iPadOS 16.1, due to be released in October, includes a new feature called Stage Manager that allows multitasking. Apple originally stated that Stage Manager would only work on M1-based iPads. However, a report from EngadgetApple has added older iPad Pros with A12X or A12Z chips to Stage Manager support in the iPadOS 16.1 beta released Tuesday.
These older iPad Pros won’t work with Stage Manager external displays. Apple has actually removed Stage Manager external display support on M1 iPads. The company however claims that it will be restored with a software update.
Apple made the following statement to Engadget:
Stage Manager was created to allow multitasking with overlapping and resizable windows. This is on both the iPad screen as well an external display. With the ability to run up eight live apps at once, it’s a completely new way to multitask. This multi-display support can only be achieved with M1-based iPads. Customers who have iPad Pro 3rd or 4th generation iPads expressed strong interest to be able Stage Manager on their iPads. Our teams worked hard to create a single-screen version of Stage Manager for iPad Pro 3rd and 4th generation. This would allow for support for up to four apps simultaneously on the iPad screen.
In a later version of this year’s software update, Stage Manager will have external display support on M1 iPads.
Apple introduced the A12Z iPad Pro 2020 and A12X iPad Pro 2018 in 2018.
Apple has delayed iPadOS 16’s release to October as it works on the update. iPadOS 16.1 will include Stage Manager and several new features such as a Weather app, iMessage editing and a Home app. You can sign up to the iOS 16.1 beta program on your tablet. iPadOS 16 public beta.
