Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, recently discussed Apple’s stance on iPads running macOS. 
In an interview on Rafael Zeier’s YouTube channel, he made it clear that while the iPad has received some Mac-like features in iPadOS 26, the company has no plans to merge iPadOS and macOS.
The latest updates to iPadOS 26 bring multitasking improvements, such as flexible app windowing, support for advanced keyboard shortcuts, and a floating menu bar. With keyboard and mouse support already available, these new additions are aimed at boosting productivity for power users. However, Federighi emphasized that the iPad’s simplicity is key to its success and should be preserved.
Apple’s decision to keep iPadOS separate from macOS is likely driven by the desire to maintain the intuitive touch experience that makes the iPad stand out as the best touch-based computer. According to Federighi, the iPad is designed with touch in mind, making it the best computer for touch interactions, while Macs excel with mouse and keyboard input.
Despite the growing similarities between Macs and iPads, thanks to the shared Apple Silicon, Federighi remains firm in his belief that iPads should not run macOS. This position aligns with Apple’s strategy of preserving the unique appeal of each platform. With iPad sales reaching $6.4 billion in Q2 2025, Apple continues to dominate the tablet market, and any move to merge the two systems could risk billions in revenue.