So iPadOS 26 is basically Android's "DeX Mode" with less features...

[Slartibart]

Macs can fully preemptively multitask and have the power infrastructure to support it.

Well, the Macbooks are using the same »power infrastructure« as the iPads, aren’t they? 🤓 Particularly for Macbook Air versus iPP - yes, heat dissipation is different due to the difference in display location, which impacts processor throttling, but otherwise…
and iPadOS26 offers extended multi-tasking, and while technically not “full preemptive”, from a user-perspective e.g. when exporting a video in the background, it is identical between MB Air and iPad - it actually takes the same time and battery usage on the developer beta as far as I have tested.

Following your line of thought Apple seems nowadays a bit less concerned about battery life (?). 🙃

 

[mlayer]

Well, the Macbooks are using the same »power infrastructure« as the iPads, aren’t they? 🤓 Particularly for Macbook Air versus iPP - yes, heat dissipation is different due to the difference in display location, which impacts processor throttling, but otherwise…
and iPadOS26 offers extended multi-tasking, and while technically not “full preemptive”, from a user-perspective e.g. when exporting a video in the background, it is identical between MB Air and iPad - it actually takes the same time and battery usage on the developer beta as far as I have tested.

Following your line of thought Apple seems nowadays a bit less concerned about battery life (?). 🙃

A lot of the early previews of iPad OS 26 this week were people opening a bunch of windows to do multitasking. How many of those windows will be able to actively update? One. That's it. The next inevitable step is that people will be disappointed by that. That's the difference between a mobile OS and a desktop OS for Apple. Now maybe Apple will incrementally allow more, by sneaking in more background threads. That will come at a price in the end in terms of battery life. So I get them drawing the line. It's not like Apple is going to include a dev mode - like Android - for the geeks to tweak to their hearts' content. You don't have to believe Apple cares about battery life. It's a main driver in their entire business model, like it or not.

 

[Slartibart]

How many of those windows will be able to actively update? One. That's it.

well, that is not even true in iPadOS 18. You can have (at least) 3 actively updated windows, e.g. browser content and latex document compilation and video player.

You don't have to believe Apple cares about battery life. It's

If nothing has changed, Apple cares about runtime - the magic 10 hours - not battery life.

 

[mlayer]

well, that is not even true in iPadOS 18. You can have (at least) 3 actively updated windows, e.g. browser content and latex document compilation and video player.

If nothing has changed, Apple cares about runtime - the magic 10 hours - not battery life.

To the average user, there is no difference between the terms battery life and runtime. I'm aware of the use of PIP video and Split View and SlideOver (RIP?), but I'm not on the beta for 26 yet so I'll have to give it a whirl later in the summer, probably the first public beta.

Getting back to the subject matter, if DeX was a Google feature it would already have been killed. I'm sure DeX is some Samsung executive's pet project, which is keeping the whole thing alive considering its lack of uptake.

 

[Slartibart]

To the average user, there is no difference between the terms battery life and runtime. I'm aware of the use of PIP video and Split View and SlideOver (RIP?), but I'm not on the beta for 26 yet so I'll have to give it a whirl later in the summer, probably the first public beta.

Getting back to the subject matter, if DeX was a Google feature it would already have been killed. I'm sure DeX is some Samsung executive's pet project, which is keeping the whole thing alive considering its lack of uptake.

the new Android 16 seems to address tablets in particular - but yep, who knows how long Google will stay focused. And yes, slide over is unavailable in the current beta, as well as the previous approach to splitview. But as in 18 on an iPP, you can run e.g., VLC playing a video, while Juno runs code, and latex compiles - in window mode…

 

[mysticmanix]

Is the macos-lite mode forced or is it a toggle option? This is great for me, but would be terrible for my boomer parents, and they're accustomed to the iphone swiping gestures from the bottom as well.

 

[hovscorpion12]

Is the macos-lite mode forced or is it a toggle option? This is great for me, but would be terrible for my boomer parents, and they're accustomed to the iphone swiping gestures from the bottom as well.

It’s a toggle option. You are given three options for multitasking.

 

[Kal Madda]

I’m just curious if you’ll be able to open multiple windows of the same app, I’d love to be able to have two Preview windows open side-by-side

Yes, you can open multiple windows of the Preview app. iPadOS has supported this functionality for years, though some third party apps don’t support it. Can add a new window from the context menu by hold-pressing the app icon of the app in the app dock, and I think there are keyboard shortcuts for it as well. 👍🏻

 

[Kal Madda]

Honnestly, if Apple don't allow a true Dex-like experience on both iPhone and iPad withing 2-3 years until my next upgrade, I'll strongly consider switching to a samsung phone. For me, this is in my top-list feature I want and will use a lot. I currently use a Steam deck as a desktop computer when plugged to an external monitor, but having my phone or iPad to do that would be so much better.

iPadOS already has full external display support.

 

[Kal Madda]

Games aren’t full screen on external monitor witch is just stupid and it’s another reason I can’t take the iPad seriously as a computer replacement.

Only if game developers don’t support full screen… That’s on developers, not Apple. Apple has provided the functionality for years…