Split keyboard on iPadOS 26 does not work

Same issue here on my iPad Air 3rd generation with iPadOS 26. Please report the bug to Apple: Product Feedback - Apple.

12fretter wrote:

I cannot help but get the feeling it's by design to get me to ditch my ipad air 3 and update to a new device. If I am forced to change, I'll go android.

iPadOS 26 is in its early days - and will doubtless improve and clear residual bugs over time. As with all software products, due to shear numbers, it is inevitable that end-users will encounter issues that have slipped through beta testing.

When you discover a repeatable software issue, it is in your own best interest to submit a Bug Report via Apple's Product Feedback Portal. For iPad and iPadOS:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

When submitting a Bug Report, ensure that you include details of your iPad model and installed version of iPadOS within the body-text of your report. Don't rely upon the pick-list - as this rarely includes the current versions.

Now to clear-up to your assertion that bugs are introduced by design to encourage replacement of the device with a newer model. This is patently untrue; unlike many Android-based devices, Apple actively support their products for an industry leading five to seven years (sometimes longer), something that you are unlikely to encounter from the majority of Android manufacturers.

You are of course free to choose Android or Apple to best meet your needs. In the grand scheme of things, neither will notice your individual uptake or departure.

In addition to Bug Reports and Feature Requests, Apple also invite submission of comments and constructive feedback via the Product Feedback Portal. If you have any information or throughs that you believe Apple would benefit from knowing, this would be the most appropriate channel though which to direct appropriate commentary.

Same here. I cannot accept this gap in regression testing for whatever new feature or module in the code interfered with what was working as expected for years. This makes me wonder about the entire platform. I always chose ios over android because of security. Nowadays, having everything locked down with DuckDuckGo, Brave, VPN, and Proton, and primarily using browser over apps for pretty much everything, the incentive isn't there especially given the price. These types of failures just cause me to question the value of the entire ecosystem.

Further, the native keyboard response is still quite slow despite forced restarting a few times, and tapping on browser search bars is not responsive about half the time.

I cannot help but get the feeling it's by design to get me to ditch my ipad air 3 and update to a new device. If I am forced to change, I'll go android.

Moderator, if you delete this post as non-constructive I expect a detailed email as to why and specific text that you found offensive. These are serious issues that Apple needs to address. These devices have luxury pricetags and should be much more reliable for the money.

I have submitted at least one bug report. I don't think Android is any better, just less expensive. After reading about pixnappinng, I wouldn't go that route either. If I cannot get comfortable with ios again I will likely put it behind me and get a 2-1 linux machine. Not my first choice but will get the job done.

I have submitted at least one bug report. I don't think Android is any better, just less expensive. After reading about pixnappinng, I wouldn't go that route either. If I cannot get comfortable with ios again I will likely put it behind me and get a 2-1 linux machine. Not my first choice but will get the job done. I realize Apple doesn't care about the actions of a single or even fairly large group of customers or developers. But isn't that a weakness rather than a strength?