Stage Manager, one of the most fundamental changes to the iPad platform since the introduction of Apple’s tablets more than a decade ago, will now be available for more iPad Pros than just those running Apple’s latest custom M1 chip.
Apple announced the expanded access to Stage Manager in a brief statement obtained from an Apple representative on Tuesday. The company also notes that external display support via the M1 iPad “will be available later this year.”
It’s been nearly five months since Apple unveiled Stage Manager as part of iPadOS 16 at WWDC 2022. Unlike other platforms released on the day, including iOS 16 and watchOS 9, iPadOS 16 is still in beta and will likely wait for the new iPads that may or may not arrive next month.
Stage Manager adds the ability to manage multiple application windows up to eight, in a range of adjustable, if not fully customizable configurations. It takes the multi-window capabilities of the iPad’s early days to the next level and makes it a close cousin to macOS Ventura. It’s a powerful update, if not perfect, but good enough that some people were frustrated that Stage Manager was limited to iPads running Apple’s Silicon M1 chip.
The latest iPadOS 16.1 beta (beta 3) changes that. Until then, Stage Manager only worked on iPad Air (2022), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2021), and iPad Pro 11-inch (2021). Now, it should work on the 2020 iPad Pro running the M1 chip and, more interestingly, the 2018 iPad Pro running the A12Z Bionic CPU.
As mentioned earlier, there will be limitations. Stage Manager on these tablets will be limited to four apps instead of eight.
If you own one of these older iPad Pros and are running the latest iPadOS 16 beta, you can see Stage Manager in action. Remember, you need to enroll in Apple Developer access to download builds to your device. Also, beta versions can be unstable, and you don’t want to install iPadOS 16.1 Beta 3 on any system you rely on to do your actual work.
Apple’s comments on external display support suggest that the ability to connect another display to the M1 iPad and run Stage Manager through it as a full-screen, full-resolution experience may be delayed until later this year. This does not apply to non-M1 iPad Pros as they do not support the external monitor feature.
As for when iPadOS 16 will come out of the background as a full-fledged public operating system like its platform siblings, that’s anyone’s guess.
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