Shocking but CONFIRMED! iPadOS 16 update not coming, iPad users will get this instead

iPadOS 16 update will see a delayed release this year and won’t launch alongside the iOS 16 update. Know the update rollout plan.

Apple confirms putting the iPadOS 16 on its own release schedule after the iOS 16 release. (Amritanshu / HT Tech)

iPadOS 16 will be getting a delayed release this year! Rumours have had it for long that the iPadOS 16 update may not release alongside the iOS 16 update owing to some roadblocks in its development. Apple has now hinted the same in a media statement, saying that the iPadOS 16 patch could see its own release schedule. No exact date has been confirmed for the same but the inclusive timeline of “Fall 2022” could mean a late October release for the latest OS version for the iPad lineup.

In a statement shared with TechCrunch, Apple says that the iPadOS 16 update now gets to have its own release schedule that would not match with the iOS version. “This is an especially big year for iPadOS. As its own platform with features specifically designed for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule. This Fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS, as version 16.1 in a free software update,” said Apple.

iPadOS 16 update to launch late

Sadly, Apple does not state any reason behind the delay in release of the update. However, rumours have long stated the development roadblocks that the iPadOS team has hit this year. The single feature that is causing this issue is the Stage Manager feature, which is Apple's new way of doing multitasking on the iPad. The Stage Manager feature is apparently facing issues and hence, the iPadOS team will need more time to sort it out.

That said, the Stage Manager feature will be limited to a few iPad models. Apple has stated that Stage Manager, which has been lifted straight from the macOS Ventura, will be available only on the M1 powered iPad models. Additionally, Stage Manager will be available only on iPads with 128GB storage. That makes only the M1 iPad Pro models and the 256GB iPad Air M1 eligible for the update.

On the other hand, Apple has also updated the beta version of iPadOS 16 to iPadOS 16.1, which will now be the first stable release for iPadOS. The iPadOS 16.1 could likely have the stable version of Stage Manager and all the issues fixed as well. We have been trying the iPadOS 16 beta for a while now on our iPad Air M1 and the experience has been so far decent.