Is the new iPadOS any good?

The new iPadOS 18 brings several enhancements that could significantly improve the user experience. Here are some of the key updates:

1. Apple Pencil Pro Integration: iPadOS 18 introduces new features for Apple Pencil Pro, including a squeeze gesture for quick tool switching and an undo slider. This makes drawing and writing more intuitive and expressive. The updates also include support for barrel roll angle recognition, enhancing the precision of drawing tools (What’s new in UIKit).

2. Document Launch Experience: There is a redesigned launch experience for document-based apps, allowing for a more personalized and streamlined user interface. This includes full control over launch views and support for template document creation, which can help users get started more easily (What’s new in UIKit).

3. Tab Bars and Sidebars: iPadOS 18 features visual updates to tab bars, making them more compact and reducing empty space. This brings app content to the forefront and allows for a combined tab and sidebar experience, which can be customized by users (What’s new in UIKit).

4. Multi-App Mode: iPadOS 17.6 introduced multi-app mode, which continues in iPadOS 18. This allows for secondary apps like notepads, spreadsheets, and coding apps to be used simultaneously, enhancing productivity (What’s new in device management).

5. Gaming Enhancements: With the integration of Apple silicon and Metal, iPadOS 18 supports console-class gaming experiences, making it a powerful platform for gaming (Platforms State of the Union).

Overall, iPadOS 18 seems to offer significant improvements in terms of productivity, customization, and user experience, making it a compelling update for iPad users.