iPadOS 16.2 beta features Freeform, full external display support

The first developer beta of iPadOS 16.2 contains the Freeform app, and external display support for M-series iPads has returned.

Apple revealed iPadOS 16 would contain full external display support and a new collaboration tool called Freeform during WWDC in June. However, both of these features were not available in the initial iPadOS 16.1 release.

The first beta for iPadOS 16.2 revealed that these features are now available to testers. Full external display support had appeared during the initial iPadOS 16 betas, but Apple removed it before the delay and final release.

The Freeform app was always meant to come in a later release. It is a new app that takes advantage of Apple's expanded collaboration tools and SharePlay in iPadOS 16.

External display support has been a long-requested feature of iPad power users, and Apple announced it alongside a new windowing feature called Stage Manager. This controversial feature had been limited to iPads with M1 or M2 processors until user complaints pushed Apple to rethink the feature.

Now, iPads with an A12X, A12Z, M1, or M2 processor can use Stage Manager. However, external display support is still limited to M-series iPads.

It isn't clear when Apple will release iPadOS 16.2 to the general public. Beta testing generally takes about a month for point updates.