In this video, I tested iPadOS 26 on my iPad Mini 5 (yes, the 2019 one with the Lightning port, chunky bezels, and the circle Touch ID). After installing the huge 4.48GB update and spending weeks using it, I break down what actually changed and how it feels day-to-day—because on paper, this looks like a “last hurrah” update for the last smallest Touch ID iPad. The most obvious change is the Liquid Glass UI, and I’ll be honest: it took me a bit to adjust. I tried the Clear mode first and had mixed feelings, then I ended up liking Tinted mode more, especially when it matches your wallpaper. Performance-wise, I did notice some choppiness and delayed animations here and there, but I reminded myself this is a 3GB RAM, 60Hz iPad—overall it’s still smooth enough that it becomes a nitpick. The real highlight is the new multitasking: windowed apps and Stage Manager. Windowed apps feel better for touch and Apple Pencil, while Stage Manager feels more “Mac-like” with a mouse/trackpad (plus we finally get a real cursor). Add the taskbar, stoplight buttons, app sidebar, and the upgraded Files + Preview app, and it genuinely feels like Apple finally nailed the “real multitasking” people kept asking for. Bonus: on my unit, the idle battery drain issue from iPadOS 18 is gone.