Since iOS 9, iPads have had a basic multitasking system where users can split the screen between two apps. However, with iPadOS 16, Apple has finally allowed some models of iPads to run apps in windows with Stage Manager. The main requirement for Stage Manager was RAM, and now that the iPad mini 7 has more RAM, I think Apple should bring Stage Manager to it somehow.
Current Stage Manager requirements
When Stage Manager was first announced with iPadOS 16 beta, it was only compatible with M1 iPads. According to Apple, this was because only these iPads had 8GB of RAM at the time. With iPadOS 16.1, the company expanded Stage Manager to older iPad Pro’s with the A12X and A12Z chips – both with 6GB of RAM. On these models, Stage Manager works only on the device without support for external displays.
Despite Apple’s many attempts to explain the Stage Manager requirements, none of them seemed very plausible. At the time, I even posted a concept showing what Stage Manager would look like on the iPad mini. I agree that having multiple windows open on an iPad mini may not seem ideal for most people, but there’s something else Apple could do.
iPad mini 7 should feature Stage Manager
The new iPad mini 7 is powered by the A17 Pro chip, which has 8GB of RAM – more than enough to run multiple apps at the same time. In addition, the A17 Pro chip has slightly lower performance than the M1 chip, but it’s much faster than the A12Z chip, which is capable of running a limited version of Stage Manager.
So here I am arguing that Apple should at least enable Stage Manager on the iPad mini 7 when it’s connected to an external display with a keyboard and mouse. Just imagine how cool it would be to have a device as portable as an iPad mini, but which could be used as a desktop when plugged into a monitor.
In a dream world, the iPad could even be used as a virtual keyboard and trackpad for Stage Manager (Samsung offers a similar feature with its phones).
Apple didn’t mention Stage Manager in the iPad mini 7 press release, so I’m pretty sure it won’t be available for now, but who knows next year with iPadOS 19. iPad mini 7 not only has the necessary RAM, but also comes with a faster USB-C port with speeds of up to 10 Gbps. It’s the same port as the latest iPad Airs, which are capable of outputting 4K 60Hz video.
What about you? Would you find it useful to have Stage Manager on the iPad mini? Let me know in the comments section below.
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