iPadOS 26 is lastly nudging me in direction of upgrading my 2020 iPad Professional

One factor we did not see at Apple’s September 9 occasion was a brand new iPad. That made sense to a level, since there was sufficient to speak about with new Apple Watches and the iPhone 17 lineup, significantly the iPhone Air. On the identical time, the radio silence felt a bit odd, for the reason that firm has made a splash with fall iPad bulletins prior to now. Nonetheless, to not concern — Apple lastly dropped the hammer earlier this month by asserting a brand new M5 iPad Pro, which positively has various tempting upgrades.

I am not able to purchase a brand new iPad anytime quickly. Protecting September 9 did lead me to replicate on the prospect, nevertheless, in tandem with the discharge of iPadOS 26. The extra I take advantage of iPadOS 26, the extra stress I really feel in direction of making the leap. A part of this stems from real characteristic developments within the OS — however there’s a little bit extra happening than that. Regardless, I discover myself sitting on a fence.

What it is like utilizing a 2020 iPad in 2025

Exhausting and gentle limitations

If there’s any five-year-old iPad that may maintain out within the fashionable tech panorama, it is my 11-inch iPad Professional. I do not stress it that a lot in comparison with some folks, admittedly — the one work apps I run are Slack and Asana — however its A12Z chip remains to be quick sufficient to help Liquid Glass and three iPhone-sized apps concurrently. Through the workday, I take advantage of my Professional as a type of second display for protecting tabs on music, messages, notifications, and smart home controls. This frees up my laptop computer for extra essential duties — particularly analysis, picture modifying, and jamming out writing initiatives.

For what I am at the moment doing, there isn’t any robust purpose to improve. My iPad even has some options the most recent non-Professional fashions do not, particularly Face ID and a 120Hz ProMotion show. That is one thing I had anticipated to vary by now. It’d within the subsequent few months, who is aware of — since Apple has settled on the notion of cheaper iPads being restricted by processor energy, it feels arbitrary to impose a 60Hz refresh fee as properly, contemplating that Samsung’s funds Galaxy Tab A11 has a 90Hz panel. It is exhausting to return to 60Hz as soon as you’ve got received used to scrolling by way of apps and residential screens at ultra-smooth framerates.

I’m working inside invisible partitions, although. As a result of my Professional lacks an M-series processor, it is solely allowed to reflect content material to an exterior monitor or TV, not create an prolonged desktop. And probably the most superior apps will not run properly or in any respect — I am considering of titles like Logic Professional and DaVinci Resolve. I may technically launch Resolve, however attempting to edit a video with the naked minimal specs can be excruciating. Blackmagic recommends an M1 iPad or higher.

The place there aren’t exhausting limitations for my pill, there are gentle ones. iPadOS 26 does allow you to open greater than three or 4 apps (lastly), but the sensible ceiling of that depends upon each processor energy and RAM. Within the case of a 2020 iPad Professional, 4 apps appear to be probably the most it may handle earlier than issues turn out to be noticeably gradual, and that is with out launching something graphics-intensive. Even a 2D sport like Stardew Valley would in all probability tip issues over the sting.

Talking of graphics, whereas Liquid Glass does work, it nearly feels tailored to drive upgrades. Its added graphical results decelerate an A12Z simply sufficient that dragging and resizing home windows turns into an uncomfortable chore. Mildly uncomfortable, maybe, however that is important on a touch-based system the place you anticipate immediate response. It isn’t exhausting to think about iPadOS 27 changing into a breaking level for some customers, at the least if Apple tries to push visible aptitude any additional.

Is Apple nudging folks in direction of new {hardware}?

The advanced reply

On one stage, I do not doubt it. Prospects have been going longer and longer between iPad purchases, typically past the five-year mark — a dilemma for a corporation that wishes you to join an annual iPhone Improve Program. Certainly, for those who’re trying to save cash, a refurbished 2021 iPad Professional shouldn’t be solely viable in 2025, however sufficient to get round all of the limitations I have been speaking about. I would see if I can discover a 13-inch, 2022 refurb — the additional display house would do extra for my productiveness than an M4 or M5 chip, particularly if I may put the financial savings in direction of a Magic Keyboard.

On the identical time, I do not actually begrudge Apple. Critics like myself have lengthy complained that outdoors of media consumption and illustration, there hasn’t been a lot purpose to make use of an iPad as a substitute of a Mac or Home windows PC, which tends to be extra versatile. My present iPad dates again to an period when “Professional” signaled little various further perks. To repair that, Apple was inevitably going to have to enhance iPadOS’s multitasking capabilities at the price of efficiency on older {hardware}. An M4 iPad Professional operating iPadOS 26 is a radically completely different beast — with the correct apps and equipment, many individuals ought to be capable of use one as a real laptop computer substitute. Some individuals are making go of 1 as a 4K video workstation, foreshadowing how highly effective each iPad goes to be by the point we get to iPadOS 30.

Will I improve by spring 2026? Most likely not, if I am trustworthy — except my iPad breaks down, or there is a sudden inflow of money. I might in all probability get extra worth from an affordable Home windows laptop computer that would function backup to my major machine, or as a (extra) compact journey workstation. An iPad is not even my finest moveable gaming possibility anymore, not when I’ve a Steam Deck OLED my spouse gave me as a present. I can not play Cyberpunk 2077 on an iPad with out resorting to cloud providers like GeForce Now.

Apple appears to be headed in the correct path, so there’s a probability I will give in to temptation. Even then, nevertheless, it may should show that it is value forking out further for a brand new iPad as a substitute of scanning websites like Amazon and Greatest Purchase for offers on yesterday’s information.