Based on our experiences with preview versions, Stage Manager, a new feature for iPadOS 16, which is expected to deliver laptop-level multitasking, is a major factor in the delay. However, after initially announcing it only for the newer tablets, Apple now says the feature will work on older iPads too, albeit without the support for external displays that will be added to the feature with another update due later this year. It should be able to take advantage of the M1 (and now, in new iPad Pro tablets, M2) chips where available.
