Can you replace your laptop with an iPad and not miss it?

I’ve been using an Apple iPad Pro for the past two years and have found it to be a fabulous experience. I think I would even go as far as saying it is the best piece of tech I currently own. But, is it equipped to replace a laptop? 

The short answer is…well, there is no short answer. Therefore, let me take you through the pros and cons. 

What are the pros?

I’m a huge fan of the 120Hz screen. It is incredibly smooth and the size leaves nothing to be desired.

I also love how deceivingly light it is. 

It really feels no heavier than my iPhone and the metal casing makes it easy to hold. But this is all stuff you can tell from a first glance, so let me tell you about its usability. 

I use my iPad for note taking, streaming movies, YouTube, emails, games and the occasional word document or photo edit. It does all these just fine and feels like an extension of my phone.

As an additional extra, I’ve connected Apple’s Smart Keyboard case which goes for £199. It simply clips onto the back using magic elves which act as magnets and has never failed me. 

 

At first, I will admit that I found it rather odd to use as it wasn’t all that responsive but after a couple of days you get used to it. I definitely wouldn’t opt to write any long form essays on it, but it’s nice to have the option. 

Another pro is its battery life. Apple has never really been known for great battery life in its phones but they appear to have upped their game with the iPad. 

Not it isn’t the greatest but I can go around 2-3 days before charging which I think is pretty good. 

Now in terms of charging, the iPad Pro uses USB-C which I also use for my laptop, meaning I can use the same charger for both. While we’re on the subject of USB-C I would also like to say that being able to use my external hard drive with the iPad is very useful, especially when I’m away from a computer. 

The bass in this device comes as a shock considering its size. It even trumps my old 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro when it comes to sound quality. I find myself using this over a speaker in my room sometimes and often have to shout to talk to others when I’m blasting Ken Bruce’s Pop Master in the mornings. 

What are the cons? 

With every piece of tech, there are always cons. I’ve found the iPad Pro to have very few, however they are still there. 

Firstly, its complete lack of a headphone jack is frustrating. You can still use Bluetooth headphones or fork out £20 for an adapter but when the device costs so much to begin with, it should come with the necessities. 

Lastly and arguably most importantly, is its price. It’s a lot of money for a glorified iPhone. And if you’ve already got an iPhone and a MacBook, it’s difficult to justify the additional cost. 

All that aside, there’s not many. Sure, I’d like wireless charging, force touch and a better front-facing camera but these are all things I can live without. 

What’s the verdict?

Can the iPad replace the laptop? Well for some, yes and others, no.

 In theory, I could do most things on my iPad but I choose not to as the workflow on a computer is far quicker for me and video editing and writing articles are far better on a computer.

For others who just want a device that is light, portable, able to stream media, and do the occasional word document, then I’d say this is the perfect device for you.

I find that using both a laptop and an iPad simultaneously increases my workflow and productivity which I why I’ll probably always have both near me at all times. 

Over time iPad OS will only get better and who knows? Maybe I’ll find myself using only my iPad. But for now, a computer is still necessary if you need to get some serious work done.

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