iOS vs iPadOS vs MacOS – Will They Ever Merge?

he latest iterations of macOS, iPadOS, and iOS exhibit greater similarities than before, but to what extent are macOS and iOS alike, and is there a possibility of them merging in the future?

Apple Inc.’s recent announcements have shed light on what users can anticipate in the upcoming updates for their three major operating systems: macOS Big Sur, iPadOS 14, and iOS 14. While these platforms cater to Macs, iPads, and iPhones respectively, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that they are converging in terms of both features and design. This convergence might become even more pronounced with Apple’s transition to its own processors for Macs, commencing this year, facilitating app adaptation across all three device categories.

So, just how distinct are macOS, iPadOS, and iOS? We will delve into what sets them apart and the commonalities they share.

iOS vs iPadOS vs MacOS – What Is Similar?

There is a greater degree of similarity among different operating systems than one might initially realize, even though they may run on distinct hardware platforms.

App Icons

macOS Big Sur introduces several new features that enhance its visual and functional alignment with the iOS experience, marking a notable departure from previous iterations. However, perhaps the most conspicuous transformation lies in the comprehensive redesign of macOS icons. In a departure from the hodgepodge of square, circular, and assorted designs currently in use, Mac icons will now adopt a consistent shape and size, akin to their counterparts iPhone and iPad app styles.

Looking at the icons within the Big Sur Dock reveal a striking similarity to those found in iOS and iPadOS. Moreover, the Dock itself has undergone substantial changes, resembling the Dock in iPadOS more closely than ever. This resemblance extends to elements such as spacing and the adoption of square icons with rounded corners, creating a sense of familiarity within the macOS environment.

Siri

Siri debuted in 2011 exclusively on the iPhone but expanded its presence to the iPad in 2012, followed by integration into the Mac ecosystem in 2016. From providing answers to inquiries to facilitating app launches, Siri has become an integral component deeply ingrained in the macOS, iPadOS, and iOS platforms.

One noteworthy enhancement to Siri’s functionality on iOS and iPadOS is its non-intrusive behavior, as it no longer seizes control of the entire screen, a characteristic it has consistently maintained on the Mac platform.

Apple Apps

Apple excels in ensuring the accessibility of its applications across its entire product line, obviating the need for users to seek alternatives whether they are on a mobile device or desktop. Applications such as iMessages, Apple Maps, Mail, Calendar, Safari, Reminders, App Store and others seamlessly collaborate through iCloud. Moreover, these applications are progressively evolving to exhibit a uniform look and feel, owing to refinements not only in Big Sur but also in iPadOS and iOS. This convergence in user experience may soon lead users to forget which device they are currently using, as the experience will remain consistent across all of them.

One of the paramount advantages of being immersed in the Apple ecosystem lies in the seamless synchronization of app-related data across all your devices, facilitated by iCloud. For instance, enabling iCloud Photo Library ensures that all your photos become readily accessible across your entire array of devices. Similarly, utilizing Pages for word processing guarantees that all your documents are available across all your devices.

Over the years, these applications have progressively grown more alike. Apple’s introduction of Mac Catalyst in macOS Catalina has significantly streamlined the process for developers to adapt their iPad applications for compatibility with the Mac platform. Furthermore, Apple itself has harnessed Catalyst to bring iOS versions of apps to the Mac, exemplified by the inclusion of the TV app and, in Big Sur, the iOS version of Messages.

Control Centre

Just as we’ve grown used to swiping our way to the Control Centre on our mobile screens in iOS and iPadOS, granting us quick access to settings such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, brightness, volume, and more, the world of Mac is about to join the convenience party with the arrival of Control Centre for Mac in Big Sur.

Simply head on to the fresh icon gracing the upper-right corner of the Menu bar, and voila! A dropdown sheet emerges, presenting a host of those familiar options cherished by iPad and iPhone aficionados.

Notification Centre

Another notable change introduced in Big Sur is the comprehensive redesign of the Notification Center. Upon this update’s arrival, Mac users will experience the introduction of grouped notifications for each app, interactive elements that provide more detailed information without the need to launch an app, and the addition of Widgets, which offer convenient at-a-glance information.

Widgets have emerged as a prominent feature in iOS 14, marking a significant shift as they can now be placed directly on the Home screen of iPhones for quick access. iPads also incorporate a dedicated Widget section that can be accessed either on the Home screen or discreetly hidden, allowing users to summon them with a single swipe whenever needed.

Memoji

Previously, the creation of a Memoji for use in Messages necessitated an iPhone or iPad. However, with the advent of Big Sur, you’ll now have the capability to fashion your own customized avatar right on your Mac.

It’s worth noting that the creation of Animojis still mandates the use of an iPhone X or later, an iPad Pro 11-inch or later, or an iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation).

Search

In iOS and iPadOS, when conducting searches, the traditional behavior has been to obscure the current screen, rendering it impossible to reference any content displayed there.

However, a significant alteration is being introduced in iPadOS 14 to align with the Spotlight-style search bar utilized in macOS. This updated search interface not only maintains visibility of the current screen but also offers universal search functionality, capable of locating any files on your device that correspond to the search terms you input.

Phone, Messages, and FaceTime

Regarding the distinction between an iPhone and a Mac, if you believed that the primary disparity lay in the ability to make calls and send text messages exclusively on a phone, it’s time for a reconsideration.

For a while now, it has been feasible to send and receive text messages through your Mac using the Messages app. Furthermore, FaceTime is readily accessible on the Mac, allowing for the utilization of the larger screen for video calls. However, what may not be commonly known is the capacity to initiate voice calls directly from your Mac as well.

Default Apps

One enduring advantage that macOS has maintained over its younger counterparts is the level of control afforded to users in selecting default applications. If you wish for Firefox to be the default browser for opening web links, it’s a straightforward task to configure. However, attempting the same customization on iOS or iPadOS reveals that Safari is firmly entrenched as the system’s default browser, leaving users with limited choices.

Change, albeit incremental, is on the horizon with the introduction of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. These updates will grant users the ability to designate their preferred applications as defaults for email and web browsing. While it may not represent the dramatic shift that many have long advocated for within the Apple ecosystem, it does mark a promising step in that direction.

macOS vs iOS vs iPadOS – What Is Different?

Now that we’ve explored their shared attributes, let’s uncover the unique threads that weave through each of Apple’s distinct operating systems.

File Systems

iOS and iPadOS have made significant strides in their design evolution. However, when it comes to handling files, they still exhibit substantial limitations compared to macOS. The process of transferring files between different applications for use in various projects can be inconsistent and unpredictable on mobile devices. While it may work smoothly in certain scenarios, frustrations often arise when dealing with specific combinations of file types and applications.

The introduction of mouse and trackpad support in iPadOS has certainly improved the situation to some extent. Nevertheless, macOS maintains a distinct advantage in terms of reliability and flexibility in file management, placing it significantly ahead in this regard.

Touchscreens

While the iPad lineup has ventured into the realm of trackpad and mouse support, bridging the gap with Mac in several aspects, there remains one territory where change is notably absent: touchscreens for Mac. Apple maintains a steadfast stance that its laptop and desktop offerings do not necessitate touchscreen capabilities for user interaction. This stance inevitably influences the optimization of software interfaces.

When utilizing an iPhone or iPad, the instinctive approach involves interacting with on-screen elements by directly manipulating them with your fingers. However, on a Mac, this approach differs significantly. Apple has made commendable strides in integrating multi-touch gestures on trackpads, mitigating the need to reach out and physically tap the screen. Yet, the experience remains markedly distinct, even if you opt to connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to your iPad.

It’s worth contemplating that the current generation of children growing up in a touchscreen-centric world may come to expect similar touchscreen functionality from the various devices in their environment.

App Complexity

Indeed, iOS and iPadOS boast an array of remarkably impressive applications, with the latter’s more generous display real estate facilitating the provision of more intricate functionalities. However, it is evident that a substantial amount of time will transpire before applications of the caliber of Final Cut Pro X or Logic Pro X can be deemed fully operational, even on a high-end iPad Pro.

This limitation stems partly from hardware constraints, as these applications require levels of RAM that currently exceed the capabilities of mobile devices. Additionally, there exists a software dimension pertaining to the integration and management of MIDI keyboards, pre-amps, and other related accessories, which poses further challenges in achieving full functionality on these platforms.

Will Apple Inc. Ever Combine macOS, iPadOS & iOS?

The transition to Apple’s proprietary processors across its entire product spectrum has ushered in the potential for a deeper integration of software between desktop-class and mobile devices. Apple’s recent demonstration of its ARM-chip-powered Mac Pro running iOS games natively exemplifies this convergence. Additionally, the Mac Catalyst technology, as mentioned earlier, enables developers to swiftly adapt iOS and iPadOS applications for macOS, albeit with interface and layout modifications tailored to the keyboard and trackpad-centric environment.

The question of whether we will witness complete convergence remains challenging to definitively answer at this stage. Considering that Apple has introduced the Apple pencil that is compatible with not only the iPad mini, iPad Air but also iPad Pro models, some features may be absent in the Macbook Air and Macbook Pro, for instance because we cannot use the Apple pencil with the Macbook. The same case is with the Apple Magic Keyboard – it will not work with your iPhone or Macbook. The name itself of the software update is different for every device. The Macbook has MacOS Sonoma and MacOS Ventura while the iPhones and iPads have a different name. Although it currently appears to be a distant goal, it is fair to acknowledge that Apple’s products have never been more harmoniously aligned.

Honestly, one commendable aspect to consider is that you can link one Apple ID to many devices. So, if you have an iPhone X, you can use the same Apple ID on any Apple Watch series and you can then access your iMessages, Apple Music, literally everything, from both your devices.

If you find yourself pondering which device suits your needs best, we recommend consulting our comprehensive iPad vs. MacBook comparison article, which provides an in-depth analysis of the two prominent platforms. Nevertheless, for the time being, it may be prudent to consider the benefits of having all three devices at your desk.