It's one of the least marketed Apple products, which explains its small numbers. It's more popular with older folks than younger folks. It has some unfortunate drawbacks. It lacks a dedicated dialer app which keeps it from replacing an iPhone. It doesn't get quite as much priority as the iPhone from Apple. It doesn't have the sleep app and didn't have a weather app until recently.
Funny thing, the iPad is absolutely my favorite Apple product ever. Tablets are just so much easier to use than a laptop - smaller, lighter, no keyboard gets in the way, but still large enough to not feel cramped for 2-handed use or for multitasking. And if I’m wanting to do something that would benefit from a keyboard or stylus, it’s easy enough to attach those, then take them off later. I love to use my iPad for entertainment during meals or drawing in my free time, and nothing will ever do those two things better than a tablet can. Everything else I need a big screen for that I’d otherwise do on a laptop, my iPad is at the very least adequate. Other than proctored tests for college I guess, but I can dig out my old laptop a few times a year for occasional things like that. That said, I’ve got my eye on folding phones for my next phone, and that’ll do tablet things 90% as well while fitting in my pocket, other than keyboard things. So I could see myself in 10 years having a Z Fold, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds, and a Surface Pro for productivity devices. Not really seeing great reasons to stick with Apple in the future, I can get more things done in one less device than I have now outside the walled garden.
Yeah I like tablets a lot as well but if I was doing a lot of video editing I can understand triaging a Mac over it. But to me it's important to have stylus and touch support and I don't need to do a lot of video editing.
@@michaelcorcoran8768 Yeah, depends on what you need to do for sure. Some people can get by with nothing but a phone for all of their personal and professional needs and wants. I like drawing. It’s a recent hobby of mine, only been doing for 3-4 months, but I love it and I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving it. So I need a drawing tablet. And fortunately, the things I need a full computer OS for are few and far enough between that a mid-range 2019 laptop will probably have me set for the next decade, I can put up with the fact that it’s a little slow and will get slower every year if I’m only pulling it out once every 2-3 months anymore.
Really? Android? Every Apple user I know who switches over to Android comes screaming back on their knees apologizing profusely and asking Apple for forgiveness. It's a soulless and boring platform with nothing to really offer. Android devices have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years before becoming e-waste, while Apple ones fetch a hefty premium in the marketplace.
@@bobweiram6321 I’ve heard stories of people switching to Apple, from Apple, loving their new platform of choice, hating it. Really depends on the situation. Android offers two main things Apple doesn’t, at least that I’m interested in: - they’ll get off my back and actually let me do whatever I want on my phone rather than deciding for me that sideloading is too big a security risk as if I don’t do that literally every time I use my PC - folding phones And on the other hand, there’s literally nothing that’s Apple-exclusive that I use regularly and would miss. Anyway, get off your high horse and accept that there’s a reason why roughly the same number of people buy Samsung as buy Apple. Both make good phones :) EDIT: forgot to address your “2-3 years” part. I don’t tend to sell my devices. I use them until they stop being adequate for me, then they either become a backup or I give them to a family member who wants them. I still used a 2013 model iPad Mini periodically until early 2023. I have a friend who uses a 2019 low-end Samsung still today and the only issue he has is he damaged the charging port, so clearly the chip speed is plenty for years of use too.
When I had to do audits at my old job, I loved taking out my iPad and having myself & other co-workers just be wowed with how simple it is to work on documents.
I’m actually the complete opposite. I’m not a content creator so my Mac is actually my least used Apple product as I only ever reach out to it whenever I wanna do some “seriously personal stuff.” For most days I usually just reach for my iPad since I find the web quite limiting at times on my iPhone. I actually daily drive 2 iPads - a 2018 11 inch iPad Pro that I usually use for media consumption and general surfing while working at my desk and a cellular iPad Mini I bring along everywhere I go when I’m out and about (since I find lugging around my 11inch too big and cumbersome). I always have them fully charged and at the ready since I use them so much. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
As an avid iPad user, I totally get it. My case is sort of the opposite though. I use my iPhone a lot, I use iPad a lot (note taking, movies, music, writing, a bit of video editing) but Im pretty sure MacOS just would not be my thing and I would not use that a lot, so much so that I got myself a Windows laptop and its already the device that I use the least. I can definitely see how someone would be the opposite.
I found myself in a similar boat here. After graduating college, my 2017 iPad Pro was just lying around all the time. It is still an amazing device, with a 120hz screen, and 4 speakers, very good for note-taking and content consumption. But not being a student anymore, I used it significantly less and used TV or just my phone for media. So I decided to sell it to a student who actually draws and takes notes. I think that's better off for both of us.
I use my iPad 9th gen everyday mostly for reading and media consumption like streaming and yt. Only reason I would upgrade later on is because I plan to use the air for possible editing and such
I personally love my iPad Pro And use it daily. Though I completely agree that it lacks a ton of features and apps that should be there and can't replace a laptop or anything else for most people. I do however find it a great tool that makes my other devices better.
If your wife is using the iPad Pro primarily for reading I HIGHLY recommend you buy her an e-reader as a gift! Kindle, Nook, or Kobo are the best out there. I used to read on my iPad mini and I got a lot of eye fatigue (which your wife might experience) and finally caved and bought myself a Kindle Paperwhite. It’s been such a huge difference on my eye fatigue and allows me to read for long periods of time without getting a headache. Anyways just a suggestion 🤷♀️
Not blaming you, iPadOS is keeping disappointing time after time. I still use an ipad for gaming and media. Currently I have the 11" M1 iPad Pro, which is really good but much bigger than my old mini 5. I'm waiting for the mini 7, if it gets the A17 chip Im selling my ipad and getting the mini. No need for the pros tbh.
I wish I had more reasons to use my iPad. That being said, bringing it on music gigs as a digital back up has been a life saver. There have been times where I've needed to add an extra piece to a wedding gig AT the ceremony (I'm an operatic tenor) and I've been able to either take pics of the piece from a book, or get the piece air-dropped from the director or organist. Most cantors use iPads or a mix of the church's hymnal and an iPad for music.
I own a 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 and it would be the last apple device I can see unloading. It is not mentioned much but musicians use the 12.9's a lot as sheet music readers. With sheet music software the PDF sheet music is about the same size as printed and with the Apple Pencil to annotate the music it is about the perfect sheet music reader. Combine that with a bluetooth pedal that turns pages for you and it is a perfect musician combo.
Ever since I finished college a couple months ago, my iPad Pro has been sitting around collecting dust. Although, I haven’t decided to sell it yet, largely because I do find myself occasionally using it to make a drawing or two, and I might get into more of it in the future. But there’s no guarantee it will happen.
I wanted to love the iPad, but I am a software developer, so I need a desktop OS like macOS. With the iPad hardware, it has the capability to replace my M1 MacBook Air, but iPadOS just doesn't cut it for my needs. As a result, whenever I want to do anything more than what my iPhone can do, my first choice will be the Mac. Final Cut and Logic are good first steps, maybe Xcode will follow soon? Even so, there is still a long way to go. If I compare that with my parents, then they are massive iPad users, they have no use for a desktop OS, most of what they do is go on social media, reply to emails, browse the web etc. So yeah, there are a lot of people out there who don't need a desktop OS where the iPad is perfect. It is also a lot better for me, gone are the days where I am tech support where they would have problems with their Windows PC or even Mac. However, they are using the iPad Air. The iPad Pro on the other hand could be more of a laptop replacement with more desktop features, maybe even a 15 inch model, add some more ports, some cooling, and M3 Pro or Max. I was hoping split iOS into iOS and iPadOS would be a good thing, that we would see more iPad features added, but all we have to show for it is Stage Manager and half baked Pro apps. What's worse, iPadOS lags behind iOS every year with things like widgets etc.
I can also relate to not really using my iPad anymore, nowadays the only times I pick it up is when I’m traveling so I can watch media on the airplane for example, or if I’m doing a heavy workload on the go, and I have my MacBook with me I can utilize it as a second display
I tend to use my iPad Pro (11" 2018) quite a bit, but honestly, I'm still doing the same stuff on it that I did with my first iPad in 2013. It is basically just for web browsing while I'm watching TV and for checking my emails / reading books. If I'm doing anything more complex than that then I'll just grab my computer. I went through a phase where I tried to use it more (eg: for Excel, Word, note taking etc.), but each time I'd try I'd just give up after a month or so. I could use my phone if I had to, but I prefer the large screen on the iPad. It seems like with every iPad I've owned, I'm not upgrading it for new features or because the old one got too slow or stopped getting updates like I'd do with most devices. It is simply because after 3-5 years the battery life gets too bad for it to last a full day.
I like my iPad mini for debug my web apps while I work on them from my Mac. It's nice to demo iOS/Safari features with too. But most of the time (a lot) I use it for music recording and production. GarageBand on the Mac is definitely more capable, but I kind of like the simplicity/limitations of only having a few things to manage while recording new ideas. It also feels more naturally for me to mix and master my songs with my fingers, right next to me while I play guitar and drums. The USB-C port works great with my Scarlett audio interface too! So I like it for the niche things I use it for, lol. And when I eventually move to Logic though, I'll want to do that on the Mac, since I don't want to deal with a recurring subscription vs. a one time pay alternative (and all the benefits of using a full audio editor with keyboard and touchpad).
I received an M2 iPad Pro earlier in the year and it currently sits as a very important device for my work and hobbies, and at the center of it all is Apple Pencil support. My work (I'm an architect) involves a lot of drawing, writing, note-taking and document signing, while my primary hobby (digital art and illustration) lives and dies by the Pencil as well. The iPad is my foot into the door of the Apple ecosystem, and I wholeheartedly enjoy the device as it is.
I use my iPad to make music, and have been very happy with it. Although I had upgraded my iPhone from a 6 plus to a 12 mini at the start of the year and realized my phone is also very capable for beat making, the iPad’s larger screen is still essential for what I want to do.
Totally agree with doing more with less. I found myself using my iPad more than my MacBook Pro, so I sold it, along with my 2017 10.5in iPad Pro/gen 1 Apple Pencil. I upgraded to the 2022 12.9in iPad Pro/gen 2 Apple Pencil and absolutely love the combo!
Recently I bought my first iPad (9th gen) for something about $250 and it's been really great. Since then I barely use my phone while at home, all youtube, movies and book stuff is going only through the iPad. I tried to use MacBook as a media consumption device but found it way less comfortable - it's heavier and because of the keyboard you can't use it in bed. Also nice 9:41 video duration :)
Regarding the poll, I am quite the opposite, my iPad Pro replaced my MacBook and is now my primary working device and now I only occasionally turn on the iMac. My private work is mostly browsing and research, reading, moderate document writing and mails. I have the 12.9” M1 iPad Pro with the Logitech combo touch and it’s fantastic. I can do all my work on the iPad and in the free time I watch YT, movies and series on it, it’s so nice! The Mac is only for extended document formatting before submitting and it holds the backup of all my iDevices. I had my MBP since 2013 and a iPad 2nd and later 4th gen alongside. I immediately bought the 12.9” iPad Pro at its first release 2015. Then in 2020 I bought the 2018 12.9”. And now last year the M1. I did not use the MBP after 2017 extensively and and fully replaced it with my new iPad in 2020. Never looked back. It’s amazing.
I got an iPad Pro for school and online classes, and I half-replaced it with my windows laptop. So far I barely use my laptop unless I need it to back up my iPad. The iPad is a powerful little machine and I absolutely love it. I might get a MacBook in the future but for now this iPad is useful. Really hope to use this device for a long time.
Personally, I have an iPad Air 3 from 2019 with a lighting port and Apple Pencil gen1 I use it every single day for readings, notes, media consumption ,word processing basically everything as a student. Gonna upgrade next year, but it still works pretty fine.
I have the iPad mini 6 and I really love it. I also have the iPhone 14 Pro Max. I use both of them frequently. I use the iPad mini mostly for media consumption. It’s just the perfect size and weight for portability or holding. Although in the house I can do pretty much everything I can do with my phone because I have Wi-Fi calling turned on so I can even talk on the phone with it, look at photos, email, Safari, etc.. For me it’s the mac that I don’t really use that often except for work which is needed. Wow, 64 GB. You must’ve been running out of space often. I have the 256 iPad and iCloud Drive loves to try to fill up the space with my files this morning. I only had like 40 GB of space left so I just backed it up and I didn’t restore from back up and after everything was back including iCloud photos it’s only taking up 55 GB of storage now. It may have been other things like system data etc. Oh, if they announce the iPhone 15 ultra are you interested in getting that? Thunderbolt 4 would be really awesome.
Have both an iPad Pro and MacBook Pro. Love them both, but for very different things. Photo and Video editing, Mac. Daily carry for work and media consumption, iPad. They really fill different niches in my life.
I’m on an iPad mini 6, I use it every day, it’s my main computing device. The size makes it handy to bring with me, and I use it to edit, organise and share photos that I transfer wirelessly from my Olympus camera. If it gained some sort of decent external display support, my M1 MacBook Air would be up for sale very soon.
I'm using a 512GB iPad Pro 12.9". It's the Goldilocks form factor--not too big and not too small. It's the perfect media consumption device and combined with RU-vid it's digital crack. I do wish it had more capabilities like a better file manager, but It does almost everything I need without being chained to a desk or having to squint at a small screen with an awkward UI.
I used to use my iPad minis all the time, had multiple units in different rooms of the house and it upgraded to newer models periodically to keep them running smoothly (not only did they lose support for new software versions, but the older ones would slow down drastically as the years passed by). I tried the non-mini iPads but found them too awkward and heavy to hold for long periods of time. Nowadays, I find myself using my iPhone and old iPhones I kept instead of the iPads. I have an old iPhone in the kitchen and bathroom and usually use my current iPhone while in the bedroom, though the iPad mini 5 is also in there. I have an older iPad mini 4 in the kitchen that just sits there collecting dust. For how I use these devices, the iPhones are easier to work with for me - easier to hold, have better sound, better cameras, and do everything I need them to do.
I traded in my piece of ish butterfly keyboard Intel MacBook and went all in on the 12.9 inch iPad Pro 2018. I loved it at the time and rocked it proudly, but MacBooks are so much better now, and Apple themselves clearly doesn’t take the iPad Pro seriously by all their actions up to this point. I got an M1 MacBook Air that I use for any real work now. I gave my iPad Pro to my little sister. I still like the iPad, but I’ve made my peace with the fact that it’ll never really reach its true potential and is better suited for content consumption for most people. I have a regular iPad Air for just that reason, but it’s just damn near impossible to justify an iPad being the main computer for anyone when even Apple gives it basic features that the iPhone already got last year.
I mean, honestly you are so right about this. I have an iPad Pro 12.9 M1 and with the keyboard it was like $1,600. I think the screen is even better than my Macbook M2 Pro Max 16" but it's smaller. So, what do I use it for? 2nd screen while traveling which frankly feels like more of a flex at SE asian starbucks and Call of Duty like 3x a month. It's a theoretical backup laptop and power bank also. But yea, final cut was such a buzz kill.
Yup, very well said, each of us has different use cases and needs from our iPad. For me, I love my 11 inch M2 iPad Pro setup with its magic keyboard and Apple Pencil. It suits my needs as a college student perfectly. Portable, amazing note taking and drawing device, the Photoshop and the rest of the Adobe suite for iPad works great, and the files app is good enough for me. My gaming laptop is now basically my home desktop so if I need more power, or the full featured adobe suite, or a bigger screen I’ll boot it up, but for most of my student needs my iPad and iPhone is very much capable of many things all on their own.
I’ve been dual-wielding an iPad Pro and mini for a few years now, but with the arrival of folding phones, my iPad mini is starting to feel old-fashioned. I think the way things are going, I’ll probably get rid of my iPhone mini and iPad mini for an Android foldable and keep my iPad Pro for the heavier work stuff.
Same for me. Sold off my M1 iPad Pro for a Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and never looked back. All the desktop-grade computing power in the iPad Pro, yet bogged down on what is basically a modern repeat of Windows RT and Windows S Mode.
To answer your question, I watched this video on my iPad Air 4. I also use it at work to sign documents with my Apple Pencil, and I put it next to my work laptop to do Teams meetings. There’s nothing about newer versions of the Air, or the Pro, that makes me want to upgrade. The A14 is plenty fast for what I need, and likely to be for many years to come.
I went for the Galaxy Tab S9+ 🙌🏻 I think iPad is phenomenal if you're in the Apple Ecosystem or you're a digital artist, but Samsung has been doing amazing things with their devices so happy costumer here
Well we are in two different ship right now! Back in March I started moving to the iPad first approach. Only using my MacBook to build software, or compile software with features Swift Playgrounds just doesn’t provide. Almost 95% of my code was written on the iPad. I just love the flexibility and iPad gives me. I don’t find myself chasing a rabbit down a hole that often any more. Like you said through, the apps support isn’t there. That is one main reason why I learned how to program. I could go on for hours why I like and dislike about this setup. At, the end of the day I get more work done having an iPad first approach.
So I used to use an iPad to take notes and for one particular app/use case. But i could easily do both things on any tablet, iOS or Android along side basic media consumption tasks/emails etc. So I will always have position for one in my tech lineup, but agreed, when I'm not using it for that one function I almost never touch it in the middle of my week. I use it maybe 1-2 times a month. So I totally get not needing one. I still do use my iPad as my "computer" when I'm not home because my on the go needs aren't heavy uses. But i still have a real computer at home for the times where i do need more. Overall ipads are a very nuanced product that have to "fit" in a users lifestyle. Which is awkward when any form of technology should be able to enhance our lives and fit in anywhere but ipads and tablets in general have a hard time distinguishing themselves in how to best accomplish that.
I would just say that while Android can be a viable replacement for an iPhone, and Windows can be a viable replacement for a laptop, nothing really comes close to iPad in the tablet space.
@@katrinabryceIt depends what you use the tablet for. Android tablets lack tablet specific apps, but they are great for media consumption and inexpensive. On the other hand, Samsung makes premium android tablets with features beyond regular android, such as floating windows and even a desktop mode (DEX).
I’ve been using an iPad since the iPad mini back in 2012. The iPad has always been my most used Apple product aside from my Apple Watch. I prefer using it while I’m exercising and I consumer hours of RU-vid a week on it. I have the 2020 iPad Pro now and I got it over the MacBook Air with intel back in the summer of 2020 to use for distance learning and I find it very useful when studying.
I on the other hand have two iPads and use them daily. One for RU-vid work specifically (editing, thumbnails, emails, website management) - the other for content consumption, banking, shopping, general browsing, etc. The phone is too cramped and I’ve always hated lugging around a laptop. Certainly could be some improvements, but they’re definitely not for everyone and their work flow.
Love my iPad Pro 11 inch. It works well since 2018. I just recently got an iPad 8th generation from Facebook marketplace for $190 and it's a good basic iPad. I can't live without tablets. They are versatile and compact. I watch a lot shows, movies RU-vid and do some work on my iPad Pro as well. I don't use a MacBook so it works well for me.
GREAT VIDEO. Valid points and interesting, I have a 2020 pro and I love it, although I beat the hell out of it, it still works fine and great, but I have no compulsion to get anything newer at this point. I definitely agree with some of your points, and the fact that each OS/device seems to have its strengths and weaknesses and some are better at certain things than others.
Currently use an iPad Pro 11 M1 for school along with an iPad 10th gen. The pro with its keyboard and pencil is my main driver but I use both daily, often simultaneously.
I still use my iPad every day SA TV to watch out of market sporting events. Occasionally I watch sports movies. I also use it on the go. It does have Wi-Fi and cellular capability, but I’ve done away with the cellular just to do Wi-Fi because we don’t have that much trouble with our Internet. Thank goodness. When it is time to upgrade, I’m looking at getting the Wi-Fi only model.
I always thought I needed the latest and greatest. This channel has taught me otherwise. I am completely rethinking the iPad. I think I’ll still need one, but I can downgrade and still be satisfied. Separately I also think iPads make great retail and commercial products. I’ve used them in my last three retail jobs and they have made my job so much easier. I think that’s the target they should be going after.
I have an iPad 6th gen. It’s getting old and the battery is degraded from how much I use it in college. I use it mainly for notes, drawing, and as a second screen with sidecar. I also have it for games. I’m thinking of waiting for September when iPad Pros get refreshed. I’m afraid about when I finish college, my iPad will no longer have uses, like during this summer break.
I am perhaps in the minority here (so far), but for me the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 is the most used of any Apple devices I have. I love it and use it everyday. I have it on a pillow pad on my lap and I watch video content, do word processing, process photos with Lightroom, social media, quick glances at weather, reading books, follow news and sports, banking, etc., often doing at least two of these activities at the same time. For me, it is very convenient and useful and my favorite device. Having said that, I agree with some of your frustrations about the limitations of the software. Heck, I think Stage Manager pretty much sucks right now and I mostly use split screen. I also have the M1 iPad Pro that I take to work, but I like the larger 12.9” screen better.
Well Drew, to answer your question at the end of the video, yes I still use my iPad. Not as much as devices but that has to do more with me and ware I am at in life and what my tech needs are at the moment rather than with the tablet in general. Actually, my iPad in the iPad Mini 2 from 2013 is stuck on iPadOS 12 from 2018 that even as of this year 2023, still gets security updates. Yes there are things that I wish it could do but unlike with you what problems I have can be fixed with upgrading, I do plan to get the iPad 9 and from then on I plan to keep it as long as I can, other than a few minor things I can't really think of many good reasons to update after that. Btw do you still plan to review the Pixel Tablet like you said might do?
Using my M1 Pro now, it’s my primary personal computing device as I try to only use my laptop for work. Using the iPad is my break from work on these devices, i read, watch movies and do some online schooling right here.
It’s the opposite for me. I have a MacBook Pro, an iPad Pro 11, and iPad mini 6. I use my iPads ENDLESSLY. Sometimes I have to force myself to use my MacBook.
I actually got rid of my personal MacBook in favor of an M1 iPad Pro. But, my use-case is obviously different. I use an employer-provided Macbook for work and I have a desktop PC for gaming. I just needed a media consumption device with a larger screen than a phone because I don’t own and don’t need a tv.
I have a 2020 iPad, and I use it constantly for reading and streaming media. It works really well for this. Not sure what I’d use a Pro version for. It would be nice to have USB C, but not worth upgrading just for that.
Love my iPad Pro and it’s exactly for the reasons a lot of RU-vidrs seem to hate it. I like the simple OS. Let’s me focus. I don’t think it’s overkill at all as I can push it with the myriad of art apps I use. Especially animation. Ditto for the Pencil. Honestly I use my Mac Studio for old school computing and iPad for on the go stuff and illustration, animation and some digital sculpting in Nomad. Not sure who really wanted a tablet with a flappy keyboard and missing buttons as their laptop replacement. It’s a companion device and always was marketed as that.
There’s a lot of design flaws in most iPad models. From the screen getting heated by the chip behind it, resulting in a huge white spot (among other screen-related issues), to the whole thing caving in from normal use, turning it into a Beyblade arena - speaking of the squared off models. Source - diagnosing iPads and iPhones for a living, going as far back as iPad 5, occasionally older. Funnily enough, the model that stands the test of time best is the basic iPad - for that reason, even the iPad 6 is a good buy nowadays. It’s still supported, and the thing just doesn’t break… on its own.
I use mine everyday for note taking , meetings , media consumption , games , a lot of reading and productivity at my work. (When I use the Microsofts office apps) But I have a iPad 10th gen so it's not like I wanted it to do more than that. I don't need editing and external display support or stage manager I have my Mac for that. But this is how I use my iPad.
I just bought an iPad after waiting until the mini got upgraded to 120 hz oled with 2tb. I saw woot had the 12.9 inch 5th gen 2tb for $1000. Couldn’t wait and pull the trigger. Almost spent 1500 on the same about a year ago. My wife was surprised I bought it. I primarily use it for school and editing photos. I went from an xs max to the 13 so the iPad is used a lot for media and saving videos and photos with that glorious 2tb of storage. Actually an extra 1tb over my M1 Pro 16 inch. Arguably might be better off with just the iPad at this point because of the price and longevity
I use my iPad Pro m1 for everything. Even light vid editing. For my photography it is a must. My Mac sees less use but I like it this way. I use it only for really heavy lifting moments. 4 k multi layered editing, luminar Neo, and others. They just go well for what I do. But to upgrade from m1 iPad for me would take so much more than just an m3. I’m happy where I am for the foreseeable future
I did exactly the same thing 3 months ago and I ended up rebuying a second hand 2018 iPad Pro because it’s really cheap and I just love using it 😅 I still think I could do without, but the low price makes it ok for me
I have a 12.9 2018 iPad Pro and I’m in no rush to upgrade, I have a 16 inch M2 Max MacBook Pro and the only reason I still have the iPad is because it is easier carry around than the MacBook for short trips, if I had a 14 inch MacBook Pro I would’ve sold the iPad already, iPadOS is too limited.
No iPad? Most people? Wow! Not me. This is my primary device until I run into a software wall that drives me back to my Mac. (or I wouldn’t have a Mac)
I sold my iPad Pro 2017 just last week, and now bought a used 16GB RAM MacBook Air M1 to compliment my 2019 16” MacBook Pro. I needed portability, and for everything the iPad can do that a Mac can’t, the Mac can do 2 things the iPad can’t. And with M1 I can use a lot of iPad apps on Mac. Figure a small laptop is better for me, a software engineer.
I am doing a test this month where I keep my iPad Pro 2018 in the drawer for a month, just using a phone and a MacBook and I'm suffering the most, missing iPad Pro very much in my day to day use. Phone is not really convenient as it's still pretty small and laptop is cumbersome to use at home. I still think SJ was on to something introducing another product category (iPads /tablets) between a phone and a laptop. Even though phones (and tablets) got bigger and more powerful, I think around house, for content consumption and everyday stuff, it's my laptop that I will put into drawer gladly when October comes. I guess everyone's use case is quite different.
I love watching my iPad Pro on the porch or in the swing house at night. I seldom watch tv in the house when the weather permits. The mini is great for the kitchen when I’m cooking. I am rethinking upgrading every year. Still using my 13 pro and don’t see the need to upgrade to the 15.
I absolutely adore the heck out of my iPad Pro the features are amazing the Apple Pencil works flawlessly and there’s not one negative thing I can say about it apart from the battery life that needs a bit more optimisation I’m hoping iPadOS 17 changes that
iPad mini or normal iPad is really all most people need unless you're a heavy user. I just my mini for light video watching, internet browsing and drawing and works perfectly and kind of as a 2nd iPhone when I'm at home and my phone isn't in front of my or I want to show something to people in my house with a larger screen. Definitely not a must-have device, but more useful than Apple Watch imo.
For a couple years I was like you. I got by with just my iPhone and MacBook Air because, you know, minimalism. Which works great unless you need to sign documents. But still, that alone isn’t enough to justify an iPad. With that said, I’ve reached the point where I am SO SICK of living the dongle life with the MacBook Air as my primary computer. There are always glitches almost daily with the dongle and my monitor, so when the M3 Mac mini comes out I will probably say screw minimalism and trade in the MacBook Air for a proper Mac desktop WHICH ACTUALLY HAS PORTS!!! So what will I use as my “computer” when I’m on the go? Well I actually just bought a new M2 iPad Pro 11” with Magic Keyboard and I actually love it. After 2 years of not having an iPad I’m starting to fall in love with it again. For simple day-to-day tasks the iPad is actually way faster, easier and more minimalist than Mac OS. And I love how I have all the same apps and basically the same experience on the iPad as my iPhone. Plus it’s smaller and a lot more portable than even the MacBook. So yes, if you’re on a budget and can only get one device, get a MacBook. But if you want a true desktop experience, I don’t think there’s any reason to get a Mac and a MacBook. So for those people, I think the iPad can be a great laptop replacement for taking with you on the go when you want to do lighter tasks that require a bigger screen or keyboard. I’m curious to see if @Tailosive Tech ever comes back to the iPad. Especially when the OLED one comes out next year. For me it took not using one for a couple of years to appreciate what it offers again.
As gimped as ipad os is considering the hardware it has I would still say the value per dollar makes it worth having around. Even if you can’t fully utilize its software for your job it’s still great for leisure. Even then why not use it as an extra display via sidecar for more screen real estate at least. My favorite use cases are (reading and writing sheet music/ watching video/ reading books/ drawing/ taking written notes/ taking impromptu video calls in places around the house while doing other things at the same time) I could definitely see iPhone/macbook solving many issues for people but I’ve found iPad hits a decent niche that for me and many others makes it a go to device. Also I found I tend to feel safer about the possibility of breaking the iPad vs the MacBook I feel much more compelled to keep it out of areas it has a higher chance of breaking like kitchen/bed/couch/outside. iPhone is more of a go to device when outside of the home and in public. The form factor is much more uncomfortable to me for activities like watching video or reading for extended periods of time. The form factor of the iPad still makes it a great device imo even though apple has been neglecting its software for so long. I think you would have been better off just selling the Magic Keyboard and keeping the iPad and pencil. Honestly the 2018 iPad Pro is a great device even in 2023.
Love my iPad Pro . Great work tool and it does everything I need it to do . Have the M1 IPad and I’m very happy with it . iPad OS is getting better and will be able to do more in the future .
I own an iPhone, MacBook M1 and an iPad Air M1. I use my first two devices every day and I actually don’t remember when I actually used my iPad last time. My girlfriend uses it for her work and projects from time to time (I bought 64GB version and actually she manages to live with that storage without any problems)
I still have my 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro 2TB model and it runs Logic Pro for iPad extremely well, but it will be the last iPad Pro I buy if future iPad Pros are still running iPad OS. Though iPad OS is a better tablet OS than Android, it still cripples the extremely capable hardware of the M series iPad Pro to be an oversized iPhone confined to an ecosystem of largerly crappy smartphone apps (Logic Pro excluded). Even the Mac OS operating system on my M2 MacBook Pro 13 is beginning to feel archaic due to lack of touch display UI and intrinsic pen support. OK, the Expresso portable touch display with pen support helps overcome some of Mac OS limitations, but it is another piece of hardware I need to carry around with the MacBook. These days I find myself using Windows 11 arm64 PC with WSL2 Linux and Android Subsystem for Android enabled, more than I use Mac OS. I am looking forward to Qualcomm's new ARM Oyron processor designed by ex-Apple Silicon engineers appearing in a next gen Microsoft Surface Pro. Apple is too focussed on making lots of money and stopped listening to its customers a long time ago. I plan to shrink my Apple ecosystem footprint to iPhone, Apple TV, and retain my iPad Mini 6th gen etc as this has been the tablet, game console, media consumption device and eBook reader I have travelled with. The jury is out on Apple Watch. My 6 series watch failed prematurely but just outside warranty, and though the 8 series is holding up better, my primary use case of telling the time and counting my laps when swimming hardly justifies the cost, as the display is too small to meaningful interact with email, get to see the full notification, news update, twitter etc.
As an educator, the use of the iPad Pro for reading articles and taking notes is hard to beat. I love using the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard case for these purposes.
Yes I’ve got an M2 12.9 inch ipad pro I love it. Work paid for it but i’d definitely have some type of ipad regardless it’s miles better for watching videos than a phone or laptop for starters.
I changes all mt workflow since i got tired of my big gaming rig... i found myself watching more youtube and stuff like that instead of actual gaming and wanted to travel more, so got my ipad pro and it does all my photo and video and drawing and pretty much does everything, got a NAS which has all my data and a couple dockers and 1 windows VM in case I need a full flesged OS and I access it all via my ipad... I understand your justification but if you set up the workflow around the device you can do soooo much with the ipad
I have never bought an iPad for myself. I have burrowed iPads twice and realised I can get much more done with my Mac + iPhone than iPad and the days that I had the burrowed iPad with me I needed to force myself to use it. In 2019 we bought an iPad Pro + Apple Pencil for my wife because she is a graphic designer and an illustrator and we still have that iPad. But even she is not using it that frequently. Sometimes she uses it for drawing and sometimes as an e-reader. That's it. Oh sometimes I use iPad to sign a document. But very very rarely
The only thing that's really great on the iPad is media playback. Everything else is just fiddling around. I find the use of the Apple Pencil particularly strange. It doesn't work as a stylus to switch between apps or files. On the other hand, if you want to highlight something, you have to take a screenshot first or open it in an app. 90% the things I do are easier to do on the mac or with the phone.
I have the entry level ipad from 2018. I can't remember if it's the 6th or 7th gen. It's a little slow with it's 2GB of ram but it still works for RU-vid. But it does get used less than my 13 mini or my macbook pro
Apple should just discontinue the iPad lineup. Turn the mini and Air into big iPhones with iOS, and give the iPad pros macOS and turn them into a part of the Mac lineup.
I use my iPad for so many task... I even use it in my car as a navigation tool.. so it literally comes with me everywhere. I only use my iPhone when its not practical to use my iPad.... most times when I have my phone out, I'm like this would be better on my iPad.. lol I purchased a laptop to dual boot windows/Linux on it for work.. and I thought seriously about getting a MacBook Pro, but I just knew the MacBook would cannibalize my iPad flow. But the iPad definitely needs some serious upgrades. great vid
I like the 12.9 as a media consumption device in the kitchen, etc when I don’t want to spill on a laptop and the keyboard gets in the way. The iPadOS team kinda duffed stage manager vs something well done like dex and I hope they fix it but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
I sold my 12.9 iPad Pro a couple months ago. It was excessive for me. I will get another iPad, but I will definitely be downgrading to a base iPad or air. Less is more and there is freedom in it. I’m also considering downgrading from my iPhone 14 pro max and Apple Watch ultra.
Despite Apple’s lack of innovation with iPadOS as of late, the iPad is still such a cool device. I did sell mine last year though, and I only miss it for one thing: watching content. It’s so nice watching RU-vid, Netflix, Hulu, etc. on a big screen in bed comfortably. Laptop in bed is doable but always feels uncomfortable and awkward. I watch things mainly on my phone now but the battery drains quicker than an iPad and the 6.1 inch screen is good enough but not great for watching content. I know apple wants iPad to be a great laptop replacement but in my eyes it’s still just a great media consumption and basic internet device.
I’m sort of in the same boat as you. Since the Mac’s got better. I grab that more often than my 12.9 inch. But I use my iPad mini WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY more. I love the form factor. Really wish it had 120hz and Face ID but I’m assuming they’ll add that later to grab more money out of us. lol
I use iPad mini without cellular data as a phone replacement because I think cellular data is an unnecessary fee and I do not want to be distracted when I am outdoors. Probably will get a phone number on it somehow because it is required for many accounts nowadays.
My MacBook is a ham (base level 2020 MacBook Air Intel version). So I got an iPad Air to supplement it and the two work together nicely. But im saving my sheckles for the MacBook Pro and I am seriously considering ditching the iPad for the Remarkable eink tablet.
Yeah I do use my iPad every day, but it’s no surprise to me that it’s not for everyone. I’ve always been the person jotting things down constantly in notebooks and planners and the iPad satisfies that role while making my life as close to paperless as possible. I really enjoy being able to scribble by hand for brainstorming or to whip the tablet out anywhere for typing when I don’t have my laptop. I also use it for reading and notes. I could get by without my Mac if I had to, but the app experience with the tools I use, even though they are nothing heavy like video editing, is just plain inferior on iPad OS. Stage manager is nice but it doesn’t make the apps themselves more functional. If forced to give up one I would still have to choose the Mac as a matter of function over form. But I’m glad I don’t have to choose lol
What i will say is that soft blocking needs to stop the ipad 12.9 A12x and A12z (which I have) should have been able to have better monitor support and multitasking. They use the a12z to test out a Mac mini transitional kids and was already proven that that chip could run mac os. Not only that apple lied and said multitasking could not be done. So it was M1 could only do stage manager until the huge outlash. The M2 iPad has the hover feature and nobody knows if it's a hardware situation or if its software and chances are as....... it's software locked. To give you reasons on buying a new iPad. We also she didn't begin features from last year that was on the iPhone we should have the same features if not better. No more waiting a year for what we had on iphone last year. I thought my do making a new OS that we will get features more attached to professional use. I can see if we didn't have so many features on the 4 gigs of RAM but on the six gigs of ram there's really no excuse. Kanye West want said what you going to do with all that power........ Time is ticking i just count the hours.......
I own an iPad Pro 11" M1, but it doesn't get much use from me. Instead, I rely heavily on my Lenovo ThinkPad for all my computing needs, as well as my 27" iMac and iPhone. While I don't use my iPad much, I don't plan on selling it. When the iPhone 15 Pro with new cameras, USB C for file transfers, and 120Hz becomes available, I won't be bothered about my iPad at all.
I've been thinking about selling my iPad Pro 12.9 inch M1 too. although I just never did because I never found a buyer that would give me the right price I was selling everything, the Apple keyboard and the pencil. I recently found life in it thought now that I'm trying out the new beta. I had the first generation mini and loved it, since then never owned an iPad until a year and half ago. I regret buying the pro though and should have gotten the mini. I love the mini and the size. I got drawn into the fact that I could replace my computer with it. I get that for some people you can, if you are just doing email and browsing the web. for me though, its just not for me. I still have the Pro and will just keep it. I am planing on buying a mini again though in the future.
