IPadOS 19 Will Be More Like MacOS, Focus On Productivity And Multitasking

The iPadOS 19 will be announced at this summer's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). (photo: x @wccftech)

JAKARTA Apple is reportedly preparing for a major change for the iPadOS 19 which will be announced at this summer's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). One of the main focuses of this Cupertino company is increasing its multitasking capabilities and app management, bringing the iPad closer to the Mac in terms of productivity.

According to a recent report from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, iPadOS 19 will bring design changes to be more consistent with Apple's other operating systems. But most interestingly, this year's WWDC is said to place iPad software as one of the main themes.

Although not many technical details have been revealed, some sources say that Apple plans to present a number of productivity features that are closer to the experience in macOS. This includes improvements to multitasking capabilities, application management, and overall workflow.

To date, the iPad is still not fully capable of replacing the role of the MacBook Pro in terms of productivity, although it already supports the use of the same external keyboards and Apple Silicon chips as in Macs. However, with major changes in the iPadOS 19, Apple seems to be trying to narrow the gap.

Many users have long hoped that the iPadOS and macOS could be merged into an integrated operating system. However, Apple still rejects the idea. Even so, Apple began to provide a more similar use experience between Mac and iPad, at least in terms of productivity.

This change also comes at a time when Apple is reportedly preparing a new iPad Pro model that will use the M5 chip, equivalent to the chip used in the latest Mac lineup. This powerful chip will certainly be more optimal if it is supported by an operating system that encourages productive work.

Previously, Apple was also reportedly designing major changes to the operating system to be released in 2025. iPadOS 19 and iOS 19 have internal codenames Luck, while macOS 16 is named Cheer. Not only that, the design of Apple's new operating system will likely also be inspired by visionOS, focusing on ease of use.

With all these developments, the iPad has the potential to change from just entertainment and creative devices to a more complete work engine 'approach the experience of using a Mac without really having to be a Mac.

WWDC 2025 will be the main stage to see to what extent Apple will take the iPadOS in a new direction that is more "serious" in supporting professional work.