iPadOS 26 is lastly nudging me in the 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, because the firm has made a splash with fall iPad bulletins up to now. Nonetheless, to not worry — Apple lastly dropped the hammer earlier this month by saying a brand new M5 iPad Pro, which positively has quite a lot of 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, nonetheless, in tandem with the discharge of iPadOS 26. The extra I exploit iPadOS 26, the extra strain I really feel in the direction of making the leap. A part of this stems from real characteristic developments within the OS — however there’s a bit extra occurring than that. Regardless, I discover myself sitting on a fence.

What it is like utilizing a 2020 iPad in 2025

Arduous and mushy 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. Throughout the workday, I exploit my Professional as a sort of second display for conserving tabs on music, messages, notifications, and smart home controls. This frees up my laptop computer for extra necessary duties — specifically analysis, picture enhancing, and jamming out writing initiatives.

For what I am presently doing, there is no sturdy purpose to improve. My iPad even has some options the most recent non-Professional fashions do not, specifically Face ID and a 120Hz ProMotion show. That is one thing I had anticipated to alter 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 charge as effectively, contemplating that Samsung’s finances Galaxy Tab A11 has a 90Hz panel. It is onerous to return to 60Hz as soon as you have acquired 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 effectively or in any respect — I am pondering of titles like Logic Professional and DaVinci Resolve. I might technically launch Resolve, however attempting to edit a video with the naked minimal specs could be excruciating. Blackmagic recommends an M1 iPad or higher.

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

Talking of graphics, whereas Liquid Glass does work, it virtually 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 gadget the place you anticipate on the spot response. It isn’t onerous to think about iPadOS 27 turning into a breaking level for some customers, a minimum of if Apple tries to push visible aptitude any additional.

Is Apple nudging folks in the 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, generally past the five-year mark — a dilemma for an organization that desires you to join an annual iPhone Improve Program. Certainly, in case you’re trying to economize, a refurbished 2021 iPad Professional is just not solely viable in 2025, however sufficient to get round all of the limitations I have been speaking about. I’d 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 might put the financial savings in the direction of a Magic Keyboard.

On the identical time, I do not actually begrudge Apple. Critics like myself have lengthy complained that exterior of media consumption and illustration, there hasn’t been a lot purpose to make use of an iPad as an alternative 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 quite a lot of additional 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 working iPadOS 26 is a radically totally different beast — with the fitting apps and equipment, many individuals ought to be capable of use one as a real laptop computer substitute. Some persons 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? In all probability not, if I am sincere — until my iPad breaks down, or there is a sudden inflow of money. I might most likely get extra worth from an inexpensive 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 transportable gaming choice anymore, not when I’ve a Steam Deck OLED my spouse gave me as a present. I am unable to play Cyberpunk 2077 on an iPad with out resorting to cloud companies like GeForce Now.

Apple appears to be headed in the fitting path, so there’s a probability I am going to give in to temptation. Even then, nonetheless, it may must show that it is price forking out additional for a brand new iPad as an alternative of scanning websites like Amazon and Finest Purchase for offers on yesterday’s information.