How it works
Created by Apple, iPads are often described as bigger versions of the iPhone as they have similar interfaces and features allowing users to do things like take photographs, send messages or play games. However, there are some key differences in size and specifications.
Through iPadOS, users can also access the App Store, which gives them access to millions of apps – from Roblox to Snapchat. Artificial intelligence technology in recent iPad models helps users do things like write emails or make videos. It aims to improve how well the built-in digital assistant Siri understands spoken and written questions and commands, and provide more personalised and relevant responses.
Parental controls or safety settings available
iPadOS has parental controls to block apps and restrict location sharing. Accessed via Screen Time, these settings allow parents to:
• Manage gaming settings
• Limit who their child can contact
• Disable some AI functionality such as getting the answers to maths questions
Parents can limit age-inappropriate apps, films, games and TV programmes. They can also decide to share the age band of their child with the apps they use, so those apps can adjust what the child sees and does on the app.
Family Sharing can be used to share Apple subscriptions like Apple Music, but also allows parents to set up an Apple account for children in their family. Parents can manage controls remotely. It includes a Communication Safety setting, on by default for under 18s. This setting blurs nude imagery in some apps including Messages, FaceTime, AirDrop and shared photo albums. The setting encourages children to get help. On newer updates, children under 13 can only view these images if the parent’s screentime passcode is entered (which can also be set to trigger a notification on the parent’s device).
