Stage Manager is one of iPadOS 16’s coolest & most notable features, allowing users to rearrange apps into overlaying windows for better multitasking. Stage Manager also works with an additional display and allows users to use up to four apps on the iPad and four apps on the external display at the same time.

Stage Manager is only available on iPad devices with an M1 chip, which includes the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air, this may be a disappointment for some users. According to Apple, the Stage Manager experience “requires large internal memory, incredibly fast storage, and flexible external display I/O, all of which are delivered by iPads with the M1 chip,” according to a statement shared by Rene Ritchie on his Twitter account.

Rene Ritchie explained on his Twitter handler:

Stage Manager is a fully integrated experience that provides all-new windowing experience that is incredibly fast and responsive and allow users to run 8 apps simultaneously across iPad and an external display with up to 6K resolution. Delivering this experience with the immediacy users expect from iPad’s touch-first experience requires large internal memory, incredibly fast storage, and flexible external display I/O, all of which are delivered by iPads with the M1 chip.

Rene Ritchie (via his Twitter feed)

The M1 iPad Pro, for example, has up to 16GB of RAM, up from 6GB on the previous-generation iPad Pro. The M1 iPad Pro, according to Apple, features 2x quicker storage than the previous-generation model.

While the Stage Manager feature is only available on iPads with the M1 chip, iPadOS 16 is compatible with all iPad Pro models, as well as the third-generation iPad Air and newer, fifth-generation iPad and newer, and fifth-generation iPad mini and newer. The update is currently available in beta for developers, with a public beta scheduled for July. Good to note that, iPadOS 16 will be available for all users this fall.