According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple has delayed the release of iPadOS 16 to October to coincide with the launch of updated iPad models.
“Apple Inc. expects to delay its next major iPad software update by about a month, taking the unusual step of not releasing it at the same time as the new iPhone software, according to people with knowledge of the matter.”
This isn’t the first shift to Apple’s OS release schedule as the Cupertino-based company delayed the release of its beta software this summer by over a month. Bloomberg cites the company’s “ambitious effort to overhaul the iPad’s multitasking capabilities.”
Announced during WWDC this past June, iPadOS 16 introduced Stage Manager, a new feature that allows users to run several applications, resize app windows, and bounce between several clusters of apps. Stage Manager greatly enhances the app switcher experience.
Other new features Apple added to the upcoming software include the Weather app, better Apple Arcade and Game Center integration, and much-needed improvements to transform the iPad into a desktop-class machine like a new Files app.
Earlier beta testing of the software and its features have drawn criticism from developers and public beta testers for numerous bugs, confusion with using the feature, and compatibility issues for most iPads.
Bloomberg has also reported that Apple will introduce new iPad models this fall, including an entry-level iPad with USB-C and an M2 iPad Pro.
