Apple is blurring the lines between iPadOS and macOS with the latest updates to the iPad. At WWDC 2025, the Cupertino tech giant announced a slew of upgrades for its iPad operating system. These include a fresh, glassy look with Liquid Glass, a better multitasking interface with a more intuitive window management system, and much more. iPadOS 26 marks one of the biggest overhauls in the Apple tablet history. And it’s bringing four new apps to your iPad, borrowed straight from iOS and macOS.
Apple to Add Multiple New Apps to Your iPad
The new iPadOS 26 introduces four new apps to your Apple tablet: Journal, Apple Games, Preview, and Phone. Here’s what you need to know about each:
- Journal: First launched with iOS 18 last year, the Journal app is making its way from iPhone to iPad. It lets you capture and write about everyday moments or special events. I’ve tried it on iPhone but couldn’t stick with it because I prefer writing over typing when journaling my thoughts. With Journal coming to iPad, people like me will be able to use the Apple Pencil to jot down entries more naturally.
- Apple Games: The new Apple Games app is set to become the central hub for gaming. iPadOS 26’s Game Overlay will let you quickly view new events and updates, tweak settings, call or invite friends mid-game, and more—all without leaving your current gameplay.
- Preview: Borrowed from macOS, Preview brings a smarter file management experience to iPadOS 26. You can create quick sketches, view, edit, and annotate PDFs and images. All your documents can be accessed via the Files app directly through Preview.
- Phone: Apple is also bringing the Phone app to iPad, complete with new features like Hold Assist and Call Screening. According to official renders, the interface will split into two parts with recent contacts on the left and detailed info on the selected contact on the right.
iPadOS 26 also updates system apps like Calculator and Notes. The Calculator app now supports 3D graphing in Math Notes, letting you write equations with three variables and generate 3D graphs directly. As for Notes, Apple is adding support for importing/exporting markdown files and offering audio recording with transcription for conversations captured through the Phone app.
With iPadOS 26, Apple is finally redefining iPad’s capabilities. From a more desktop-like experience to better multitasking and smart new apps, this update pushes the iPad one step closer to being your main computer. And if you’ve ever wished your iPad had a Phone app, now it does.
