The Virtual Memory Swap feature converts iPad storage to RAM. It allows iPad applications to use up to 16 GB of RAM, a prerequisite for Stage Manager, the new window manager of iPadOS 16.
There was some confusion or a blunder at Apple, which earlier this week announced that this feature swap was available for iPads with an M1 chip, but also for the 4th generation iPad Air — a tablet with an A14 chip — with 256 GB of storage. However, this model of iPad Air is not compatible with Stage Manager.
Monday evening, Note 19 regarding the Virtual Memory Swap function sent back to the following explanation:
According Wayback MachineApple reviewed this Note 19 on June 10, correcting the reference to the iPad Air. Now, swapping is only possible on iPad Air 5th Gen with 256GB of storage.
Exit the 4th generation iPad Air, officially deprived of the swap… but also the 64 GB version of the 5th generation iPad Air! This does not prevent it from making Stage Manager work, as Chance Miller of 9to5Mac and the clean page new in iPadOS 16.
Is Virtual Memory Swap as indispensable asApple announced it to justify the fact that Stage Manager can only work with an M1 chip? Did Apple ever consider that the iPad Air 4 might be compatible with Stage Manager? Still, the manufacturer has since clarified that the window manager requires a set of components rather than just the swap function.
Apple explains ( once more) why Stage Manager is reserved for iPad M1
