Generally, laptops are favored for their powerful processors – allowing them to work faster and to multitask. This is all to help you get an in-depth laptop vs iPad comparison so you can decide which device is better for you. Using either device, you can browse the web, access apps, and even, do your work using software such as MS Word or Excel. Due to its high powered build, a laptop needs a higher cooling capacity to meet its needs.
But, this comes with the benefit of giving you a powerful processing ability to execute more tasks much faster. iPads feature a touch screen interface design which makes them difficult to use if you type a lot.
After all, even with an on-screen keyboard, you will still have to deal with the smaller, restrictive iPad size. Plus, with extra gadgets, the iPad eventually loses its portability advantage.
When paired with their low power requirements, iPad batteries offer maximum efficiency.
An iPad doesn’t feature many internal components, but, its battery takes up most of its space. iPads use a solid-state storage memory to help store their data and program. Laptops integrate hard disk drives which give them a larger storage capacity.
Depending on the design and budget, laptops offer storage space of between 500 GB and 1TB. Yet, both iPads and laptops offer alternatives for extra storage space.
As mentioned above, laptops integrate several internal components to improve their overall processing. Using a laptop makes more demanding tasks such as HD graphics and even multi-app usage easy.
You can use them for tasks such as web browsing, social media, or even music or movie streaming. The processing ability of both laptops and iPads affect their software running. Due to its smaller capacity, the windows software will run slower on iPads. But, comparing their performance, you will notice that iPads have some features cut out to cater to their smaller capacity. iPads are less vulnerable to malware attacks due to their closed system designs
They run a little slow especially during complex tasks due to their smaller and uncooled processors
People buy laptops or iPads for three common uses – i.e. professional, student, and general use. With a laptop, you can access emails, browse the internet, make calls, and even let your kids play games.
As a student, your major priority when choosing between a laptop and an iPad is the software they support. Most colleges and schools will require their students to opt for a liberal arts curriculum.
For the same design student, for example, a MacBook allows you to use tools such as Apple Pencil like an iPad.
But, a touch screen iPad gives a design student more creative freedom using Apple Pencil.
Whilst the iPad works best for their core subjects, they still don’t want to miss out on other areas. iPads support software you will find on a laptop, but, they still have feature limitations.
An iPad features a touch approach with a focus on your fingers as the interaction method. They even integrate extra components such as keyboards and a mouse to make your work easier. The compact and portable design of iPads makes them ideal for people who want simplicity and intuitiveness. Their processing power, generous storage space, and full software features allow laptops to cover more needs. Because of the full software features and availability, laptops work better for professionals too. Instead of using a standard keyboard and cursor, iPads use a more hands-on touch screen approach.
For designers who want to be more interactive and have a hands-on approach to their work, an iPad is a better option. Similarly, iPads, sometimes, offer more practicality in traditional professional settings.
For example, for hospitals that want to be more digital and reduce their carbon footprint, tablets such as iPads are a norm. In this case, it would be impractical for the physician to haul around a larger sized laptop with them. It would be impossible for an accountant, for example, to perform complex bookkeeping tasks using an iPad. As small as it is, an iPad can take care of processes ranging from order and inventory to POS and financial management.
With a more technologically advanced environment, using an iPad can help a student reach their learning milestones easier. iPads tend to be more effective for young learners than paper-based materials.
Their versatility and extended software features allow laptops to offer more value – especially for students. In fact, in some cases, if you have a laptop, you may want to invest in an iPad as an added benefit.
Laptop Vs iPad: Which Is Better For You? (Explained)
Generally, laptops are favored for their powerful processors – allowing them to work faster and to multitask. This is all to help you get an in-depth laptop vs iPad comparison so you can decide which device is better for you. Using either device, you can browse the web, access apps, and even, do your work using software such as MS Word or Excel. Due to its high powered build, a laptop needs a higher cooling capacity to meet its needs. But, this comes with the benefit of giving you a powerful processing ability to execute more tasks much faster. iPads feature a touch screen interface design which makes them difficult to use if you type a lot.
After all, even with an on-screen keyboard, you will still have to deal with the smaller, restrictive iPad size. Plus, with extra gadgets, the iPad eventually loses its portability advantage. When paired with their low power requirements, iPad batteries offer maximum efficiency.
An iPad doesn’t feature many internal components, but, its battery takes up most of its space. iPads use a solid-state storage memory to help store their data and program. Laptops integrate hard disk drives which give them a larger storage capacity.
Depending on the design and budget, laptops offer storage space of between 500 GB and 1TB. Yet, both iPads and laptops offer alternatives for extra storage space. As mentioned above, laptops integrate several internal components to improve their overall processing.
Using a laptop makes more demanding tasks such as HD graphics and even multi-app usage easy.
You can use them for tasks such as web browsing, social media, or even music or movie streaming. The processing ability of both laptops and iPads affect their software running.
Due to its smaller capacity, the windows software will run slower on iPads. But, comparing their performance, you will notice that iPads have some features cut out to cater to their smaller capacity.
iPads are less vulnerable to malware attacks due to their closed system designs
They run a little slow especially during complex tasks due to their smaller and uncooled processors People buy laptops or iPads for three common uses – i.e. professional, student, and general use. With a laptop, you can access emails, browse the internet, make calls, and even let your kids play games.
As a student, your major priority when choosing between a laptop and an iPad is the software they support. Most colleges and schools will require their students to opt for a liberal arts curriculum. For the same design student, for example, a MacBook allows you to use tools such as Apple Pencil like an iPad.
But, a touch screen iPad gives a design student more creative freedom using Apple Pencil. Whilst the iPad works best for their core subjects, they still don’t want to miss out on other areas. iPads support software you will find on a laptop, but, they still have feature limitations.
An iPad features a touch approach with a focus on your fingers as the interaction method. They even integrate extra components such as keyboards and a mouse to make your work easier.
The compact and portable design of iPads makes them ideal for people who want simplicity and intuitiveness. Their processing power, generous storage space, and full software features allow laptops to cover more needs. Because of the full software features and availability, laptops work better for professionals too. Instead of using a standard keyboard and cursor, iPads use a more hands-on touch screen approach.
For designers who want to be more interactive and have a hands-on approach to their work, an iPad is a better option. Similarly, iPads, sometimes, offer more practicality in traditional professional settings. For example, for hospitals that want to be more digital and reduce their carbon footprint, tablets such as iPads are a norm. In this case, it would be impractical for the physician to haul around a larger sized laptop with them.
It would be impossible for an accountant, for example, to perform complex bookkeeping tasks using an iPad. As small as it is, an iPad can take care of processes ranging from order and inventory to POS and financial management.
With a more technologically advanced environment, using an iPad can help a student reach their learning milestones easier. iPads tend to be more effective for young learners than paper-based materials.
Their versatility and extended software features allow laptops to offer more value – especially for students. In fact, in some cases, if you have a laptop, you may want to invest in an iPad as an added benefit.
Benefits of an iPad Over a Laptop or Desktop Computer
Most of us use our PCs for basic tasks, such as reading email, browsing the web, watching movies, checking sports scores, and updating Facebook. These include a web browser, mail client, calendar, alarm clock, maps package, notepad, video conferencing app, and contacts list. This roster includes classic RPGs like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and a full-featured version of XCOM 2.
The iPad supports popular streaming video apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.
It also offers access to dozens of apps from broadcast television and cable providers, such as CBS, NBC, Time Warner, DirectTV, and Apple TV+ productions. The iPad’s iBooks app is one of the best e-readers on the market with an excellent interface that flips pages like a real book. Don’t dismiss Siri as a marketing gimmick relegated to checking sports scores and searching for nearby restaurants. Among the many things you can use Siri for is to set reminders, whether for taking out the trash in the morning or when preparing for an upcoming meeting.
It can also set your alarm clock, text people without you touching the on-screen keyboard, place telephone calls, play music, update Facebook, search the web, and launch apps for you. This battery life may not extend quite so long under heavy usage, but even if you enjoy your own Doctor Who marathon using Netflix streaming, you should be able to watch seven or eight hour-long episodes before you need to plug it in.
7 Reasons to Buy an iPad Over a PC
The iPad Pro is a powerful tablet, and starting with iOS 10, Apple opened up the operating system and allowed third-party apps access to features like Siri. As the iPad continues to grow in processing power and versatility, are we ready to ditch the PC? The architecture of iPadOS puts a wall around each app, which prevents one piece of software from overwriting a portion of another. On a PC, malware can do things like record all of the keys you press and let someone remotely control your computer.
Apple, however, maintains full control over the App Store, which is the only way to add software to the tablet (unless you’ve chosen to jailbreak your device). With the company checking every piece of software people submit for the iPad, it’s much more difficult for malware to find its way onto the App Store, and when it does, it doesn’t stay there long. You can get better hardware in an iPad Pro than you’ll find in an entry-level laptop, and comparable builds to standard-issue ones. The iPad and a PC are similar in terms of the prices you’ll see at the store, but you’re probably going to pay more for something powerful enough to do more than browse the web and with a life expectancy of more than a year or two.
It can browse the web, but if you want to play games, type a term paper, or balance your budget with a spreadsheet, you will probably need to buy some software. Microsoft now offers Office for iOS, which combines Word, Excel, and Powerpoint into one app.
One expense many people find on the Windows side is virus protection, which can also add to the cost. However, if you want to go with added protection with another bit of software from Norton or McAfee, you’ll have to pay extra to pick it up.
Along with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, the newest iPads have good cameras built into them. The bigger Pro and the iPad Air 2 both have an 8 MP back-facing camera, which can still take pretty good pictures. You can get some of the same versatility with a Windows-based tablet, but when compared to a laptop or desktop PC, the iPad certainly has an advantage. While it has a chance to become slower or experience strange bugs over time, you can generally clear these up by simply rebooting the iPad.
How to replace your computer with an iPad
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. Apple says the iPad can replace a traditional desktop or laptop for productivity, but that can be a big leap.
Adding a Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil, or external display can shift the iPad’s use case from one function to another in an instant.
The inclusion of an M1 processor and increasing RAM limits to 16GB has given Apple the ability to take iPad even further thanks to advancements in iPadOS 16.
The iPad differs from the Mac in several ways, but what makes it a useful computer alternative is its ability to shift between paradigms — tablet, laptop, desktop. Apple, Logitech, and other third-party vendors have taken advantage of this custom cursor in iPadOS by launching accessories with a built-in pointing device. Trackpads offer gesture controls similar to a Mac, like three-finger swipe to switch between full-screen apps. Those seeking a more desktop-like environment can place the iPad on a stand and connect a keyboard and mouse via a USB hub.
Those running iPadOS 16 on an M1-equipped iPad can connect to an external display for a more traditional desktop experience.
The most significant difference between Files and Finder is the inaccessibility of the filesystem of the underlying OS. It can be interacted with using a long press or right click, which exposes options like renaming the file, sharing it, or deleting it. Other devices can fail to be recognized or won’t interact with the iPad whatsoever.
As for wireless, iPads have similar options to the Mac for WiFi and Bluetooth connections with one significant exception — cellular. To see a list of available keyboard shortcuts for any app, hold down the Command key for a menu to appear.
The standard interaction is Split View and Slide Over, which allows any iPad running iPadOS to have up to three apps on screen at once. You can also invoke a quick note sheet from anywhere in the operating system with a single swipe. Add deep links from apps using the suggestions in the window Resize the window, hide it off screen, or dismiss it with “Done” Swiping up again will create a new note, or summon a note created previously at that location Focus modes enable users to create different environments where only select apps and people can get their attention.
Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right using touch, or click the battery icon if using a mouse. Many apps are taking full advantage of the large display, powerful processor, and improved desktop-like capability of iPad.
Many pros are ditching their conventional desktop setup featuring a drawing tablet for this model revolving around an iPad and an app like Procreate.
Long been hailed as the go-to notetaking app for iPad, it has consistently delivered a full-fledged experience. While its transition into a free app with a subscription model has not been without controversy, Notability has refined itself into an experience that has few parallels on iPad. Featuring a touch-friendly interface, all the tools on the Mac version are now also on iPad, with optimizations made to make it a truly native experience without sacrificing function.
Adapted for iPad, it has full support for Apple Pencil, making it ideal for artists that work with .psd files, or just need a more handcrafted touch to the designs. Also available for iPhone and Mac, Ulysses is a purpose-built writing app with full iCloud integration. With its own bespoke markup system, it eliminates the conventional formatting ribbon for a full-screen design that removes all the distractions from writing.
Next to word count goals, note sheets, and special exporting options tailored for both paperback and digital publishing, Ulysses also benefits from full iCloud syncing support. Using some of the tips listed above and some patience for learning how to use iPadOS software, a user can easily move their work to an iPad.
Comparison of iPad vs Laptop with Pros and Cons in 2022
iPads now can manage complex tasks easily, operating closer to a laptop than a smartphone. If you are in the market looking for a new device to carry out general work, it is normal to get confused with the iPad vs laptop dilemma.
This article will attempt to go over everything an iPad and laptop offers to compare the two and hopefully help you make a decision.
The usability of the Apple pencil definitely makes iPads far more attractive, as you can take notes like a pro using fantastic notetaking apps. Not only that, but the pencil also makes it easy to draw visual guides and digital art. Because they are so portable, regular things like writing down a note, doing a google search, browsing YouTube, etc. The other side of not doing CPU intensive tasks is that an iPad can easily last all day without running out of battery life. There are many apps in the Apple store that are insanely useful for day to day tasks and hobbies, such as word processors, Apple music, Goodnotes, Procreate, iMovie, LumaFusion, Notability, Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, Nitebloc, Collanote, DangerNotes. For a comparable price point, you can get a MacBook air with double the storage capacity. Depending on your job or college major, you may need to use specialized software on a daily basis. Split screen and quick switching between software make multitasking very smooth. And for this same price level, you can get a computer with more storage, powerful graphics, and more processing capacity easily.
The use of a device falls into three categories – general usage, students, and professionals. Students need a device for research, notetaking, complex computing, specialized courses, and writing. Professionals may require distinct types of specialized tasks and software for their work, which can all be done on a laptop.
This is an all rounder device that provides you with the heavy processing power of a computer and the portability of a tablet. If you are someone who frequently runs demanding software, simultaneously uses several applications, or plays high-end games, you need a powerful device to take on all these extra loads. For the price of an iPad Pro, you will easily find laptops that can handle high spec games, advanced spreadsheet software, video editing, etc.
And you can only enjoy it when you use laptops to play because they come with powerful graphics and processing units. You can even upgrade the graphics card of your laptop to run games faster and smoother, which is something undoable on iPads.
Many people who need to type a lot for their work or hobby prefer using a keyboard to do so. This might be the better way to go for art students, but the general hobby artists will find iPads a better suited option.
iPads are extremely user-friendly devices, so much so that even children can easily figure out how to operate one without any teaching. It is important to note that you will not outwardly feel the less user-friendly aspect when you are using a laptop.
For light routine use, digital art, and handwriting, an iPad works the best. This device also comes with some particularly useful apps, with functionalities made to make your life and work effortless. But if you want to run specialized software and high resolution games, nothing can beat laptops.
iPads are more of a supporting device meant to make your life easy, while laptops are workstations for your job or business.
iPad vs Laptop Pros and Cons: Replacing a Laptop with iPad [2022]
If you make a purchase through links from this website, we may get a small share of the sale from Amazon and other similar affiliate programs. Having an iPad or tablet in your car as a second device to your smartphone is extremely convent and fun to use. Unless you’re getting a touchscreen laptop, then an iPad or tablet will provide a number of benefits and disadvantages that are to be considered.
In this post I’ll go over the pros and cons, compare the differences, and provide alternative and in-depth knowledge on choosing an iPad versus a laptop.
iPads had apparent advantages over laptops since their appearance, but the number of things they can do better has been enlarged significantly by technology over the years. Many models of the iPad are 4x lighter, 3x thinner, and almost half as big as MacBooks; allowing you not only to carry, but also use them almost everywhere.
Any action that you can do on your phone such a shopping on Amazon or writing notes down on a girl can be done in an iPad instantaneously. Being able to use an iPad on the couch or at the dinner table or in social gatherings to display a YouTube video, Instagram feed, tick tock and other social apps is extremely convenient because can see the screen on the fly (And you won’t have to use a Bulky laptop or MacBook Pro to do so) The iPad environment is intuitive, which makes it easy to be used by everyone, no matter their age or tech expertise. Previous models of the iPad was roughly half that; we can be agreed that we technology advancing tablets are catching up to the usefulness in power of laptops, but its not quite complete there just yet. Apple has developed a vast number of free and paid apps to control all of your regular tasks like safari browser, mails, calendar, alarm clock, notepad, word processors, etc. After all, what’s more hilarious than watching your cat messing with fish mimicking games or jumping on the screen to grab different graphics.
However if you’re using it only for reading you could consider the Amazon fire HD versus the kindle paper white and weigh out the pros and cons. Having access to Apple’s digital assistant is another important advantage of iPads over laptops, as Siri helps you keep track of your schedule, set alarms, text people, and much more without touching the screen of your device. The iPads’ advantage of having a cellular data connection makes it a great stand-alone, alternative GPS device for your trips. The ability to write and draw visual notes, and the rest designing capabilities of the apple pencil, is another big advantage of iPads over Laptops. The latest iPads support extensions that help to transform them into laptops, from keyboards with trackpads and mouses, to multi-port hubs for the connection with external devices. There is an enormous amount of laptops developed for you to play high-end, modern PC games like PUBG, which are unplayable on an iPad. Although iPads have been improved a lot, laptops still have the advantage of effortless multitasking, especially when you need to open more than 3 windows (two applications + browser for example) at the same time. The amount of storage a laptop offers is on average larger than a tablet, in most cases upgradable, and thus can’t be compared with the iPad’s smaller SSDs. However, many people don’t need the high-end CPU and GPU performance of a laptop in their everyday life. – (Modern, Bazel-free, minimalist design) Battery Life – (up to 10 hours of surfing the web and watching videos)
– (up to 10 hours of surfing the web and watching videos) Unique features – (E-reader, Siri, GPS, Apple pencil) The iPad Air offers a high-quality, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, which might be smaller than most laptop screens but has stunning details and vibrant colors.
To sum up, the new iPad Air is a great option for those in need of an ultimately portable, inexpensive (compared to an iPad Pro and most laptops), and powerful device that will easily cope with all basic everyday tasks like browsing or video streaming, while offering unique features and apps such as apple pencil and Siri, that prove to be really useful. High-end performance – (Except for demanding software and games, iPad Pro is faster than most laptops of the market) This build, combined with 6GB RAM, makes the iPad Pro more powerful than all entry-level but also some high-level laptops. If you will use the iPad, then getting one is beneficial – it will provide a portability and convenience factor that can’t be beaten by a MacBook Air or standard Laptop.
As mentioned, it’s easier to slip your iPad into a purse or briefcase when you’re on the go because they are light and more compact than laptops. Although the iPads are, for the first time, really closed to be called real computers, Apple’s iPadOS remind us of their primary use.
By being a tablet, an iPad provides the ultimate portability a laptop will never have, a multi-touch display on which we can draw or write, cellular data and other useful mobile features like Siri or GPS. Accordingly, iPads are the best Hybrid Devices, as you can transform them to laptops, by adding a keyboard with trackpad and a mouse.
For instance, a MacBook Pro will always be the winner when it comes to handling computing software, music or video editing and other complicated programs that many people use daily. Some advanced apps run a bit more slow compared to a laptop, yet iPhoto and iMovie are easy to navigate and can be a very useful tool for editing picture when the need arises. Apps can also be downloaded, which allow users to expand their iPad’s capabilities to closer match that of a laptop
7 Reasons to Buy an iPad Over a PC
The iPad Pro is a powerful tablet, and starting with iOS 10, Apple opened up the operating system and allowed third-party apps access to features like Siri. As the iPad continues to grow in processing power and versatility, are we ready to ditch the PC? The architecture of iPadOS puts a wall around each app, which prevents one piece of software from overwriting a portion of another. On a PC, malware can do things like record all of the keys you press and let someone remotely control your computer.
Apple, however, maintains full control over the App Store, which is the only way to add software to the tablet (unless you’ve chosen to jailbreak your device). With the company checking every piece of software people submit for the iPad, it’s much more difficult for malware to find its way onto the App Store, and when it does, it doesn’t stay there long.
You can get better hardware in an iPad Pro than you’ll find in an entry-level laptop, and comparable builds to standard-issue ones. The iPad and a PC are similar in terms of the prices you’ll see at the store, but you’re probably going to pay more for something powerful enough to do more than browse the web and with a life expectancy of more than a year or two. It can browse the web, but if you want to play games, type a term paper, or balance your budget with a spreadsheet, you will probably need to buy some software. Microsoft now offers Office for iOS, which combines Word, Excel, and Powerpoint into one app.
One expense many people find on the Windows side is virus protection, which can also add to the cost. However, if you want to go with added protection with another bit of software from Norton or McAfee, you’ll have to pay extra to pick it up.
Along with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, the newest iPads have good cameras built into them. The bigger Pro and the iPad Air 2 both have an 8 MP back-facing camera, which can still take pretty good pictures.
You can get some of the same versatility with a Windows-based tablet, but when compared to a laptop or desktop PC, the iPad certainly has an advantage.
While it has a chance to become slower or experience strange bugs over time, you can generally clear these up by simply rebooting the iPad.
iPad vs Laptop: Pros and Cons
In general, an iPad is better suited for touch screen applications like drawing or photo editing, as if you wanted a laptop for either of these, then you would also need a drawing tablet to get that fine control that a mouse or laptop touchpad can’t deliver. Video editors might value outright computing power the most, while students might value a light weight as the most important characteristic. These devices have more storage capacity, they come with a bigger screen and also a lot more computing power when compared to an iPad. But this increases the need to have bigger cooling mechanisms, like noisy fans, and that’s what adds to its size.
Laptops also have better graphics compared to an iPad which means you want to pick these if you are a gamer or are trying to perform video editing tasks on your device. iPads are good if you need to execute simpler tasks like streaming music or movies, use social media or browse the internet. iPads also have touchscreens, which is a massive bonus for anyone that needs to draw, or who would make use of the Apple Pencil. To replicate this with a laptop, you would need an additional drawing tablet which would really add to the weight and cost of your setup.
You can open up an iPad and start using it right away, but if you want to work on a laptop, you will have to wait for it to boot up. iPads do not come with a keyboard out of the box, and are entirely touch screen devices, which is tricky if your work needs you to type a lot. And if you get a Bluetooth keyboard, you will be carrying an extra item that defeats the purpose of portability. The battery takes a lot of space inside the device and it aims to have a long life.
A laptop battery, on the other hand, does not take up as much internal space because there are other essential components to give you the performance you want. So, an average laptop can only give you about 4-5 hours before you need to find a place to charge it. For the device to be portable, the manufacturer has to make some compromises and after performance, storage is the next thing to be reduced.
And if you look at battery life, the iPad Pro will give you 10 hours if you’re watching videos and surfing the web.
And it has an M1 CPU that is lightning fast on optimized programs and it is more than what a lot of laptops have to offer. You will have some luck with web broswers and email clients but there is not a vast range of software available as there is for a laptop.
If you want to edit videos with Final Cut Pro or use a full version of Photoshop, iPads are not the best choice, yet. If you want to try out games like World of Warcraft or League of Legends, tough luck with an iPad. Now, this one is also not for everyone and blanket statements can be dangerous, but if you are looking to replace a laptop with an iPad Air, here’s what you should consider. The smaller screen size and lack of a full-sized keyboard will always be a strike against it if your work involves a lot of typing.
If you want to use more than one app at a time, you will need more computing power and that does not come with an iPad Air. So, the iPad Air works well for everyday operations like streaming music or videos.
It also has some interesting features like compatibility with the Apple Pencil for those who create digital art, and of course, there’s Siri. This one is not the same as having a laptop but it can be a good choice depending on your priorities, particularly if you are on a lower budget, but still want something ultra-portable.
In terms of size and portability, iPads are thinner and lighter than Macbooks which makes it easy to carry them around.
The interface of an iPad is also intuitive and suitable for people of all levels of tech savviness and age. Laptops are also better if you are producing music or editing pictures or videos because of the bigger screen and better computing power. Laptops are also superior in terms of graphics and give you the option of an upgrade, which you will certainly benefit from if you intend to keep your device for more than two or three years. And finally, laptops come with more components like a better processor and more RAM for better performance, and a keyboard and trackpad, which make using it easy. Does not run the software that laptops do, which usually are more feature rich than what the iPad apps have to offer
A five or ten year old iPad will be essentially unusable, as modern apps will be unlikely to be compatable, and it is so underpowered when compared to a laptop. The only place where iPads can be better than laptops is for photo editing, thanks to the touchscreen and stylus support.
Should I Buy an iPad or a Laptop? A Comprehensive Guide
iPads and laptops serve many of the same purposes, and consumers often find themselves wondering which device will be the best fit for their needs. Many people find themselves choosing between an iPad and a normal laptop when shopping for a new device, and the introduction of iPadOS which has brought the two product categories closer than ever. In general, people choosing between the two products fall into one of three categories, so I’ve divided this article into three sections. Because I’m a big fan of hearing the conclusion upfront in articles and videos, I’ll follow that trend and say that in almost every case, it makes more sense to get a laptop instead of an iPad, especially if you’re a student and want the most value for your money.
Arguably the biggest distinguishing feature between a MacBook and iPad is the ability to use an Apple Pencil. Most students such as those studying courses like English, law or languages only really need a computer to research and type essays so have the most freedom of choice. Now, you may think that this is an ideal use case for an iPad but I would still argue that it makes more sense to get a laptop. If you want an iPad with a laptop screen size you can only chose the 12.9 inch Pro which is already nearly £1000 with half the storage compared to the equivalently priced MacBook Air.
A monitor is also something that many people think is worth investing in to increase computing efficiency and at the moment iPadOS just doesn’t work well with them. iPads are awesome devices, but laptops are essential for running certain niche academic and professional software. Now, for general use such as just a home or work computer, more of a case can be made for buying an iPad rather than a MacBook. If you know that you will only use your computer to casually browse the internet, deal with emails and watch videos, then an iPad may indeed be fine for your use.
Indeed, you can later buy another monitor and boost your computer productivity or even an external graphics card if you want to start video editing. While there are some equivalents to desktop software on the iPad such as the full version of Photoshop, most don’t come with the same functionality.
This is mostly used because the iPad is a touch first device so everything is designed with your fingers as the method of interaction rather than a mouse and keyboard which reduces the level of granular control possible. Plenty of accessories exist to help iPads feel more like laptops, but the latter still come out on top in terms of storage capacity and processing power.
The larger screen, more storage, and built in keyboard and a more versatile operating system makes it a more compelling purchase for most people. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
iPad Pro vs MacBook Air: What should you buy?
Comparing the iPad Pro 2020 vs MacBook Air 2020 may seem odd but it actually makes a lot of sense. 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. If you can afford to wait a bit, the recently revealed MacBook Air 2022 may change the calculus on this decision. 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.
Should I Buy an iPad or a Laptop?
If you need mobility, and you consume a lot of media content without so much typing, you should buy an iPad. On the other hand, if you are a mobile user, with a considerable amount of your workday in the street, or traveling, the obvious choice is an iPad. Writers, Architects, Graphic Designers, for example, all need the best possible display and the regular use of peripherals like mouse, and keyboard. An iPad is a very powerful tool with a cutting edge design, capable of bringing you an outstanding experience in terms of display, sound, and general performance.
With an iPad, you can do almost all of your daily tasks in a very intuitive, comfortable environment: from checking your email and social networks to manage some work apps to keep your info updated. Besides, an iPad is the perfect display to enjoy music and video using its peripheral devices: earphones, speakers and so on. The iPad Pro, for example, has a strong processor, the A12X; and its storage capacity goes from 64 GB to even 1 TB. Depending on your job, all the arsenal of features of an iPad can be less important than the availability of a keyboard or a bigger screen.
You can manage your email, social networks, banking accounts, and work apps. Specific features like screen size or the availability of peripherals will help you to make your mind without doubts.
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