iPadOS 16.1 could be released very soon, along with new iPad Pro tablets with M2 and iPad 10

By 2022, all versions of iPadOS were released simultaneously with iOS. That’s because until two years ago, iPadOS didn’t even exist, it was just the tablet version of iOS, and the two operating systems had a lot in common. Now, however, Apple seems to be tying iPadOS more closely to macOS, with the new macOS Ventura to be released with iPadOS 16.1, the first public release for tablets. It looks like the release date is very close, according to Mark Gurman.

iPadOS 16.1 will bring the Stage Manager interface with windows to Apple tablets

Gurman, Bloomberg editor, and trusted source when it comes to Apple information, posted on his Twitter account that he expects to see the release of iPadOS 16.1 on October 24. That’s because the last week of the month, Apple will have its quarterly financial report conference with investors, and October releases almost always happen around that time.

iPad OS 16.1 is expected to have the biggest interface change yet, at least on the higher-end tablets. Stage Manager will finally bring a more desktop-like interface, which macOS Ventura will also get on PCs and laptops. For starters, however, iPadOS will only allow windows to be displayed on the tablet screen, with support for external screens to be brought to the iPad in a future update. Users of the 2018 and 2020 iPads are also getting access to the feature, even though the feature was initially limited to models with the M1.

iPadOS 16.1 is on track to be released the week of Oct. 24th – barring any new bugs or issues. Apple has historically held launches the week of its earnings calls in October.

– Mark Gurman (@markgurman) October 10, 2022

But iPadOS 16.1 and a new macOS aren’t the only news Apple might announce. Also expected around the same time are iPad Pro tablets with M2 processors, an updated iPad 10 design similar to the Air and Pro, and new MacBook Pro laptops with M2 Pro and M2 Max processors that are more powerful than the M2 on the Pro 13″ and Air.

However, it looks like all of this will be announced in a simple press release, as Apple won’t be holding an event for the new devices and operating systems.