Why Apple Won't Merge iPad and Mac: Federighi’s Vision for Distinct User Experiences
In a recent deep-dive interview with MacStories' Federico Viticci, Apple’s software engineering head Craig Federighi shared why Apple won't merge iPad and Mac platforms, even as multitasking and hardware power increasingly overlap. This decision answers a common user question: why doesn't the iPad just run macOS? According to Federighi, the answer is rooted in Apple's product philosophy—prioritizing focused, tailored experiences over one-size-fits-all solutions. As the iPad becomes more powerful with iPadOS 26, users are seeing more flexibility, but Apple insists on preserving what makes each platform unique.
The Evolution of Multitasking on iPadOS
When asked about iPadOS’s evolving multitasking capabilities, Federighi emphasized that it’s been a long-term design challenge. He acknowledged that the journey to defining a unique multitasking model for iPad has taken years of experimentation. Initial features like Slide Over and Split View were Apple’s early attempts at simplifying app management without overwhelming users. The core mission, according to Federighi, has always been maintaining the iPad’s touch-first simplicity.
The introduction of Stage Manager in 2022 was a turning point. It signaled that Apple recognized the growing demand for desktop-like features without compromising the tablet experience. Developers had matured alongside the platform, and Apple felt confident offering more complex multitasking options. Still, Federighi made it clear: the iPad’s identity must stay distinct from that of the Mac. Allowing too much crossover too quickly could risk complicating the iPad’s intuitive design.
Why iPadOS and macOS Are Designed to Stay Separate
One of the most insightful parts of the interview was Federighi’s analogy comparing a merged iPad-Mac platform to a “spork”—a tool that tries to be two things at once but excels at neither. “If a spoon’s great, and a fork’s great, then let’s combine them, right? It turns out it’s not a good spoon and it’s not a good fork,” Federighi said. This is why Apple won't merge iPad and Mac; doing so would water down what each platform does best.
The decision is about more than just software—it’s about shaping how developers and users interact with the devices. For instance, if iPad had started out with macOS-like menu bars, developers might have followed a more complex, Mac-inspired UI model. Instead, Apple’s early design choices encouraged developers to keep their apps simple, elegant, and touch-friendly. That simplicity has shaped the entire iPad app ecosystem into something fundamentally different from macOS.
The Future of iPadOS: Inspired, Not Merged
As iPadOS 26 rolls out, Apple is acknowledging the diversity of its user base. Some users want the immersive, app-centric simplicity of a tablet, while others desire more control, multitasking, and customization. Federighi says the platform is evolving to serve both audiences without sacrificing identity. Apple is walking a fine line between inspiration and imitation: it may borrow ideas from the Mac, but it won’t collapse the platforms into one.
Instead, Apple’s goal is to explore what the iPad can become on its own terms. Federighi described this as discovering what windowing should feel like on a touch-first device—without defaulting to what’s familiar. This approach respects the essence of iPad, ensuring it remains distinct and optimized for hands-on use. And for Apple, that’s the winning formula: not a spork, but two carefully crafted tools, each doing what it does best.
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