Comparing the iPad Pro 2020 vs MacBook Air 2020 may seem odd but it actually makes a lot of sense. While it’s nice to have a tablet you can get work done on, the iPad Pro 2020 can’t match the performance of the MacBook Air 2020 with the Apple M1 chip, which gives it plenty of battery life, speedier performance and even iOS apps.
And if you don’t need all the bells and whistles added in the 2021 models, the iPad Pro 2020 paired with a Magic Keyboard offers a decent laptop-like experience — complete with a trackpad.
The iPad Pro also offers a Wi-Fi + Cellular option that adds built-in LTE connectivity, something the MacBook Air doesn’t have.
When it comes to resolution, the iPad Pro’s display is sharper at 2732 x 2048 pixels, compared to 2560 x 1600 for the MacBook Air. The iPad Pro also pulled ahead in terms of the sRGB color gamut (122% vs 114%), so you should expect more vivid hues from Apple’s tablet. The iPad Pro’s optional Magic Keyboard uses the same scissor mechanism as the MacBook Air and offers the same 1mm of travel, and provides a similarly pleasant typing experience. The iPad Pro attaches magnetically to the Magic Keyboard’s floating cantilever design, allowing you to adjust the display’s angle up to 130 degrees. The iPad Pro runs iPadOS, which is a touch-first operating system that now supports cursor input across the OS. iPadOS continues to support multitasking features like Slide Over (running apps on top of others) and Split View (running two apps side by side), and the customizable Today Screen gives you helpful widgets to stay on top of your day. You also have a lot more choice in terms of software and what you can download on macOS, whether you choose to go through the Mac App Store or the web. The iPad Pro can also record 4K video up to 60 frames per second, something the MacBook Air can’t do.
The iPad Pro also has a front 7MP TrueDepth camera for selfies and quickly unlocking the devices with face recognition. And, unlike the MacBook Air, the iPad Pro features a LiDAR scanner that dramatically improves the performance in augmented reality apps. Unfortunately, the MacBook Air only features a low-res 720p camera for video chats, though it uses some machine learning smarts to improve the quality of your stream. And you can’t use your face to log in; instead, there’s a Touch ID button on the keyboard deck. Again, though, when talking special features, the ability to run iPhone and iPad apps on the MacBook mean the Air can’t be cast aside easily. On our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of screen brightness, the iPad Pro lasted a very good 10 hours and 16 minutes.
iPad Pro MacBook Air Price and Value (20) 13 18 Display (20) 19 15 Keyboard and touchpad (10) 8 9 Ports (10) 7 8 Performance (10) 10 8 Software (10) 6 10 Camera and Special Features (10) 9 7 Battery Life (20) 13 20 Total 85 95 But after comparing this tablet and laptop in multiple categories it’s clear where these devices excel — and where they don’t.
The iPad Pro is the better option for those who want to travel light and who want a touch-first experience with a superior display. But that being said, the MacBook Air has pulled ahead of the iPad Pro when it comes to sheer speed and battery life.
Apple iPad Pro vs MacBook Air: Which should you buy?
Both the iPad Pro and MacBook Air are excellent productivity companions, but if you need a new computing device for more complicated tasks than checking emails, one is naturally going to suit your needs over the other. The iPad Pro’s base model with an 11-inch screen, 8GB RAM, 128GB of storage, and no cellular connectivity starts at $799.
If you add Apple’s Magic Keyboard, tack on another $299 to the total price—now suddenly you have a lower-specced machine that costs $99 more than a 13-inch MacBook Air. If you opt for the more expensive MacBook Air, it’s still $149 less than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Smart Keyboard Folio and the same amount of storage space.
There are a lot of ways to configure both devices, but ultimately, the MacBook Air removes the headache of finding a reasonably-priced keyboard and you get more for your money when it comes to memory and storage. Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser These two Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack are all you get with the M1 MacBook Air. After the form factor, the major difference between the iPad Pro and MacBook Air is the operating systems. This sort of cross-platform availability largely depends on where developers decide to make their apps available, but for Apple-made programs like the ones mentioned above, it’s a mystery as to why the same version (or a version at all) doesn’t exist on iPadOS even though the iPad Pro has the same processing power as the MacBook Air (and the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1).
Credit: Reviewed / Matthew S. Smith The 12.9-inch version of the 2021 Apple iPad Pro has a bright, vibrant display with mini-LED technology. Like both iPad Pro models, its display has a wide color gamut (P3) and True Tone technology, but that’s where the similarities end.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro also has a 2D backlighting system with 2596 full-array local dimming zones, so contrast and colors are going to really pop on that display. If you were considering getting the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement but were concerned about the battery life, you get more for your money with the MacBook Air.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser The M1 Air’s premium build, blazing speeds, and reasonable price makes it the obvious choice for most people. Along with better battery life, more physical ports, a fully-fledged operating system, and Apple’s Magic Keyboard, the MacBook Air boasts better value than the iPad Pro due to the simple fact that it already has everything you need, whether that’s sending a few work-related emails or editing videos in Final Cut Pro.
Compared: M2 MacBook Air vs M1 12.9-inch iPad Pro
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. The MacBook Air, equipped with M2 and overhauled in many different ways, is a great entryway into Mac ownership. With its compact size and lightweight, as well as high performance, it’s an excellent choice for a notebook to get everyday tasks done or for school. With a touchscreen display and seemingly equal capabilities and performance, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a compelling option for those in the market for a new computing device.
Best 12.9-inch iPad Pro prices Dimensions (inches) 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 Weight (pounds) 2.7 1.5 Display 13.6-inch Liquid Retina, A lot of the thickness difference is simply because the MacBook Air is a notebook of two sections containing a screen and a keyboard.
Both employ Apple’s signature use of aluminum for the enclosure, with rounded corners and a general feeling they are impossibly thin for what they offer. The MacBook Air’s updated screen consists of a 13.6-inch LED-backlit Liquid Retina IPS display, with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,664. This does eat into the display a bit, but given that it occupies the main menu space and is hidden when apps are fullscreen with strategic black elements, it’s not a massive intrusion.
However, as a Liquid Retina XDR display, it is a mini-LED backlit screen with 2,596 full-array local dimming zones, enabling a more vibrant image and a sky-high 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. At 2,732 by 2,048, the resolution is higher despite the smaller screen size, giving the iPad Pro a pixel density of 264ppi to the MacBook Air’s 224ppi. That’s before you get to things like ProMotion support in the iPad Pro and the ability to use the Apple Pencil, which the Air lacks entirely.
The M2 in the MacBook Air is similar to the M1, in that it has an eight-core CPU with the same performance-efficiency split, an 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. However, the newer-generation model runs at a higher clock speed for the CPU, the M2 also has a 10-core GPU option, and the 16-core Neural Engine is also improved to be faster. Since it’s potentially being carried around in active use, it has to run without generating too much heat, which can impact performance versus a more thermally-managed Mac. A 1080p imaging sensor hidden in the display notch, it’s the only camera included in the MacBook Air. It is an upgrade from the 720p of the previous incarnation, and the M2’s image signal processing easily assists it, but it’s a very minimal option. The bells and whistles of the iPad Pro camera system continue with its various Portrait Mode shots, autofocus with focus pixels, Animoji and Memoji support, and practically all of the shooting features you could use expect from an Apple tablet. Then there’s the LiDAR sensor, which helps with 3D depth tracking on the back of the iPad Pro, along with other photography-related applications, such as low-light autofocus assistance. The last one is a fresh addition, enabling recharging without occupying one of the scarce physical data connections of the notebook.
You can connect a surprising amount to the iPad Pro’s Thunderbolt port, but the MacBook Air offers more. While earlier iPad Pro models offered headphone jacks, the latest no longer provides the port.
Of the two, the MacBook Air has the larger-capacity battery, using a 52.6Wh lithium-polymer version versus the iPad Pro’s 40.22Wh component. The MacBook Air has graduated to a four-speaker sound system in the latest iteration, which aligns with the iPad’s quad-speaker arrangement.
There’s no built-in headphone jack on the iPad Pro, so you must acquire an adapter or switch to Bluetooth for that device. The iPad Pro offers five “studio quality” microphones for receiving audio, while the MacBook Air has a three-mic array with directional beamforming.
There’s a fair amount of similarity between the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro when it comes to storage, as they have almost identical capacity options. Lastly, there’s the Apple Pencil, with the iPad Pro compatible with the second-generation version of the pressure-sensitive stylus. As an accessory that acts as a cover for the iPad Pro, the Magic Keyboard is helpful, but it adds weight and thickness. It practically doubles the thickness of the standalone iPad Pro, while at 3.1 pounds, it’s a little heavier than the MacBook Air.
Of course, you can still remove the iPad Pro from the Magic Keyboard when you don’t need it and would rather carry around a digital clipboard. At the top end, the MacBook Air’s 10-core GPU, 24GB of memory, and 2TB of storage brings the total cost to $2,499. Adding the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil increases the iPad Pro’s cost by $478, turning the cheapest model $1,577 and the most expensive $2,877. For everyday tasks, such as writing long texts, drawing, photo editing, and gaming, the iPad Pro will handle them very well. If you need to use specialist equipment, it may not necessarily connect up to an iPad Pro properly, making it more suitable for a Mac. Yes, you can use iMovie and GarageBand on iPadOS, but Final Cut Pro and Logic are still Mac-centric software.
Apple @ Work: The iPad goes where no Mac has gone before, so it’s time to stop comparing them
Today, more than 62,000 organizations trust Jamf to manage and secure more than 27 million devices worldwide. We’re 12 years into the iPad industry, and it was the last product line that Steve Job introduced at Apple. Over the years, the iPad has been positioned in various ways by Apple, with the latest being the “What’s a Computer” ad campaign from 2017.
In recent conversations with businesses who use both, I wanted to take time today to appreciate the iPad in a new light.
For someone sitting at their desk most of the day, unless you prefer iPadOS over macOS, the Mac is probably a better computer for you. There’s no world or price point where the MacBook Air makes sense for them to use in the field. They’re taking a large 3-ring binder of health conditions and dematerializing it into the iPad, where it can be quickly searched and updated. The difference is that it’s not about if more people need a truck or a car, but rather finding the best tool for their situation. Different use case and jobs are better suited for iPad than they are Mac and vice versa. Today, more than 62,000 organizations trust Jamf to manage and secure more than 27 million devices worldwide.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) vs MacBook Pro 13 (2022): Which one to buy?
This controversial addition to the Mac line pack the M2 chip in a classic chassis. It skips the redesign we saw on the MacBook Pro (2021) — which you can buy as refurbished units for a cheaper price.
67W charger Audio Four speaker audio Stereo speakers with wide stereo sound and spatial audio support when playing Dolby Atmos content Camera Pro rear camera system: 12MP Wide and 10MP Ultra Wide cameras It’s a neat slab of glass with thin bezels and rounded corners — a window to step into the digital world.
Speaking of thin bezels, the iPad Pro has a display that almost completely defeats that of the MacBookPro 13. Otherwise, it has a higher resolution, ProMotion 120Hz refresh rates, 1600 nits of brightness, and more.
If you don’t plan on creating or editing sophisticated and colorful illustrations or videos, then it should be enough for your average needs. Additionally, the iPad Pro has a multi-touch screen with Apple Pencil 2 support.
We can’t compare a MacBook Pro with a dedicated cooling system to a thin tablet. Despite iPadOS 16 introducing the Stage Manager feature, it still is too lacking when compared to macOS. The latter is a desktop operating system that easily defeats the overhyped mobile OS. In the tablet’s defense, you get with the iPad a Pro camera system on the rear with support for 3D mapping — thanks to LiDAR.
If you’re looking for better portability, the minimalistic design, touch support, then the iPad Pro is a solid device in this department. If you’re looking for a more solid, future-proof computer for more intensive needs, then the MacBook Pro 13 is the one to choose. This computer has fans to keep the processor cool, so it’ll take longer to throttle the performance. Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) The 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021) packs the Apple M1 chip, includes optional 5G support, and houses the TrueDepth camera system in its thin bezels.
M1 iPad Pro vs M1 MacBook Pro: which one should you buy
Don’t forget to check out our cheap MacBook Pro deals page for the latest prices on this model, or its Intel variations. The M1 MacBook Pro debuted in late 2020 with the same look as its predecessor – only the internals had been changed, dropping Intel’s processors for Apple’s own M1 chip.
They both feature a glass all-screen front (save for a slim bezel) and aluminium sides and back. Although the Magic Keyboard can just be quickly detached and left at home, of course – a luxury the MacBook Pro doesn’t offer.
The 227ppi pixel density keeps it looking very clear at normal viewing distances, and the brightness of 500 nits is good for a pro machine. The iPad Pro screens are both also IPS LCD displays with P3 colour support, both go a little brighter at 600 nits, and both feature an more square aspect ratio, which can be preferable for some work, including working on documents or photos, since they can fill the screen a little better. The iPad Pro models also both have a touchscreen of course, including support for the Apple Pencil 2nd Gen stylus. They also feature a maximum 120Hz refresh rate, which makes drawing feel more natural (because you see the results twice as fast as a 60Hz screen), and aids accuracy.
And at the same, it delivers better black tones as well as being better for brightness, because having more LEDS means they can be dimmed more precisely for sharper contrast. This makes video look far superior on this display, but actually any app benefits from this improved contrast for dark tones – black tones look like deeper black, and you’ll notice that elements such as white UI icons over dark backgrounds (or vice versa) seem to have extra sharpness, because the screen is able to highlight them against the background more effectively. Both the iPad Pro models and the MacBook Pro include Apple’s True Tone tech, which adjusts the colour balance of the screen to match the ambient lighting in the room you’re in, so a white on the screen would match the tone of a white piece of paper next to it. The graphics side of things is equally impressive – it has the capability of a lower-end dedicated GPU.
Again, its performance is handily beaten by desktop-level parts, but to get this much GPU compute power for running live effects in photo and video apps in an ultra-thin laptop is a game-changer. This will be an advantage if you’re likely to need to push the processor hard for a long time, with something like a video export process – you’ll get less thermal throttling from the MacBook Pro.
If not, macOS can actually translate apps to run on the new hardware anyway, but it can be the case that this causes some unusual glitches, and it definitely causes a small performance knock (although the processor is so fast that this is irrelevant). On the one hand, the App Store is absolutely crammed with excellent tools, including some that really work better (or are more focused) than their desktop counterparts.
Of the two, we prefer the MacBook Pro’s fingerprint system – it’s instant and easy to trigger reliably ever time you go to the laptop. There’s also a LiDAR 3D sensor on the back, and this can be used for augmented reality purposes, scanning an area or object to determine precise location or movement.
In all cases, pushing the machines harder with high-end elite apps and tasks will drastically reduce the battery life – playing a detailed 3D game will easily halve it, for example. One thing to note, though, is that you tend to get more consistent battery performance from the iPads, because of how the operating system more carefully manages what apps can do.
However, don’t forget to factor in the cost of a keyboard case for your iPad Pro, if you want it to be a laptop replacement.
The ability to use the excellent Apple Pencil for drawing, or to play instruments using the flexibility of a touch display, or to just directly manipulate photos, may be what wins you to the iPad side, because the MacBook Pro simply cannot match these features.
However, the MacBook Pro’s support for desktop software, with the additional tools and complexity that these apps tend to have (and that you may need), is something that a lot of creative pros simply cannot live without.
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