iPadOS 15 release date, supported devices, features and leaks

There are probably only a few days left until iPadOS 15 launches. Apple's WWDC 2021 keynote conference takes place on June 7, and the company will likely launch its new software for the year - here's how to watch WWDC if you're interested.

iPadOS 15 will probably be an altered version of iOS 15, with a few new tablet-specific tools and features, just like how iPadOS 14 was a spin on iOS 14.

This will be the third iteration of iPadOS, after Apple started making bespoke versions of its smartphone software for iPads in 2019. Both iOS and iPadOS updates come with near-identical features, but iPadOS sometimes has a few extra tweaks to cater for the different ways people use tablets, and for extra Apple Pencil upgrades.

2021's version of the iPad software is likely to be called iPadOS 15, and it might be a while until we get to use it. Apple's software typically gets launched towards the end of the year, albeit with betas beforehand.

So what do we know about iPadOS 15 right now? We have heard a few iOS 15 leaks, which you can find in our iOS 15 article, and if true these could come to iPadOS 15 too. Until we hear more, though, we've come up with a brief wish-list of iPadOS 15 features we'd hope to see.

Cut to the chase

What is it? The newest iPad software update
When is it out? Around September, after a June 7 unveiling
How much will it cost? Absolutely nothing

iPadOS 15 release date

Apple iPad Pro 2020 — (Image credit: Future)

It's highly likely we'll see the new iPad software unveiled by Apple at WWDC 2021, which we now know will be held from June 7 to June 11. It's likely that iPadOS 15 will be unveiled on the first day, and this will probably quickly be followed by a developer-only beta. In the months after, a full beta could roll out.

Then, we'll likely see the full version released for all compatible iPads in September or October at Apple's big annual event, where we'll also likely see the iPhone 13 and Apple Watch 7.

iPadOS 15 compatibility

We haven't heard anything on iPadOS 15 availability just yet, but we'd expect the company will either keep the same list as iPadOS 14, or just drop one or two older devices.

If anything was to go, we'd imagine it'd be iPad Air 2, iPad Pro 9.7 (2016) and iPad Mini 4 that get dropped, as they're the oldest slates on the list. We'll post below the iPadOS 14 compatibility list with those models removed, and this is our current guess at the tablets that'll get iPadOS 15.

iPadOS 15 features

Just ahead of WWDC 2021, the leaks and rumors around iPadOS 15 are starting to slowly drip in: apparently the multitasking capabilities of the iPad are due to be upgraded this time around, and there might be changes to how notifications are handled. Another change that's likely is an extension of the home screen widget functionality, so you'll be able to put widgets anywhere you like.

What we want to see

Here are ideas for new features we want to see in iPadOS 15.

1. Improved widgets

Widgets are arguably the biggest disappointment of iPadOS 14 and iOS 14 - fans were excited to hear Apple were borrowing one of the best Android features, but currently iOS and iPadOS widgets don't work well, especially on iPads.

Currently, you can't position iPad widgets to where you want on the slate - you have to leave them in a side-bar on the first menu page, and you can only see a few at once.

On iPhones, you can put them wherever you want on your home pages, but even then few third-party apps support widgets, and this needs to change for widgets to be as useful as they should.

2. Battery optimizations for intensive tasks

While Apple isn't exactly known for devices which last long between charges, iPad battery life can be poor if you're using the slate for a battery-intensive task like video editing, gaming or even just streaming video.

We'd like to see optimizations included in iPadOS 15 software that improve battery life, especially for these intensive tasks. It's hard to recommend an iPad as an on-the-go gadget if it doesn't last very long.

3. Resizeable Control Center

If you swipe down in the top-right corner of your iPad, it'll bring up some useful settings like volume, brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and rotation lock.

However, if you've got a large-screen iPad, you'll find these options are quite small, and hidden away to the corner. It can be a little fiddly pressing the correct button or dragging the volume slider bars to the right place.

We'd like to see the option to re-size the Control Center, so it's easier to press. Perhaps, as with widgets, Apple could open up the possibility of third-party icons too, as well as the admittedly-long list of first-party options you can choose from, to make it even more convenient.