With iPadOS 18, a brand new app could be released for Apple tablets: Calculator. Some of you already know the tool, since it is automatically installed on all iPhones and all Macs sold by Apple. But we still haven’t had the right to it on iPad, which gave rise to a lot of speculation as the years passed in the absence of a proprietary solution.
During this time, many alternatives have emerged. The opportunity to take an overview of the different platforms offered by third-party developers, and the few native iPad features that can replace Calculator. In any case, for the moment, because you will probably only have to wait a few months to finally access the tool.
So here’s everything you need to know.
When is Calculator released on iPad?
To know what the release date of Calculator on iPad is, you must first understand that there is not just one, but rather three potential dates. Therefore, Calculator should first be available in beta version for developers on the evening of June 10, following the Worldwide Developer Conference. It is in fact during the event that the publisher should unveil iPadOS 18, the update of the operating system for tablets which should include the Calculator app for the first time. As a reminder, the keynote begins at 7 p.m. (Paris time).
Next will come the beta version intended for the general public. This should arrive in July. Finally, we need to know when the final version of Calculator will be released. During WWDC, Apple is expected to clarify that iPadOS 18 will be released for everyone in the fall. But we know that generally this statement means a release date in september. The only recent exception: iPadOS 16, which asked us to wait until October 2022 to be entitled to the functionality Internship Managerprecisely blamed for this delay.
The non-story of Calculator on iPad
Now, the question everyone may have been asking all along is: how the hell is there no Calculator app on iPad? However, we are entitled to it not only on Mac, but also on iPhone and even on Apple Watch. It is therefore very surprising that Cupertino has not also developed a tablet client, especially when we know that iPadOS is mainly based on the same source code as iOS!
The good news is that we have some sources to unravel the mystery of this notable absence. During an interview with the YouTuber MKBHD (Marques Brownlee), Apple’s CTO, namely Craig Federighi, assured that there is a good reason behind this whole affair. Apple has already considered a Calculator app for iPad. Only, the company would wait to be able to integrate it in the best possible way with tablets. What’s more, it would be a question of offering us a truly powerful application, which could also justify such a wait (iPads arrived on the market in 2010). However, today, Calculator on iOS remains a basic tool – too little for Apple, it seems.
The expected features on the official Calculator app
It is believed that the Calculator app for iPad will, like its iPhone equivalent, allow you to perform basic arithmetic operations. But new rumors suggest that the platform will soon arrive with additional features, on macOS 15. And we assume that some of these options will also be available with Calculator on iPadOS 18.
Among these, we can notably cite the case of a native integration with the Apple Notes app, to display calculations or results in a sticky note. As a bonus, Apple would like to improve unit conversions on Mac. We can therefore easily assume that it will also be possible to go from the euro to the dollar or from the meter or micron, with Calculator on iPad.
In addition, know that a historical calculations made in the past may also be on the way. Finally, with Internship Manager precisely, it would be possible to resize the app window as desired, for example to superimpose it with others.
Alternatives to Calculator on iPad
Spotlight
Did you know ? The Spotlight app, native on iPadOS, allows you to perform mathematical calculations. Judge for yourself, the handling below is quite convincing:
Siri
You can also use thevoice assistant Siri, to carry out simple mathematical operations without using the Calculator app on iPad. If you already have voice command enabled, simply speak your phrase, and Siri will give you the corresponding result. Be aware, however, that Apple’s artificial intelligence is quite limited, and that you can sometimes get better results with third-party AI.
Other AI
Among the other tools powered by artificial intelligence and allowing you to carry out rapid or even more advanced calculations, we can cite the case of ChatGPT and Gemini (accessible via the associated tab of the app Google).
MathGPT also does the trick, but takes the form of a website. You will therefore just have to create a shortcut with the Safari browser, to place on your home screen, to directly access this alternative to Calculator on your iPad.
Third-party calculator apps
Finally, know that there are excellent alternatives to the official Calculator app, on iPad, also taking the form of a very classic virtual calculator.
This is particularly the case of the soberly titled Calculatoror its counterpart with history.
- Calculator could arrive on iPad in June in beta version
- The release date of Calculator in final version on iPad would be planned for September
- In the meantime, you can use third-party apps, Siri or Spotlight to perform mathematical calculations
