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iPad Q&A
Update Published November 15, 2021
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Which iPad models support iPadOS 14? Do some models "partially" support iPadOS 14? Which ones?
Apple first demonstrated iPadOS 14 on June 22, 2020 and was available for Apple Developers the same day. The operating system first was offered as a "public beta" on July 9, 2020 and it shipped in its "final" version to consumers on September 16, 2020.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPadOS 14 on iPad Pro)
Apple specifies general iPadOS 14 compatibility in its official press release, and some specific details in fine print in technical documentation, but additional information can be useful, too.
New iPadOS 14 Features
In contrast to Apple's rather boastful promotion for iOS 14 -- the operating system "reimagines the iPhone experience" -- for iPadOS 14, the company is much more modest.
In the corporate press release for iPadOS 14, Apple merely promises that "iPadOS 14 introduces new features designed specifically for iPad" and explains that:
iPadOS 14 introduces an all-new compact design for incoming FaceTime and phone calls, Siri interactions, and Search to help users stay focused on the task at hand. Apps have new sidebars and toolbars that consolidate controls in one place, making them more streamlined and powerful than ever. New Apple Pencil features, including Scribble for iPad, deliver a whole new way to work with handwritten notes, and ARKit 4 delivers a brand new Depth API that allows developers to create even more powerful features in their apps.
Although further improvements could be made -- it often still feels that the iPadOS interface is not really designed for such a large display and there is a great deal of "wasted" space in many respects -- these interface tweaks are welcomed and definitely are notable.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPadOS 14 Features)
Significant new features provided by iPadOS 14 include:
- Design Improvements: FaceTime calls and Siri no longer take over the entire display and instead appear as banners for straightforward interaction or dismissal and streamlined sidebars across many apps for quicker navigation are helpful.
- Search Improvements: Search uses a compact design and now can be launched from anywhere, including the home screen.
- Scribble to iPad: A bit of a throwback to the Newton days, it now is possible to write in English and Mandarin Chinese with the Apple Pencil and iPadOS 14 automatically will convert it to typed text. Slick!
- Improved Messages: Largely borrowing features from other messaging apps, it is now easier to manage group conversations and more. Curiously, iPadOS 14 seems to lack the iOS 14 option to search emoji using text, but perhaps this will be amended before the final release.
- Improved Maps: Cycling directions and other travel-related improvements.
- Enhanced Privacy: Provides more control and transparency for app access to tracking as well as the microphone and camera.
iPadOS 14 shares many of the same improvements as iOS 14 for the iPhone and iPod touch, but it is odd particularly that the App Library feature -- which provides a straightforward way to access all apps, not unlike a more more orderly version of Android's "drawer" -- is omitted. Presumably, App Library will be added to the iPadOS at some point.
Many of the additions provided by iPadOS 14 are minor, but enhanced privacy always is worthwhile as are improvements to the interface and organization. Some other minor improvement may be particularly worthwhile to you, as well. Everyi.com is thrilled that Shortcuts finally support copy and paste, for example.
iPadOS 14 supports the exact same iPad devices as its predecessor, iPadOS (13).
A full list of supported iPad devices follows. However, just because an iPad supports iPadOS 14 does not mean that it supports all features. To the contrary, there are five feature differences documented further below.
Identification Help (Skip)
If you are not certain which iPad you have, all models can be identified externally by Model Number precisely enough to determine whether or not it is supported by iPadOS 14.
These specific iPad devices support iPadOS 14:
iPadOS 14 Compatible Devices |
Model No |
If your iPad isn't listed above -- and it wasn't introduced after iPadOS 15 was introduced on September 20, 2021 -- it isn't compatible with iPadOS 14.
Although it is not nearly as straightforward, you also could use the Order Number for identification, which is specified as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About.
For example, in the United States, this "Model" within the iOS is MXEY2LL/A, which specifically refers to an iPad Pro 11" (Wi-Fi/Cell US/Global - 2nd Gen) in Space Gray with 512 GB of storage.
Everyi.com's Ultimate iLookup feature can identify these devices by order numbers from around the world and by device Serial Numbers, too.
All of the above iPad devices run iPadOS 14, but in fine print, Apple notes that only the newest, LiDAR-equipped, iPad Pro 11" (2nd Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen) models support the ARKit Depth API for potentially more realistic augmented reality (AR) experiences.
Support for other features varies on different models, as well:
| Location Anchors* | Video Textures† | Spatial Audio‡ | On-Device Dictation♦ | |
| iPad (5th Gen) | No | Yes | No | No |
| iPad (6th Gen) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad (7th Gen) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad (8th Gen) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPad mini (4th Gen) | No | No | No | No |
| iPad mini (5th Gen) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad Air 2 | No | No | No | No |
| iPad Air 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad Air 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9" | No | Yes | No | No |
| iPad Pro 9.7" | No | Yes | No | No |
| iPad Pro 10.5" | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9" (2nd Gen) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| iPad Pro 11" | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad Pro 11" (2nd Gen) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
* Location Anchors: This ARKit feature provides "AR experiences" at specific geographic coordinates. Supported devices also must be a configuration equipped with cellular data capability. Wi-Fi only models from the supported lines are not compatible.
† Video Textures: Makes it possible to add video textures "to any part of a scene or virtual object" in RealityKit.
‡ Spatial Audio: Directional audio filters via AirPods Pro.
♦ On-Device Dictation: Personalized keyboard dictation stays on the device itself for improved privacy.
iPadOS 14 Summary
Ultimately, unlike iPadOS (13) before it, which likely was the most substantial upgrade to the iOS that Apple ever shipped, iPadOS 14 is a more modest upgrade, but offers a number of worthwhile improvements.
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