iPadOS 26 introduces features that bring iPads closer to Macs, such as a new app windowing system and a swipe-down menu bar. Despite these similarities, Apple has chosen to keep iPads running iPadOS instead of macOS, citing reasons related to touch-screen optimization.

In a recent interview with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi discussed how the new Mac-like features in iPadOS 26 strike a balance between productivity and simplicity. Federighi emphasized that macOS is not designed for touch-screens, hinting at future possibilities of change.

According to Federighi, the goal is to maintain the simplicity of the iPad while offering advanced capabilities to users who wish to explore further. He highlighted that iPads excel as touch devices, a characteristic that would be lost if they were to run macOS. However, he acknowledged the potential for cross-platform learning and adaptation of ideas between the two systems.

For those hoping for a fusion of iPad and Mac functionalities, Apple is said to be working on touch-screen Macs and a 19-inch foldable iPad. These developments suggest that the integration of macOS on touch-screen devices may become a reality in the near future.