Craig Federighi on Why Apple Refuses to Turn the iPad Into a Mac

With every new iPad Pro release and major iPadOS update, one question keeps popping up: Why can’t the iPad just run macOS? After all, the latest iPads are powered by the same M-series chips used in MacBooks. And with iPadOS 26 now bringing full-blown windowing and desktop-like multitasking, the line between iPad and Mac feels blurrier than ever.

But Apple says: no. Not now, not ever. And they’ve got a very specific reason.

Craig Federighi Explains the “Spork” Philosophy

In a recent interview at MacStories, Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi said Apple doesn’t want to build a spork.

“If a spoon’s great and a fork’s great, let’s combine them, right? But you end up with something that’s not a good spoon or a good fork.”

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To Apple, merging macOS and iPadOS into a single device would make both worse. That’s why iPad will never just turn into a Mac — even if it keeps borrowing ideas from one.

iPadOS 26: A Giant Leap, Still Not macOS

This year, iPadOS 26 brings the biggest changes to iPad multitasking yet:

• A brand-new windowing engine replaces the old Stage Manager system.
• The OS now uses smart-prioritization engine to keep up to 12 apps active, especially on M4 iPads.
• iPad apps now include three buttons at the top left — close, minimize, and maximize — just like on a Mac.
• Menu options are also now available at the top of the screen. 

Despite all this, Apple is careful not to compromise on what makes the iPad special: its simplicity and touch-first interface.

According to Federighi, Apple sees two types of iPad users:

1. People who want a simple, immersive experience — one app, full screen.
2. Power users who want more control—multiple windows, multitasking, keyboard, and Pencil support.

iPadOS 26 is Apple’s way of serving both, without turning the iPad into a Mac.

Why Apple Won’t Let iPad Run macOS

Federighi didn’t dodge the question. He explained that merging the Mac and iPad would compromise the strengths of each.

“The Mac lets the iPad be iPad.”

Apple wants consistency where it makes sense — like shared app frameworks — but every device still needs its own soul. macOS is for precision, flexibility, and legacy software. iPadOS is for touch, Pencil, and ease of use.

Running both OSes on one device might sound like the best of both worlds. But Apple sees that as messy, confusing, and against their design philosophy.

The Real-World Debate

Online, opinions are all over the place.

Some folks cheer Apple’s stance — they’ve seen what happened with the Surface Pro and call it a half-baked compromise. To them, the Mac is for serious work, and the iPad is its own thing — lightweight, simple, and a touch-first operating system.

Others aren’t buying it. They argue that iPadOS, with its app support, is limited by its software, especially with all that power packed into the M4 iPad Pro. Some users are at least asking for the option to switch to macOS when needed. If Macs can run Windows in a virtual machine, why can’t iPads do the same for macOS?

Even within the team at iGeeks Media, opinions are divided.

At the end of the day, Apple is betting that keeping the iPad and Mac separate — while letting them learn from each other — is the right path forward. The iPad can become more powerful, but not at the cost of its identity.

So no, your iPad won’t run macOS. But if you look closely, you’ll realize it doesn’t need to. It’s already carving out its own space — just don’t call it a spork.