Is an iPad a good replacement for a laptop?
Apple says the iPad can replace a traditional desktop or laptop for productivity, but that can be a big leap. These apps and tips will help make your iPad into a productivity machine. The iPad has become quite a versatile machine thanks to a combination of powerful hardware and several transformative accessories.
We asked the same question about the iPad Air 2022. Though I thought that tablet was a halfway decent laptop replacement when paired with the Magic Keyboard, it still wasn't as capable as the best Windows laptops or best MacBooks. Put another way, the iPad Air 2022 is amazing but it can't replace your laptop.
Can an iPad replace a laptop? It's a silly question because it has an obvious answer: yes, it can. It has a screen, runs apps, and can connect to the Internet.
The cost of iPad devices is expensive than that of android tablets. You also have to buy apps to use on your device. The accessories of the iPad are also expensive. For example, the external keyboard, touchpad, Apple pencil, card reader are expensive devices.
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.
Super-fast, large capacity SSD – (Capacity options: 128GB – 1TB) High-end performance – (Except for demanding software and games, iPad Pro is faster than most laptops of the market) Battery Life – (up to 10 hours of surfing the web and watching videos) Unique features – (E-reader, Siri, GPS, Apple pencil)
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In terms of writing articles on the iPad Air, there's the Magic Keyboard — which eases the process remarkably. With its built-in trackpad and floating design, the addition of a keyboard does make the overall user experience feel like you're using a laptop instead; albeit, a smaller version.
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 2021)
Software improvements have been a big part of the last couple of iPad updates. Apple added cursor and trackpad support to make the iPad Pro is a true laptop replacement for some users.
For most people, the answer is a quick and emphatic, no. That said, if you are one of those people who likes to work on two screens at once while you are at the library or coffee shop, go for it. If you like to do the heavy lifting on one device and use the iPad as a scratchpad and stylus, you should have them both.
What is the point of owning an iPad?
An iPad offers better portability than a laptop, and their big screens make them better for streaming video, reading websites, and getting work done than a phone. The iPad is also a great e-book reader.
As Skydiver said, it's no different than staring at a computer monitor all day long. As long as you do the things that were suggested, you have nothing to worry about, as long as you don't have some underlying medical issue that you are not sharing, or your own eye doctor tells you otherwise.
Use multiple apps at once and work between them.
Multitasking with iPad is more intuitive and powerful than ever. Work seamlessly across apps. Use Slide Over or Split View to work with multiple apps at the same time, and even drag and drop content between apps with touch or a trackpad.
You can take photos or shoot video, then go straight to editing and publishing, all on the same device. One of the biggest advantages of an iPad over a MacBook is cellular connectivity. An iPad Pro on the 5G network allows you to take MacBook-level performance and ultra-high speed internet almost anywhere.
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. This is why the 2020 Air retains a spot on our best laptops roundup.
Performance is where the MacBook Pro 13 shines over the iPad Pro. We can't compare a MacBook Pro with a dedicated cooling system to a thin tablet. Not only that — the MacBook Pro packs the 2022's M2 chip, an upgrade from 2020's M1 chip.
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Free and with Office 365 subscription
With the free versions of the apps, you can read your Word documents, use Excel data and present with PowerPoint. Your documents will look as good as they do on your PC and Mac, and better than ever on your iPad.
You can print a document or envelope from a printer set up to work with your iPhone or iPad. To learn about setting up a printer, see the instructions in the user guide for your device, or see the Apple Support article About AirPrint.
We think the iPad Air, last updated in March 2022, with its 10.9in display, modern design, low weight (461g), great cameras and hugely powerful processor, is a great choice for students.
Is Apple coming out with a new laptop in 2022?
Apple in June 2022 announced a completely redesigned MacBook Air based on the its new M2 chip, priced starting at $1,199 and launched on July 15, 2022. The previous M1-based MacBook Air from late 2020 continues to be available starting at $999.
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad (5th generation) iPad (6th generation)
- iPad (7th generation) iPad (8th generation)
- iPad (9th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch.
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch.
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
So here's the bottom line: If you can afford it, we recommend buying the new iPad Air. Performance is better than ever thanks to Apple's M1 chip, it is future-proofed with 5G connectivity, and the front-facing camera gives you more clarity when on video calls.
So, is the iPad Pro good for college? Sure. It will do everything you need it to do. But for the average student's budget and daily use cases — note taking, reading, video calls, watching lectures (and Netflix) — we think the extra bells and whistles aren't worth the price.
Some colleges offer a free iPad for students, or even an iPad Pro for students. A few extremely generous institutions (Seton Hall, for one) will even give students a free laptop and tablet. If you're wondering “How can I get a free laptop?” the answer is – do a school search, or just check out our list!
There are two storage options, 64GB and 256GB, which is generally enough for most users. It's a bit slow when you need to multitask but still powers through with the A13 chip. If you're not a power user, the iPad can do more than enough for you.
Our Verdict. The new MacBook Air looks like it's going to be the biggest shakeup of the Air lineup in years, and we'd certainly say it's worth the wait, given that it feels like it's only just around the corner.
However, seeing as how little has changed from the 2020 version, it's tough to recommend the new MacBook Pro based solely on its specs—especially since the M2 alone is certainly not worth the upgrade. It's not completely unusable for intensive tasks, but it's likely not powerful enough for heavy-duty workloads.
How Many Years Should an iPad Last? Apple usually supports a new iPad with iPadOS updates for at least five years and often several years longer. Most iPad models hold up well in performance, features, and storage over this timeframe which means that five years is a standard lifespan for any iPad.
iPad Pro (sixth generation)
Apple's 2022 iPad Pro lineup is by far the most capable and impressive iPad lineup we've seen, making it our best overall pick. It's also the most expensive, by a long shot.
What are iPads good for?
Use multiple apps at once and work between them.
Multitasking with iPad is more intuitive and powerful than ever. Work seamlessly across apps. Use Slide Over or Split View to work with multiple apps at the same time, and even drag and drop content between apps with touch or a trackpad.
Discontinued but Supported
The following models are no longer sold, but these devices remain within Apple's service window for iPadOS updates: iPad Air, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation. iPad mini, 4th and 5th generation. iPad Pro (12.9-inch), 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation.
The display on the iPad Air is still better
The display on the iPad Air supports the P3 wide color space, while the new iPad only supports sRGB colors. Also, unlike the iPad Air, the iPad does not have an anti-reflective coating, or a fully laminated display.
- Run powerful apps effortlessly. iPad works with the powerful apps you're familiar with, like Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Office, with the added ease of using them with touch. ...
- Use multiple apps at once and work between them. ...
- Store and share all your stuff with Files.
