iPadOS 26 Window Tiling Test: Stage Manager Still Preferred Choice

The promise of iPadOS 26’s window tiling feature felt revolutionary – finally, Mac-like precision for iPad multitasking. As an iPad Pro power user, I eagerly tested it for two months, ready to crown it the productivity champion. Yet here’s the twist: I’m reactivating Stage Manager. Here’s why Apple’s original multitasking solution remains indispensable even with flashier alternatives available.

Is iPadOS 26’s Window Tiling the Ultimate Productivity Upgrade?

Window tiling in iPadOS 26 delivers granular control, letting users arrange apps in precise grids—a long-requested feature. During testing, I effortlessly snapped Safari beside Notes while keeping Messages in a corner tile. The flexibility shines for focused tasks like research or data comparison.

However, critical limitations emerged:

• App visibility suffers: Backgrounded apps vanish from view, requiring tedious Dock searches or swipe gymnastics to relocate.
• No virtual desktops: Unlike MacOS, you can’t group workflows (e.g., communications vs. creative apps) in separate spaces.
• Cognitive overload: Managing >4 tiled windows becomes chaotic on even the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro display.

Apple’s background app enhancements help—exports and downloads now continue uninterrupted—but the core navigation friction remains. As BGR‘s testing confirms, window tiling excels in bursts but falters for sustained, complex workflows.

Why Stage Manager Dominates Real-World iPad Use

Switching back to Stage Manager revealed its underrated strengths. The ability to create distinct app groups (“stages”) functions like virtual desktops—exactly what I craved. My setup now includes:

• Stage 1: Safari + Notes for research
• Stage 2: Mail + Slack + Messages
• Stage 3: Pixelmator Pro for photo edits

This spatial organization leverages iPadOS 26’s foundational upgrades:

• Redesigned Files app: Column view and folder coloring simplify document access.
• Preview.app: PDF edits and annotations integrate seamlessly across stages.
• Mac-like menus: Consistent File/Edit/View options accelerate workflows.
• Apple Intelligence: Contextual awareness with ChatGPT aids cross-app tasks.

Crucially, Stage Manager’s sidebar provides instant app visibility. No hunting for buried windows. For 13-inch iPad Pro users, this spatial efficiency outweighs pixel-perfect tiling. As AppleInsider notes, Stage Manager’s evolution makes it “the most intuitive bridge between tablet and desktop paradigms.”

Key iPadOS 26 Features That Elevate Both Experiences

While Stage Manager suits my workflow, iPadOS 26’s under-the-hood improvements benefit all users:

1. Persistent background processes: Apps now handle exports/uploads while minimized (Apple Developer Documentation, 2024).
2. Universal menus: Every app features standardized top-bar controls (minimize/maximize/close).
3. Enhanced external display support: Stages extend to monitors without mirroring.
4. Apple Intelligence integration: On-device AI prioritizes relevant notifications across apps.

These updates make iPad multitasking feel fundamentally transformed—whether you tile windows or cluster stages.

iPadOS 26 proves multitasking isn’t about choosing between window tiling or Stage Manager—it’s about leveraging Apple’s ecosystem-wide refinements. While tiling offers surgical precision, Stage Manager delivers holistic organization that aligns with how we actually work. For iPad power users, the combination of spatial grouping, persistent background tasks, and Apple Intelligence creates a productivity leap previous versions couldn’t match. If you abandoned Stage Manager earlier, iPadOS 26 is your cue to revisit it. Your workflow will thank you.

Must Know

Q: What devices support iPadOS 26 window tiling?
A: Window tiling requires M1-chip iPads or later (2021+ models). Stage Manager works on M1 iPads and select A12Z/A12X devices.

Q: Can I use window tiling and Stage Manager simultaneously?
A: No. Toggle between them via Control Center > Stage Manager icon. Each mode offers distinct advantages depending on your task.

Q: Does iPadOS 26 finally support overlapping windows?
A: Yes! Both Stage Manager and window tiling allow overlapping, resizable windows—a first for iPadOS.

Q: How does Apple Intelligence enhance multitasking?
A: It prioritizes notifications based on app context (e.g., highlighting Slack messages while in a Docs stage) and enables cross-app Siri commands (“Add this email to Notes”).

Q: Will window tiling come to older iPads?
A: Unlikely. The feature demands M-series chips’ RAM and GPU capabilities for smooth operation.

Q: Which is better for external displays?
A: Stage Manager. It extends stages to monitors independently, while window tiling mirrors the iPad’s layout.