Will Your iPad Get The iPadOS 26 Update?

Posted by Prakhar Khanna, Contributor | 5 hours ago | /consumer-tech, /innovation, Consumer Tech, Innovation, standard | Views: 8

At WWDC 2025, Apple finally announced a bunch of features that iPad power users have been waiting for. The new iPadOS 26 brings a bold Liquid Glass design like iOS 26, an upgraded multitasking experience, upgraded features powered by Apple Intelligence, an enhanced file system, and more.

While Apple aims to maintain compatibility with new versions of iPadOS for as long as possible, some iPads are dropped from support every year. The new iPadOS 26 update follows a similar approach.

ForbesApple WWDC: Will Your iPhone Get The New iOS 26 Update?By Prakhar Khanna

Apple’s latest iPad update will be rolled out to the 8th-generation iPad and later. But the different iPad lineups can be confusing, so here’s the complete list of models that will be compatible with iPadOS 26.

Will Your iPad Get the iPadOS 26 Update?

Apple states that new software features will be available this fall as a free update for the following iPads:

iPad Pro:

iPad Pro (M4)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)

iPad Air:

iPad Air (M2 and later)
iPad Air (3rd generation and later)

iPad:

iPad (A16)
iPad (8th generation and later)

iPad mini:

iPad mini (A17 Pro)
iPad mini (5th generation and later)

Will Your iPad Get Apple Intelligence Features with iPadOS 26?

Not all of the above iPads will support the new Apple Intelligence features. These AI features are limited to the following models:

iPad mini (A17 Pro)
iPads powered by the Apple M1 chip or later

ForbesiPhone 17 Air Leak Shows Ultra-Thin Design In Alleged Hands-On ImagesBy Prakhar Khanna

If you’re unsure about the exact generation or model of your iPad, go to Settings > General > About to find more information about your device. It should display the model name and generation.

When Will Your iPad Get the iPadOS 26 Update?

Apple announced the latest iPadOS update on Monday at WWDC 2025, but it won’t roll out to the public until later this year. The iPadOS 26 developer beta is already live, while the public beta will be released in July.

However, I don’t recommend installing the developer beta on your primary iPad. It could corrupt the OS and cause major data loss. If you’re still set on installing the iPadOS 26 developer beta, make sure to back up your essential data first.

Forbes