Craig Federighi on the iPad ⇥ macstories.net

Federico Viticci, MacStories:

It’s a cool, sunny morning at Apple Park as I’m walking my way along the iconic glass ring to meet with Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, for a conversation about the iPad.

[…]

I came into this WWDC thinking – or, at the very least, hoping – that Apple would show a newfound commitment to the iPad and iPadOS, addressing the longstanding concerns of those who have been pushing iPadOS to its limits while keeping true to the essence of the device. It’s a careful balancing act, but having tried iPadOS 26 on my 13” iPad Pro for the past week, it seems clear to me that Apple delivered this year.

An on-the-record interview with an Apple executive is always going to be a guarded affair, and this is no different. Federighi is very clearly trying to sell the achievements of iPadOS 26 without veering into substantial self-criticism.

I understand all of that, yet I think Viticci’s interview is worth every word. It is a beautifully written article, and both parties explore depths of the iPad’s existence I had not considered for a long time. Federighi directly addresses critics who thought Apple is perhaps coasting on the iPad — not me directly, of course, but along similar lines to what I wrote last year about the latest iPad Pro models.

To Apple’s credit, here is what I will say: for the first time in many years, I am seriously considering buying a new iPad. But I know this system too well; I recognize it is perhaps best to wait for iPadOS reviews before I commit. I like the iPad a lot conceptually. I have consistently found it frustrating in practice. Perhaps this is the year that breaks the trend.