 18 features many of the new home screen customization features introduced in iOS 18 such as icon tinting, dark themed icons, and the ability to move icons anywhere.
iPad OS 18’s Calculator introduces Math Notes, a new feature that allows users to perform and track calculations on separate sheets, solve mathematical equations, and plot functions on graphs. With integrated handwriting recognition, Math Notes automatically evaluates user input and displays the results in their own handwriting. The redesigned Calculator app, now shared between iOS and iPadOS, marks the first time an official calculator has been available for iPad.[4]
Control Center
Similarly to iOS 18, the Control Center is now more customizable with resizable buttons, shortcuts, and functions.
Locking/hiding applications
In iPadOS 18, applications that are visible to the user can be locked, or hidden. Locked apps require passcode/biometric authentication to run. Hidden apps are moved to a designated 'Hidden' folder in the App Library; accessing that folder requires passcode/biometric authentication.[5]
Issues
iPad Pro (M4) bricking issues
Many users trying to install iPadOS 18.0 on iPad Pro devices with the M4 chip reported power issues during the update process, causing the iPad to become bricked. iPads with M4 chips would power off during the update, and would damage the device. Apple pulled the update and blocked installation and restoration to iPadOS 18.0 on M4 iPad Pros. [6] On October 3, 2024, Apple released iPadOS 18.0.1, which allowed iPad Pro with M4 chips to update to iPadOS 18 with no bricking.[7]
Supported devices
iPadOS 18 drops support for the 2nd generation iPad Pro (2017, 12.9 and 10.5 inch) and the 6th generation iPad (2018), which include A10X and A10 chips, respectively. However, iPadOS 18 continues to support the 7th generation iPad, which also includes an A10 chip.[8] This marks the first time Apple has dropped support for an iPad while retaining support for another model featuring the same or a more powerful system-on-a-chip. The operating system also drops support for all iPads that use the original 9.7-inch display size.
The 7th generation iPad is the only supported iPad without Apple Neural Engine, while the 3rd generation iPad Air is the only supported iPad with a 10.5-inch display.
The new Apple Intelligence functions require iPads with an A17 Pro SoC, M1 SoC or later, which are only available on the iPad Pro (5th generation and later), iPad Air (5th generation and later) and iPad Mini (7th generation or later).[9]
