The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes a ‘damp squib’ as “something that is disappointing because it is not as exciting or effective as expected.” And that’s how I would describe Apple’s unveiling of iPadOS 18 at WWDC 2024.
While the iPad-centric operating system will get many of the slick features of iOS 18, like smart categorization of emails in the Mail app and the ability to schedule messages in iMessage, the exclusive iPadOS 18 features are a big plus .
Yes, the addition of a native Calculator app for iPads maybe got a shout out during the WWDC keynote and a lot of people came out to see it TechTadar TikTokbut the rest of the features didn’t give my colleagues and I the impression that Cupertino’s hip caress slates are being particularly strained.
The Notes app gets the Smart Script feature to quickly smooth out scribbled text, and there’s now live audio transcription, plus some new tweaks that let users rearrange icons and widgets where people want them on the home screen.
That’s not all bad, but considering the iPad Air 2024 and iPad Pro 2024 come with the new Apple M4 chip, I was left with the distinct feeling that Apple’s internal silicon is barely being pushed.
In fact, I’m a little miffed that Apple hasn’t done more. There’s some whining about whether iPads could replace laptops, but at some point it came to a head with the infamous “what is a computer?” advertisement – which still makes me cringe to this day – but refuses to make iPadOS more of a desktop-like experience when connected to the Magic Keyboard.
To me, this felt like a missed opportunity, even though Apple has long resisted bringing iPadOS much closer to macOS.
At the heart of this is the power Apple has put into the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models. While the M4 chip isn’t necessarily a huge step up from the M3 chip, as it prioritizes efficiency and AI workloads over a big boost in raw performance, it’s still a piece of silicon that’s effectively laptop-quality is; in some cases desktop-grade if you consider the iMac 24-inch and Mac mini.
Sure, the range of iPads will have access to the new Apple Intelligence, and will certainly have access to the smarter Siri. But these tools seem generic and good for iPhones rather than something that will really take advantage of the power and flexibility of the new iPads. The addition of a gaming mode and improved audio through compatible AirPods is also nice to have, but again, it’s nothing iOS 18 won’t get; Plus, I feel like these features don’t help turn the iPads into slick gaming machines, despite the chips in their hearts.
All the stuff without any idea
This is frustrating, as my colleague Matt Hanson, editor-in-chief of Core Tech, recently noted when he traded his laptop for an iPad Pro for a few weeks: “the hardware is there, but the software isn’t.” So it seems to me that Apple is really missing a trick here, even though they have often been good at getting the most out of their technology.
And I feel like all this puts the new iPads in a strange place. They may have more power, but it doesn’t seem like that power is being put to good use, and older iPads can still do pretty much everything the newer ones can, due to the lack of demanding software.
Now you could argue that we’re seeing similar things with some of the best Android phones that have powerful chips but never really push those capabilities. But phones still have a different use case than tablets despite being close relatives, meaning it’s not unreasonable to expect more from a tablet.
There is a caveat that I have yet to try out iPadOS 18. But unless Apple has some hidden features yet to be shown and Apple Intelligence really leverages the power of M4, iPadOS 18 has left me underwhelmed and I can’t help that. M4-equipped iPads are so overpowered that in a sleek, rectangular shape they can be a waste of money.