At this time of the year at St. X, there is a lot going on. Basketball playoffs are beginning, spring sports are starting up, and spring break/prom are on the horizon. However, there is one weird thing that has been stirring up some buzz: the newest iPad update. It’s safe to say that the buzz surrounding this update is overwhelmingly negative.

The biggest change that everyone seems to hate about the newest update is the change with the ability to split screen. In the past, split screening was very easy to do. You would simply drag the app you wanted to split screen onto the side of the current app you were operating, and boom, everything was set up just the way you like it.

Now, split screening has become worlds more difficult. The process now includes clicking the stage manager button anytime you want to access the ability to split screen. Once you activate the stage manager, it is extremely hard to get your apps in order. They end up being on top of each other, disproportionate, and switching between apps becomes extremely confusing. This process is similar to the way the MacBook handles the same process.

“I want my iPad to operate like an iPad, not a MacBook,” said senior Ben Pinkston regarding the new update.

Another big change with the new update is the change in the battery life. Many have noticed it has been significantly shorter after the update. When I used to leave school and come home, my battery would hover around 50 percent. Now, I come home and have to immediately plug it in. Some would argue that the new features are a trade-off for the shortened battery life, but the overwhelming consensus is that the changes are hardly noticeable.

Apple is one of the most popular and successful companies of all time. Many wonder how they are coming out with updates in 2026 that have such negative feedback. I think Apple is trying to change things when they do not need to. They have already found so much success, and like the famous saying says, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.