Apple is not planning to combine iPadOS and macOS into a single operating system, CEO John Ternus said in response to a question on an earnings call. He added that the company would not discuss any fundamentally different plans even if they existed.
The question, from Arete Research analyst Richard Kramer, pointed to iOS-related features on recent MacBook Pro models and asked whether closer links between Apple’s software platforms could eventually lead to one unified OS, potentially for simplicity or cost savings.
Ternus said Apple is proud of both the Mac and iPad, and values bringing capabilities across its product ecosystem. He cited features that connect iPhone, Mac and iPad, saying Apple aims to make the best version of each product. He also praised the latest MacBook Pro models, describing them as a major step forward.
Apple has previously rejected the idea of merging its operating systems. In a 2025 interview, software engineering chief Craig Federighi compared such a combination to a “spork,” arguing that it would be neither a good spoon nor a good fork. Although the platforms remain separate, their features have increasingly overlapped; the latest MacBook Pro models, for example, include touchscreen functionality.
Sources: MacRumors.