Apple announces iPadOS 18

Apple offered a preview of iPadOS 18 during its WWDC 2024 keynote, providing a brief glimpse of the latest version of its tablet software.

The software update finally adds a built-in calculator to Apple’s tablets. This means iPad users will no longer need to download third-party apps, which are often chock-full of ads and rarely optimized for the iPad’s larger form factor, just to perform simple math calculations.

The new calculator also works along with Apple Pencil, so you can solve math problems after writing them out with the stylus. At the same time, Apple’s also introduced Smart Script, which improves the appearance of writing as you write using machine learning. It’s also capable of recreating your own handwriting style, can spell check you, and transform typed text into your own style.

The forthcoming software update will also introduce a few new iOS 18 features, including new ways to personalize your home screen and a customized control center. It also adds a floating tab you can customize that makes it easier to navigate apps.

The news comes a month after Apple updated its iPad lineup with several new tablets, including an M4-powered iPad Pro and an M2-powered iPad Air. For the first time, the high-end Pro models sport OLED displays while the iPad Air comes in two sizes: 11 and 13 inches.