Katarzyna Petru
Apple is clearly preparing a significant expansion of its portfolio of professional applications for the iPad. According to the latest report discovered by Aaron Perris from MacRumors, the company is preparing as many as four new Pro-class applications: Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage.
If these reports are confirmed, it will be the largest expansion in history of Apple’s creative tools offering on iPadOS – and a logical step following last year's debut of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on the tablet.
Pixelmator Pro – the full power of image editing
Apple acquired the Pixelmator company in November 2024, and the current version of the app for iPad still remains simplified compared to the editing on macOS. The new, fully professional edition of Pixelmator Pro for iPad would aim to match the functionality of the desktop version – with layer support, AI-based retouching, and RAW file support.
Motion and Compressor – Filmmaker's Set on a Tablet
Motion is a tool for creating animations, titles, and visual effects, which on Mac is an essential companion to Final Cut Pro. On the other hand, Compressor is used for coding and exporting video and audio materials in any format – from ProRes to HEVC. If Apple truly moves these applications to iPadOS, professionals will gain a complete set for editing, effects, and film export without the need to use a computer.
MainStage – stage moved to the iPad
MainStage is an application created for musicians performing live. It allows you to design and manage concert sets using instruments, vocals, and effects in real-time. On the iPad, it could become a mobile concert control center — especially for Logic Pro users.
Scheduling Clash, But the Direction Is Clear
Although the report does not reveal the release dates, it can be assumed that the new applications will be announced later this year – possibly along with the iPadOS 19 update. Interestingly, Apple has not announced them in conjunction with the release of the new M5 iPad Pro, which suggests that the hardware and software teams are slightly misaligned in their scheduling.
Nevertheless, if Apple indeed launches Compressor, Motion, MainStage, and Pixelmator Pro, the iPad will become an even more serious tool for creators – not only for content consumption but also for full-scale creation.
