The best part of Apple’s keynote yesterday, for me, was the introduction of iPadOS 26. Apple finally opened up the floodgates and gave iPad users everything they wanted. We have an actual multitasking window manager, new menu toolbars, better background tasks, and a revamped files app. All this has transformed how people will view iPads moving forward. But the fantastic thing is that this is not just reserved for the $1300+ iPad Pro; this now works on the $299 entry-level iPad. Apple just made the entry-level iPad the best value in computers. Let me explain.

The entry-level iPad has always been a solid pick for students, casuals, families, kids, and people who just want a working content consumption machine. It was updated in 2024 with some new internal specs to bring it up to modern standards. Below are some of the core specs you should be aware of:

A16 Bionic chip

10.9-inch Liquid Retina display

USB-C port

Front-facing landscape 12MP ultra-wide (great for video calls)

Starts at 128GB of storage

Apple Pencil USB-C support

Magic Keyboard Folio support

Price: $349 MSRP (often under $300 on Amazon)

So it has a decent spec list that would handle things like the new iPadOS 26 update! Regarding previous updates, the entry-level iPad did not get some of the pro-level features like Stage Manager and extended monitor support, but the new iPadOS 26 update will bring the windowing management system, effectively turning this into a MacOS lite iPad!

iPadOS 26 windowing and multitasking

The biggest surprise of WWDC this year was all the new Mac-like features and updates that iPadOS got, and an even bigger surprise is that the iPad (A16) is also getting all of these multitasking features!

For the first time, this iPad supports:

True windowed multitasking – Resize and overlap multiple apps like on a Mac.

New windowing layout – Snap windows side-by-side and move them freely.

Persistent floating apps – Keep tools like Music or Messages open while you work in another app (up to 12 apps can be opened at once in one view)

Drag and drop between windows – Making workflows (especially with a trackpad) dramatically smoother.

All the stage manager and multitasking features were reserved for Pro-level iPads or M-Powered iPads. But this new update has completely changed this for the better and allows better accessibility for iPad users to get this experience without spending $1500+.

Be sure to check out our hands-on video with iPadOS 26 below:

Building a powerhouse iPad setup for under $450

So now, if you go all out on the entry-level iPad and purchase everything from Apple, it would be $350 for the iPad, $250 for the keyboard, and $80 for the USB-C Apple pencil, making it almost $700 for an entry-level iPad. That seems a bit steep. But now, if you go through amazon and get some 3rd party accessories then you can go far cheaper.

iPad 11th gen (A16) is $299 on Amazon right now

Logitech Combo Touch is $104 This gives you the best trackpad experience because it still uses the iPad pin connectors. You can use a Bluetooth trackpad keyboard, but the experience could vary.

EIP Pencil 2 is under $30 gives you 98% of the Apple Pencil experience

So, all in, you are spending $434 (before tax) for the most versatile computer on the market. It can be a tablet, a consumption machine, an e-book, a note-taking device, and now even a full-fledged computer replacement. This is the most impressive thing that the new iPadOS 26 update has done, making this experience much more financially accessible.

Final thoughts

If you are like me, you might have dismissed the entry-level iPad as a “just for kids” type of product, but it’s time to re-evaluate where this iPad stands. With iPadOS 26, Apple gave it real functionality, and it instantly became the best bang-for-your-buck device in the iPad lineup. One final thing to note is that it is still lacking Apple intelligence features, but (for now), you won’t be missing much, and that should not sway you.

Let me know what you think. Has iPadOS 26 made you reconsider the entry-level iPad? Do you own one and are excited to update? Have you installed the betas? Let’s discuss!