iPadOS 26 is the first iPad update in years that makes the device feel meaningfully closer to a real primary computer, even if it still isn't consistent enough to fully replace a Mac. Apple has continually enhanced the iPad's hardware, yet the software remains tethered to an iPhone-like design. The design has always imposed strict sandboxing, limits background activity, and restricted multitasking capabilities. Those choices prioritize security and efficiency but prevent apps from behaving like they do on a Mac, which has long limited the iPad in more complex work. With iPadOS 26, Apple addresses some of those limits, as well as giving it a facelift with its new Liquid Glass design. As part of that new design, the update introduces a new windowing system and a refreshed interface that push the iPad closer to desktop-style workflows without turning it into macOS. I used my iPad Pro as my primary computer before iPadOS 26, even with a MacBook Air nearby.…