EU tightens grip on Apple, mandates sweeping changes for iPads

After further modifications to iPhones, it's time for iPads. The European Union is continually pressing Apple, and many changes will be necessary for the American brand's tablets.

At the beginning of this year, the European Commission forced Apple to introduce significant changes in the iOS system. According to the new regulations, iPhones must now allow access to alternative app stores, other payment methods, and various browser engines and enable software installation directly from websites.

Importantly, until now, these requirements have only been applied to iOS and are intended for iPhones. The operating system for iPads, known as iPadOS, is treated as a separate platform, so the European Commission needed more time to address tablets.

The European Union plans to introduce similar changes in iPads. Apple has been given a six-month deadline to implement them. During its assessment, the European Commission considered factors such as the number of devices sold and the impact of iPads on the consumer and business market. As a result, officials recognized the iPadOS system as a so-called gatekeeper, which, due to its size, must comply with DMA regulations.

This means that iPads, like previous iPhones, will have to allow users to use alternative sources for the App Store, payment systems other than Apple Pay, and browser engines not based on WebKit.

This benefits users who own various Apple devices, as selective regulations and the company's previous reluctance to introduce new requirements led to absurd situations.

Currently, iPhones allow alternative app stores, and iPads do not. iPhones allow the installation of apps that are not compliant with the App Store's policies, and iPads do not. iPhones offer access to cheaper payment methods for games, and iPads do not. iPhones enable the installation of internet browsers that are not just overlays on Safari, and iPads do not.

However, the problem of ecosystem inconsistency will soon be resolved, as Apple has until the end of October to ensure tablets comply with EU regulations. All this is happening right before the planned launch of new iPad models.