iPads and laptops are popular computing devices that bring your world to your fingertips, whether traveling or relaxing on your couch. This guide will comprehensively evaluate the two devices based on their features, performance, ease of use, prices, battery life, and pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Various companies such as Lenovo, Dell, HP, Samsung, Acer, Apple, and Asus Display Smaller displays Larger display than iPads Portability Highly portable Some models are on the bulky side, limiting easy portability Compatibility Only compatible with Apple applications Works with most applications Upgradability Cannot be upgraded Can be upgraded to certain levels Price Starts at $300 Starts at $400 Operating System iPadOS Different OS depending on the manufacturer Battery Cannot be replaced Has replaceable batteries Touch ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay Buy Now on Amazon We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
iPads offer better battery life than laptops because they do not carry out CPU-intensive tasks requiring more power. This means you can enjoy playing video games and streaming your favorite movies without going low on battery.
The latest iPad models offer over 10 hours of battery life, making them suitable for travel and outdoor use. This can make it a challenge to use on the go because you must stay close to a power source to recharge every few hours.
Great Deal Dell Latitude 3380 13.3 HD, Core i5-7200U 2.5GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB Solid State Drive, Windows 10 Pro 64Bit, CAM, (Renewed) $168.47 The product is refurbished, fully functional, and in excellent condition. – This pre-owned product has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon qualified vendors. The screen and body show no signs of cosmetic damage visible from 12 inches away. – This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if it does not work as expected.
Laptops deliver unrivaled performance because of their robust processor and ample internal storage. The more premium models have a dedicated GPU for gaming, video editing, sharing files, and running other highly demanding applications at faster speeds. The iPad’s performance is limited because it lacks the CPU and large storage capacities.
It is, therefore, best suited for more straightforward tasks like listening to music, browsing the internet, social media, and note-taking.
Due to the intensity of its functions, laptops tend to overheat and therefore are fitted with a cooling system that occupies much space. The good thing with these devices is that you can use them anywhere in social gatherings, dining tables, or waiting bays without feeling inconvenienced.
Laptops come with keyboards attached out of the box, so you will not have separate items or extensions unless you want to use a wireless mouse. Charges wirelessly Buy Now on Amazon We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. It’s not unusual to see kids use iPads to watch and download content (and it’s safe to assume they aren’t techies). Laptops offer improved performance and graphics when compared to an iPad due to its larger size and more advanced processor. Pros Cons Compact, lightweight, and highly portable, making them ideal for travel Not ideal for multitasking because only one app is visible at a time Lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge Has limited internal storage capacity Has SIM support meaning they can be used as communication gadgets for short texts, social media, and calls Their processors cannot perform complex tasks such as video editing and graphics iPads are relatively cheaper than most laptops Has a smaller display compared to laptops Has an Apple Pencil for scribbling notes and drawing Only suitable for simple gaming Pros Cons Allows users to open multiple apps giving a full desktop experience They are heavier and bigger than iPads, so they may not be ideal for people on-the-go Ideal for professionals and users working on high-demand applications Touch screen features are limited to some laptops High computing power compared to iPads They have a shorter battery life compared to iPads The larger display makes them comfortable for daily use Has a built-in keyboard for better functioning High storage capacity allows for storing and transferring large files, installing apps, games, and much more without affecting performance Some laptops have dedicated graphic cards for heavy-duty gaming Have multiple HDMI and USB ports for connecting to external hard drives, printers, and other devices
Touch ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay Buy Now on Amazon We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. On the other hand, if you need to perform simple tasks like browsing, chatting on social media, and streaming music and videos, an iPad will serve you better.
The best iPad to buy
I’ve spent years using various iPads for both entertainment and work and have tested all of the current and recent models to know what they are best suited for. Out of the box, any iPad provides an excellent portable video or movie-watching experience; access to a wide array of apps and games through the App Store; the ability to read ebooks, documents, and web articles on a bright comfortably sized screen; and communicate via email, messaging services, or video calls. Apple also has a strong track record of supporting the iPad for many years with software updates, so even older models can benefit from the majority of new features.
That means you can often find excellent options on secondhand, open-box, and refurbished iPads that save a lot of money and still offer an up-to-date, performant experience.
The refurbished market changes too frequently for me to make specific recommendations in this guide, so everything here is based on the new, full retail cost. But I’ve personally bought multiple refurbished iPads over the years and have never regretted not having the latest and greatest model.
Released in 2022, the fifth-generation iPad Air offers a bright 10.9-inch high-resolution display, extremely fast performance thanks to its M1 processor, a modern design with even bezels around the screen, and excellent speakers. It’s compatible with the same keyboard and stylus accessories as the iPad Pro, so it can work well as a small laptop-like device or digital notepad / drawing tablet. The Air comes in a variety of colors, including blue, pink, purple, gold (which Apple calls “Starlight”), and a dark gray. The iPad Air can be paired with Apple’s Magic Keyboard to turn it into a small laptop replacement for productivity work. It’s significantly larger than a phone and provides a better video-watching, reading, and multitasking experience, but it’s not nearly as large as a laptop display, so it’s easier to carry around or hold when lounging on the couch. The size makes it easy to transition from reading in portrait orientation to knocking out an email in landscape mode.
The jump to 256GB costs $150 (at Apple’s regular retail price), but it’s worthwhile if you plan to hang on to this iPad for multiple years. If you are a frequent traveler and plan to use an iPad outside of your home a lot, however, a built-in cellular connection is often faster, more reliable, and easier than using your phone’s hotspot. I’ve used an iPad Pro with built-in cellular during a long train commute for years, and it’s been worth the cost every time.
The Air’s design is the same as that of the iPad Pro, with a squared-off aluminum back and sides and evenly proportioned bezels around its whole display. But when you’re holding the iPad Air in landscape orientation, the camera feels like it’s in the wrong spot, and Apple’s software tricks to correct it are not always the most convincing. (Apple has addressed this problem with its lower-tier 10th-gen iPad by moving the camera to the longer edge, but it has not yet done so for the rest of the lineup.)
The Air’s stereo speakers (one on the left and right side, when held in landscape orientation) are loud and clear and work great for movie or video watching. The Air also supports Apple’s latest Pencil ($129 retail, sometimes on sale for less) for writing and drawing, and it can magnetically snap to the side of the tablet for charging and storage. You, as a parent, will still want it to be updated to current software and security patches, so it’s important to avoid something that isn’t supported anymore.
The ninth-gen model has the traditional iPad look, with larger bezels around the screen and a home button (with Touch ID biometric authentication). It’s clear that even Apple realizes the 10th-gen iPad isn’t quite a direct replacement for the ninth-gen model due to its significantly higher price and different features. So as long as Apple continues to sell the ninth-gen model, that is our recommendation for budget shoppers and an iPad for kids.
It works fine as a stylus for writing and drawing on the screen, but there’s nowhere to store it when you’re not using it unless you buy a third-party case, and charging it requires plugging it into the iPad’s Lightning port, which is awkward and clumsy. In my testing, it never lagged or slowed down when I was using it, the screen is sharp and colorful, and it’s comfortable to hold for long stretches of time. The 12.9-inch Pro rewards you with a more expansive display for juggling multiple apps, especially if you use the new Stage Manager windowing feature. It also has the best screen on any iPad, with its Mini LED technology, providing searing brightness, deep blacks, and rich colors.
As a result, many iPad Pro 12.9 owners find they don’t end up taking it out of the Magic Keyboard case very often. A new feature introduced with the 2022 model allows you to preview line strokes or selections with the Apple Pencil before you put them onto the screen.
Most people do not need all of the features of the latest iPad Pro, which makes buying an older version a compelling option. At full prices, the iPad Air is a better option than the 11-inch Pro, but if you’re able to find a prior-year model refurbished or on sale, then it might be the one to go with.
The Mini provides access to many more reading sources than a Kindle, though it can’t match the battery life of Amazon’s e-reader. This is the only iPad that Apple doesn’t make a keyboard accessory for, and it’s obvious why: it’s just too small to really be comfortable to type anything of length on.
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 device for more than checking emails, one will suit your needs better than the other. If you want the iPad Pro to double as a laptop, you’ll need to buy a keyboard. The 11-inch iPad Pro’s base model comes with 8GB RAM, 128GB of storage, and no cellular connectivity for $799.
If you add Apple’s Magic Keyboard ($299), the total comes to $1,098, or the same cost of a 13-inch MacBook Air.
Doubling the SSD storage from 128GB to 256GB adds another $100 regardless of whether you opt for the 11-inch or 12.9-inch model—and the starting price ensures you will spend the same amount on this iPad Pro as a MacBook Air 13 M2 without a keyboard. There are a lot of ways to configure both devices, but the MacBook Air removes the headache of finding a reasonably-priced keyboard, and you get more for your money when it comes to storage.
After the form factor, the major difference between the iPad Pro and MacBook Air is the operating system. This means you can charge your laptop and plug in another device, like a flash drive, at the same time.
Both devices have Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, but the iPad Pro is the only one you can take with you to the park and play Doom in the cloud over a 4G or 5G connection. But if you want the cheapest option possible, then you’re stuck with an 11-inch display with a less powerful OS for the same price as a 13-inch MacBook Air M2.
The Retina LED-backlit display supports up to a 2560 x 1664 resolution with a max 500 nits brightness. Like both iPad Pro models, its display has a wide color gamut (P3) and True Tone technology, but that’s where the similarities end.
Both iPad Pro models have True Tone displays with a wide color gamut (P3) and 600 nits max brightness (non-HDR content). The 12.9-inch iPad Pro also has a 2D backlighting system with 2596 full-array local dimming zones, so contrast and colors really pop. 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. Along with better battery life, more ports, and a more robust OS, the MacBook Air boasts a better value than the iPad Pro; it already has everything you could possibly need.
But if you absolutely must have a touch-screen device, the iPad Pro is still a great, reliable machine.
I spent a week using the iPad Pro as a laptop — I ran back to Windows so fast
I recently reviewed the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch Gen 6 , which is easily the best tablet , killing everything in its radius that dares challenge it in terms of performance. I even liked the keyboard so much that I could see myself using it as a daily driver, which, of course, got Editor Kimberly Gedeon egging me on to use it for a whole week to see if that statement held up. The Apple iPad Pro is a stellar piece of hardware that I could easily switch to as a daily device because of its power and flexibility. It’s iPadOS that is the trash dumpster fire that won’t let me use this potential laptop replacement as anything but a tablet. After spending a week with it, I retested myself and actually hit my average exactly, indicating that users can grow accustomed to the keyboard with time. At first, I thought it was silly that the iPad floated with only a part of the stand and didn’t even flip 90 degrees.
Obviously I am going to be trash talking iPadOS, but the one thing that makes the iPad even remotely usable as a daily driver is Stage Manager. The Magic Keyboard is surprisingly sturdy, making the iPad Pro quite comfortable in a clamshell form factor
Stage Manager is a feature that lets you switch between apps fairly quickly, which is useful and convenient for users seeking to use the iPad Pro as a laptop Apple slapped the iPadOS title onto iPads back in 2019, but the company still treats it as iOS leftovers.
Then there’s Gmail, which looked like a gross nightmare — seriously, everything was disorganized and set up like a scam version of the real site. iPadOS isn’t the only thing wrong with the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement though.
The Magic Keyboard does a lot right with the space that it has to work with, but it still couldn’t fix the small touchpad. You can buy a fully decked out gaming laptop with that money, or more contextually relevant, a baseline 16-inch MacBook Pro. The small touchpad on the Magic Keyboard isn’t conducive to hours-long productivity work
It makes more sense to purchase a macOS laptop — the iPad Pro doesn’t even give you a price break
With iPadOS 17, the iPad becomes a true laptop replacement
Even with an excellent keyboard (and sometimes a mouse), tasks that revolve around typing or multi-tasking have generally gone to my MacBook Air. This is usually more an issue about the limitations of iPadOS or available apps than about processing power (the iPad Pro and Air now sport the same M1 and M2 processors as today’s Macs) or form factor. As did a good many Apple customers, I downloaded and installed the developer betas of both iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma when they became available in June. I started using iPadOS 17 first, mostly because it downloaded faster (and I wanted to install Sonoma onto a clean drive partition). Apple launched the multitasking feature on both iPadOS and macOS last year but it was pretty much a mess — particularly on the iPad. Stage Manager now delivers much more freedom and flexibility when working with multiple apps in a single workspace. These limitations are fairly minor annoyances, since you’re generally able to resize and reposition windows as you want; they simply snap to a grid close to where you put them. This makes the entire multitasking experience something that’s truly useful compared to the somewhat gimmicky split screen and slide over options of the past.
It feels and behaves like a full-blown desktop, and working with multiple apps at once is finally a real capability for the iPad. Since iPads have smaller screens than most Macs or PCs, the usability of multiple apps decreases as you open more of them (for me, anything beyond four becomes too cluttered to use effectively, though your preferences may vary). that require you to scroll or don’t position controls such as buttons or text boxes properly in windows; Amazon is an example of the former and Facebook can be one of the latter. While iPadOS 17 doesn’t change the dot-style cursor or make it behave more like the pointer on a Mac or PC, I (and several people I’ve spoken with) noticed that mouse tracking feels more accurate to the movement of your hand.
Universal Control is a Continuity feature designed to make shifting between a Mac and an iPad frictionless by letting the same keyboard and mouse work with multiple devices. The shifting of mouse performance when switching is a point of friction in that system, making things not quite so universal.
Notes gains useful features across all Apple platforms this year, but they feel most significant on the iPad. The effect is similar to laying out a personal website of data that links together ideas, information, media, checklists, contacts and anything else.
This may not seem like a major change, but if you use Notes extensively and add features like checklists, bulleted lists, formatting and media, you can now leverage all of that when you need to produce a document. You don’t need an external app to view, edit, highlight, cross off, or markup PDFs. AirDrop is having a big year across Apple devices as well; it’s the basis for NameDrop and new gestures for sharing content. It gets speed improvements, a bit more streamlined interface and the ability to finish transfers using the internet (so two users or devices don’t need to be in close proximity to one another).
While there isn’t a lot new for keyboards (beyond Shift-click/tap with Stage Manager), they’re a crucial part of making the iPad a true laptop replacement. There are a variety of options from Apple and third-party vendors, since any bluetooth or USB keyboard (with the appropriate dongle) will work with any iPad.
Today’s iPads are capable of doing pro-level work that until recently required a Mac or PC (sometimes a rather powerful one). Apple has always built a wall between a user’s personal apps, data, and accounts and work apps, data and accounts whenever a device is managed by the user’s employer, provided the employer uses some form of mobile management.
With iOS and iPadOS 17 (along with Sonoma), iCloud sync is now supported across any devices or Macs connected to their work Apple ID. It’s also important to note Apple will now support all Continuity features on all devices and Macs affiliated with a work Apple ID, including Handoff, Universal Control, and Continuity Camera (which allows a Mac to use another device’s camera for video chats).
The iPad Pro and Air models that share the same processors with Apple Silicon Macs are spectacular examples of this potential.
Apple seems to have finally gotten the message a lot of its customers have long known: the iPad is a serious tool that needed serious software to unlock its potential.
Using an iPad Air/Pro as a backup or repl…
These models have more RAM (essential for performance) and larger screens (always useful when composing of reading documents) – and include additional capabilities for connection of an external monitor.
iPad Pro 2022: Here’s what it needs to be a great laptop replacement
With more power under the hood (including Apple’s new M2 chip, in the iPad Pro 2022’s case) and some other upgrades across the board, we’re eager to get some in for testing to see how they improve on last year’s models. The Apple iPad Pro 2022 has been tipped for a fall release timed to coincide with the postponed arrival of iPadOS 16. This, along with the tablet’s expected 12.9-inch mini LED display and Magic Keyboard compatibility, makes us ask the age-old question: Can the iPad Pro 2022 replace your laptop?
But could the iPad Pro 2022 finally make the dream of a tablet that can replace your laptop a reality?
Not only would such a panel be large enough for watching videos, playing games and for work, but it also ensures we’re not carrying a bulky device in our backpacks. Rumors suggest Apple is working on an OLED iPad, but that specific slate isn’t expected until 2024 at the earliest. Based on our Apple M2 benchmarks and our own hands-on experience with the laptops sporting the processor, we found it capable of delivering impressive performance. The Magic Keyboard has just enough space to let you comfortably type, though folks like myself with large hands could still find it somewhat cramped. To that end, Apple is introducing a feature called Stage Manager to both iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura that can help enhance your productivity with an iPad. In summary, Stage Manager gives you a new way to multitask by putting the app you’re working on front and center while letting you operate many windows at once and gathering them together into a single pile. After all, we had similar hopes with previous Apple tablets — not to mention the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. We’ve yet to see a tablet become a full-on laptop replacement, but perhaps the iPad Pro 2022 can deliver the goods in that regard.
When that happens, we’re going to not only put it through our usual litany of benchmarks but also test how well it does as a laptop replacement under real-world conditions.
Why the iPad still can’t replace my laptop
The idea sounds so appealing: Instead of using a clunky laptop, just carry around Apple’s lightweight tablet with a snap-on keyboard and trackpad. The iPad might be where I go to focus on a single task or enjoy a change in computing scenery, but traditional PCs are where my serious work happens. With the new 10th-generation iPad and its Surface-like Magic Keyboard Folio, Apple continues to push the laptop replacement concept. If you’re used to working on a laptop, the 10- or 11-inch screens on most iPads will feel cramped while juggling lots of browser tabs or running two apps in split-screen mode.
Yes, you can connect OneDrive or other sources to Apple’s Files app, but you can’t automatically download folders for offline viewing, and sync operations have been extremely finicky in my experience. Although Apple added extension support to Safari in iOS 15, the ecosystem still doesn’t compare to that of a real desktop browser.
Later this year, Apple plans to add proper external display support for the iPad, giving you an interface that fills the entire monitor. While you can still plug in other iPads to external monitors, those without USB-C output will be unbearably laggy, and you’ll end up with a cramped 4:3 aspect ratio. To me, that means the iPad still works best primarily as a tablet with occasional laptop benefits, rather than a device that serves both needs equally.
For reading books, watching videos, or playing touchscreen games, the iPad’s instant-on, lightweight nature is still unparalleled.
The iPad Pro is Designed to Replace Your Laptop
This has to do with a combination of the nearly 13-inch screen size, the addition of a Magic Keyboard, use of the Apple Pencil and the super capable iPadOS 16. As we just noted, the iPad Pro packs the same M2 chip that debuted in MacBooks earlier this year.
But you can also use the tablet as a movie shooting and editing studio, a place for drawing and, yet again, a day-to-day work machine (thanks to Stage Manager, which gives you the ability to resize and overlap apps – as you would on a MacBook). I had a combination of Gizmodo Australia articles, YouTube Tabs, Apple Store spec pages, the CMS we use to publish articles (42 tabs in total) and Rick and Morty was still playing in a little square, and only then were things the tiniest bit laggy.
I then used the iPad Pro to write this article, fiddled with a tonne of things, drew in Procreate, took some photos and I was down to 34 per cent when I put it on my coffee table before dinner. The 12.9-inch liquid retina XDR display results in gorgeous graphics that are rich and true to life.
The sixth-gen iPad Pro offers 1,000 nits of brightness (1,600 peak), ProMotion 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and the whole screen is powered by over 10,000 Mini-LEDs. Video stream is so crisp and clear – I don’t usually sit down to watch Avengers: Endgame when I perform the battery test, but had to, the graphics were gorgeous.
The sixth-gen iPad Pro has support for Dolby Atmos and there’s no vibration hum that happens when the tablet is resting on a table and you have four-to-six people talking during a meeting.
While you’re not exactly going to be running around with this thing as a photo-taking machine, video calls is where I saw the sheer quality of the Pro’s camera shine.
Centre Stage tracks you while you’re in a video call, which although I’m still not used to this, is a great feature for making sure you’re in the frame. Both of these cameras are fine – you could easily grab footage that would look good enough, if not great, if your iPhone is out of reach.
The cameras actually boast LiDAR Scanner, touted as helping to capture the perfect photo or video, or even set up a multi-camera filmmaking rig (think depth-sensing). This isn’t something I could sufficiently test, but can only imagine the camera quality, mixed with the software smarts and Apple’s M2 would actually produce this quite well.
A lot of the reason I now consider the 2022 iPad Pro to be Apple’s shot at a laptop replacement comes down to software.
iPadOS 16 brought with it a lot of brilliant capabilities such as for collaboration and usability (Stage Manager), but partnering these with the M2 chip gives you an elevated experience.
I could go on and on about the best features of iPadOS 16, but it’s clear Apple is nailing the tablet space and making it something you can use instead of a laptop. It’s also not a tablet I’d recommend unless you’re going to push the M2 chip to the extreme – video editing, design, working.
They’ve created four different versions of the same thing and have somehow made it so every one of them offers something completely different to every person in the market for a tablet. To get the experience I had, you’re looking at a total of $4,197 (12.9-inch 1TB Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil).
Apple iPad Pro 2021 review: It can replace the laptop, but we don’t want it to
Apple’s M1 chip Center Stage feature Cons Slight heating issue Which means that Apple has suited the iPad to offer as much power as its laptops and PCs, at least on paper.
It aligns with Apple’s plan of essentially making its iPads replacements for real laptops. On the 2021 iPad the M1 improves performance, making it buttery smooth to use, delivering great battery life, etc.
However, the exact improvement in performance (where it really matters) is hard to spot unless the tasks you engage in require that kind of power. For example, my daily work involves mostly dealing with Google Docs, a proprietary Content Management System (CMS), some rudimentary photo editing, web browsing, and social media. Apple also has its developers adapting their apps to the M1, which is good for iPad users — particularly those who are actually looking to replace their laptops with the tablet. I can and have edited and written content on the iPad as well and it works flawlessly, but if I have to stare at a screen for 9 hours a day, it’s more comfortable if it’s a bigger one. If it really came down to picking one out of the two, the iPad would make much more economic sense without compromising on what it can deliver as compared to the MacBook – and that matters. The problem areas on the 2021 iPad Pro are a slight heating issue and its front camera placement that Apple REALLY needs to change. If you are holding the iPad in your hand, you are going to end up covering the camera which interferes with the face unlocking feature unless it’s placed on the keyboard.
These 3 accessories transform my iPad into a laptop replacement (sometimes)
Most iPads go through a period where I try to use them for a few weeks, and then they are quickly forgotten until I find it being used as a mouse pad or a coaster for a mug. Also: This tiny keyboard is perfect for Raspberry Pi boards and smart TVs I think the difference comes down to the bigger display and the fast processor capable of doing some serious hardcore work, like processing 4K and 5.1K video. This iPad can even handle editing videos encoded using the super-heavyweight ProRes 422 HQ codec.
It’s an absolute titan of a system, rivaling the MacBook Pro in terms of power and performance. There are three accessories that have helped me transform my iPad Pro into a device that can, in many cases, replace my laptop.
It clips on with magnets, has a brilliant folding stand, works flawlessly, adds a second USB-C port for charging, and protects the tablet when it’s being transported. I love the precision it offers compared to jabbing at the screen with my finger, or even using the trackpad on the Magic Keyboard. Some apps, such as the new DaVinci Resolve for iPad, feel like they are designed with the idea that people are going to be using the Apple Pencil. The user interface is much more densely packed than what we are used to for a mobile app, and having a high-precision pointing device makes a huge difference. So much so, I find myself jabbing at my MacBook Pro with the Apple Pencil, and wishing the two would cooperate. Adding storage this way is not only a lot cheaper than buying an iPad Pro with more storage (Apple charges a whopping $700 if you want to upgrade the iPad Pro from the base 128GB to 1TB, whereas a 4TB Crucial X8 is only $249.99), but it’s also a lot more convenient because you can switch between multiple drives.
For example, if I’m hiking to do some photography or videography, I’d much rather take the tablet than the laptop (it’s smaller, lighter, has better battery life, and it’s a lot less fragile).
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