iPadOS 26, Apple's latest update, sets a new standard for tablet operating systems, highlighting the deficiencies in Google's Android tablet design.
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Hey there, buddy! So, ever since the first iPad dropped, Android tablets have been playin' catch-up. The main reason? A lack of optimized apps means they ain't offerin' the same seamless transition to larger displays, impacting even the best foldin' phones. But there's one area where Android tablets have Android over Apple - productivity and multitasking!
Samsung's DeX desktop mode has been a game-changer, raisin' some Android tablets' game to desktop-like levels (albeit with need for more optimized apps). Last week, OnePlus joined the action with the innovative Open Canvas system on the OnePlus Pad 3.
Up until WWDC 2025, Apple was just kickin' it old school with basic multitasking features like SlideOver, despite the hardware of their best iPads packin' the same chipset as the new MacBook Air. Last year's iPad Pro M4 (2024) is seriously powerful and is made for the new iPadOS 26 experience.After just two days, I've already seen how it's revolutionized the iPad. However, I've also noticed three things Google should adapt pronto on all Android tablets, and a broader issue they need to address.
Windows, Apps, and that fancy new Desktop Experience
To be honest, Android tablets and the iPad aren't all that different when it comes to the big screen - both use mobile-first platforms adapted for larger screens. As a result, neither quite replicates the desktop experience offered by the best Windows tablets. But good news! The new windowing system is changin' that, bringin' the iPad closer to the Mac.
Interestingly, Google's also hopped on the bandwagon and announced a new windowing system for Android tablets in Android 16. Built on Samsung DeX, this willy-nilly revamps the Android tablet experience, but guess what? It ain't gonna be available on foldin' phones! Instead, you'll need to plug one of the best Android phones into an external display to activate the same feature.
Each manufacturer gets to choose whether to implement Android 16's desktop mode or an alternative, so expect some differences in multitasking on Android tablets. After tryin' out the current desktop-mode implementations on Android, it's clear that alongside this feature, Google needs to tempt developers to create apps and experiences that smoothly transition from a touchscreen tablet to a desktop mode when docked or paired with a keyboard accessory.
The magic of a menu bar and cursor
I never thought I'd say this, but the new menu bar and cursor are bonafide game-changers! Just two days in, I'm amazed at how quickly it felt familiar, how it makes the iPad feel more desktop-like, and how I naturally default to lookin' at the menu bar for options. The experience makes the iPad way more Mac-like than it does Android tablets.
The menu bar and revamped cursor also make the iPad feel like a small Mac rather than a big iPhone. This is a big deal, 'cause it comes directly in response to complaints and feedback from iPad owners and the media, who've been askin' for better apps and features to take advantage of the increased power in the iPad. The new platform does an impressive job of addressin' this, especially since the new Files and Preview apps are optimized versions of their Mac counterparts, bringin' all the best features to the iPad for the first time.
Apple recently announced iPadOS 26, so we won't see many apps buildin' new experiences for it just yet, but already, every app has a menu bar. It's filled with all the familiar commands from the same apps on Mac, and is instantly familiar, even if you use a Windows PC.
A seamless switch from tablet to desktop
Apple has managed to pull off what every tablet maker has dreamed of: an experience that's seamless, whether you're usin' it with a keyboard or not. It's powerful enough with a keyboard attached to replace your Mac for many tasks, yet it's designed to work just as well with a finger.
I've given the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and the OnePlus Pad 3 a spin, and I dig both tablets for different reasons. The former is one of the best tablets Samsung's ever made, boastin' DeX, the best solution on Android. The latter is an incredibly polished tablet with great specs, offers outstanding value for money, and has the Open Canvas multitasking solution.
Both are brill when used as Android tablets, but neither matches a PC or Mac in desktop mode. After installin' iPadOS 26 on my iPad Pro, I've instantly become more productive, and it's fast become my favorite mini laptop.
An alternative to the Apple Magic Keyboard
Even if Google were to adopt a similar system and approach to iPadOS 26, there's one area that Android tablets usually drop the ball: accessories. In particular, the Magic Keyboard for the iPad.
Available for most of Apple's iPad line, the Magic Keyboard transforms the iPad into a mini laptop by usin' magnets to suspend it above the keyboard and bringin' the display closer to your eyes. It essentially mimics the display and keyboard setup of a computer, makin' it perfect for use on the go.
Havin' used many Android tablets, there's one area they tend to fall short: the keyboard. Most have gone with a Smart Keyboard or Folio case with an integrated keyboard, but these are ineffective when used on a lap, such as in a car or on a train. The Magic Keyboard holds the iPad in place even in these use cases, makin' it the ideal mini computer for cramped spaces.
Tablets have always required some kinda trade-off, especially 'cause they ain't as portable as a phone and usually not quite as capable as a laptop. Microsoft addressed this issue with Windows, and now Apple has sorta fixed it with iPadOS 16. Here's hopin' Google does the same!
- The advancements in technology have fostered opportunities for Android tablets to excel in areas like productivity and multitasking, as demonstrated by Samsung's DeX desktop mode and OnePlus' Open Canvas system on the OnePlus Pad 3.
- As tablets strive to offer a seamless transition between tablet and desktop modes, a crucial element is the creation of apps and experiences that smoothly adapt to larger displays and keyboard accessories, as Apple has done with iPadOS 26.
- To truly compete with desktop systems, Android tablets need to not only enhance their multitasking capabilities but also address the issue of suitable accessories, particularly in terms of providing an alternative to the Apple Magic Keyboard, which offers a more versatile and portable solution for enhancing productivity.
