Stage Manager is coming to older iPad Pro models after all

It looks like older iPads won’t be left off the stage when Apple releases iPadOS 16 in a few weeks. Apple is extending its marquee Stage Manager multitasking system to any iPad Pro model released in the past four years.  Stage Manager is arguably the most significant change coming in iPadOS 16. but when Apple previewed the new iPad operating system at its June Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC), it quickly became apparent that this feature would be exclusive to Apple’s M1-equipped iPads. 

An iPad using Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.Apple

This wasn’t just a temporary oversight, either.

Apple made it clear that this would be the company’s first significant M1-only feature. In a statement to Rene Ritchie, an Apple spokesperson described Stage Manager as “a fully integrated experience” that “requires large internal memory, incredibly fast storage, and flexible external display I/O, all of which are delivered by iPads with the M1 chip.” Considering that the M1 chip is the same processor that Apple used to launch its first Apple Silicon MacBooks in 2020, it’s understandable that it’s capable of achieving levels of performance that Apple’s older A-series iPad chips can’t match.

Still, with the first M1 iPad Pro models launching only a year earlier, many owners of older iPad Pro models felt left behind. 

Stage Manager coming to more iPads 

In a surprise turn of events, it appears Apple has relented on its M1 exclusivity for Stage Manager, bringing the feature to some prior generations of iPad Pro.  The news comes alongside the latest iPadOS 16 developer beta released earlier today, which adds support for the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models, both of which feature souped-up versions of Apple’s A12 Bionic chip — the same chip used in the 2018 iPhone XS and iPhone XR. 

Apple iPad Pro 2020Andy Boxall/DigitalTrends

Specifically, the 2018 iPad Pro contained an A12X chip, an 8-core version of the A12 with more cache, and a 7-core GPU. The A12Z was virtually identical to the A12X, adding only one additional GPU core for a total of eight.

Hence, the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models come in with nearly identical performance specs, meaning if Apple can bring Stage Manager to the 2020 iPad Pro, there’s no reason to exclude the 2018 model. Older iPad Pro models are still being left behind, as they likely don’t have the chops for Stage Manager. They’ll run iPadOS 16 — all iPad Pro models remain supported, even the original 2015 version — but they won’t get Stage Manager.  Apple acknowledged the change in a statement to Engadget, where a company spokesperson said, “Customers with iPad Pro 3rd and 4th generation have expressed strong interest in being able to experience Stage Manager on their iPads.

In response, our teams have worked hard to find a way to deliver a single-screen version for these systems, with support for up to four live apps on the iPad screen at once.”

External display support

There is a catch: Note the phrase “single-screen version” in Apple’s statement. It adds, “Delivering this multi-display support is only possible with the full power of M1-based iPads.” While the company’s engineers have figured out how to make Stage Manager work acceptably well on its older A12X/A12Z chips, it appears they won’t be able to handle an external display.

That part is still going to be exclusive to M1-equipped iPads.

An iPad and an external display using Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.

However, Apple appears to be having problems even getting that to work properly. Twitter has been rife with complaints from developers and public beta testers who are having serious issues with Stage Manager.

I finally went ahead and *disabled* Stage Manager on my iPad Pro. For now.

As much as I love using 3-4 apps at once, the implementation just isn't there yet. Crashes every few minutes; hard to use multi-window for the same app; UI glitches everywhere. I hope Apple delays this.

— Federico Viticci (@viticci) August 18, 2022

Poring over these threads, the biggest smoking gun behind Stage Manager’s instability appears to be external display support, and it’s clear that Apple has come to the same conclusion. Non-M1 iPads won’t likely ever get external display support, but even M1 iPads aren’t getting it right away. Instead, Apple notes that “external display support for Stage Manager on M1 iPads will be available in a software update later this year.” 

Early impressions: Stage Manager is still fundamentally broken as a design, just slightly less broken than before.

They’ve cut the dead weight (external display was very crashy) and expanded device compatibility, which will slightly lessen the negativity come new-iPad-review-time — Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 27, 2022

Sadly, this doesn’t seem to have resolved all the issues beta testers have been experiencing with Stage Manager. However, it does appear to eliminate one of the biggest problems, which will hopefully allow Apple’s engineers to focus on refining and fixing the core experience without the extra distractions of trying to manage an external display. 

In August, Apple formally announced that iPadOS 16 would not be released alongside its iPhone counterpart, tacitly confirming that it wouldn’t be able to have the latest software update ready in time.

Apple has yet to provide an official release date for iPadOS 16, although sources suggest it will arrive as iPadOS 16.1, likely alongside the release of iOS 16.1 for the iPhone. 

Editors’ Recommendations

Tags:

facetheory listed on couponmatrix.ukglamorous-uk listed on couponmatrix.uksourcebmx listed on couponmatrix.ukspaseekers listed on couponmatrix.ukvrients listed on couponmatrix.uk3retro-football listed on couponmatrix.uk
facetheory listed on couponmatrix.ukAllow the facetheory beauty range to get under your skin with its simple yet highly effective products that don’t cost the earth. Scroll your way to a facetheory discount code from us to cut the cost of skin-perfecting lotions and potions, designed to suit a wide range of needs. Whether you’re looking to hydrate, exfoliate or simply capture a sunkissed glow, facetheory offers clean formulas that actually work for wallet-friendly prices.
glamorous-uk listed on couponmatrix.ukOriginally from the UK but now with outlets all over the world, Glamorous have achieve immense success in little over a decade by producing fashion for fearless females, who aren't afraid to throw away the rulebook. Much of what they offer is inspired by social media and pop culture, and their designers constantly travel the globe looking for new ideas. The Glamorous discount code is your ticket to enter their world, giving you an incredible discount on what will almost certainly be just the first of many items you'll be buying from them.
sourcebmx listed on couponmatrix.ukSourcebmx didn't win a Queen's Award for Enterprise for nothing: As one of a handful of large, genuinely rider-run BMX supplies and advice centres on the web you can shop here in complete confidence that you'll be treated in a way that will encourage you to make repeat visits - and you'll make plenty of savings, too. When you incorporate the Source bmx promo code into your arsenal of tricks you'll quickly start scoring some great shopping wins, with bikes, frames, wheels, accessories and more on offer, all supplied by leading, proven, worldwide brands.
spaseekers listed on couponmatrix.ukAdd a healthy dose of self-care to your to-do list and book a sublime spa break with the health and leisure experts at SpaSeekers. Whether you’re in desperate need of a weekend away with the girls or want to treat that certain special someone to a romantic package for two, a spa seekers discount code will help you pamper yourself to perfection. Escape from the daily grind with a soothing massage or champagne-fuelled jacuzzi session - book yourself into a SpaSeekers experience today!
vrients listed on couponmatrix.ukWelcome to vrients, the one stop shop for all your fashion needs. They believe that fashion should be fun, affordable and accessible to everyone. And to make shopping even more convenient, we’ll have a vrients coupon code to give you knock their low prices down even further. So whether you're looking for a new outfit for a night out or just some everyday basics, vrients is the perfect place to shop. At Groupon, we understand that saving money is important to our customers. That's why we work hard to find the deals and discounts codes, so you can afford the fashion you love. We partner with vrients to bring you phenomenal threads at affordable prices. So whether you're looking for a new dress or a new pair of shoes, be sure to check out Groupon first for the best vrients deals. Looking for a new pair of jeans? Check out vrients' selection of men's and women's jeans. With a variety of styles and sizes available, you're sure to find the perfect fit. And with a vrients discount code handy, you could bulk out your jean drawer on even a shoestring budget. So why wait? Find your perfect pair of jeans and get ready to strut your stuff with vrients.
3retro-football listed on couponmatrix.uk3Retro Football is a leading retailer of vintage and retro football shirts. They offer a wide range of products from all your favourite teams, as well as a selection of hard-to-find items. You can save even more on your next purchase by using a 3Retro Football discount code. Whether you're looking for a shirt from your favourite team or something unique, make sure to check out 3Retro Football and use a discount code to save big! When it comes to 3Retro Football, we have a range of discount codes that you can use to save money on your next purchase. Whether you're looking for a percentage off your order or a free shipping code, we've got you covered. So next time you're looking to buy a modern or retro football shirt, make sure to check out Groupon first and see how much you can save! One of the most popular items at 3Retro Football is the Adidas Originals Liverpool 'Crown Paints' Home Shirt 1987-88. This shirt is a replica of the one worn by the team during their successful 1987-88 season. You can bag a bargain on this item when you use a 3Retro Football promo code. So if you're looking to add an iconic piece of Liverpool history to your collection, make sure to grab this shirt before it's gone!