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Your iPad isn’t broken; you’re just asking it the wrong question.
Most people buy an iPad expecting it to replace their Mac, use it for a few weeks, and then let it collect dust on the nightstand. I used to think that was a design flaw. It’s not — it’s a misunderstanding of what the iPad was ever built to do.In this video, I break down:
– Why the iPad vs MacBook comparison is the wrong framing from the start
– The structural difference between a “tablet first” device and a “computer first” device
– Why iPad multitasking limits are a boundary, not a flaw — and when that’s actually a strength
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#iPad #AppleEcosystem #Productivity
A purpose built design limitation… why? I need an iPad sometimes and I need a Mac/productivity machine sometimes. You say if you need more of the latter, buy a Mac. Why can’t Apple design an iPad that does both. Apple is trying to prop up both product lines when I just want one device.
Thank you so much for this video, I was getting annoyed at watching all the techtubers bitching and moaning about how iPad is overpowered & under-utilised, the same old rhetoric of can it replace my Mac. Etc, etc…
It’s exactly as you said, they are most of the time driving the iPad with the mindset of a desktop OS, only then to complain that it is constrained by the iPadOS.
I recently upgraded to the 13-inch M5 iPad Pro from an aging 4th gen iPad Air. I use it as my primary music sheet score reader for massive libraries of scanned scores, an educational tool for interactive worksheets with kids, a video recording device for the students, and an admin device for emails and notes when paired with the Magic Keyboard. For my tutoring workflow the iPad has replaced my MBA as the dominant device.
However, when it comes to photo editing, the MBA or my desktop Mac is still my preferred device for photo editing, simply because the Apps is just better on the desktop OS, I’ve tried editing images on the iPad before and I can agree with those professionals out there that the iPad apps are just not adequate enough, and the file sorting is atrocious, but that doesn’t make me ask for MacOS on the iPad, it simply made me switch to the Mac as the dominant device for photo editing.
It is about picking the correct tool for the task on hand, not trying to wringle a square peg into a circular hole.
I kind of agree with you. I noticed that my iPad cannot replace my Laptop. I am not a fan of writing on iPad, so I mainly used it with a keyboard. But that was such a hastle, especially when I was in my classes and need to save something, download and instantly be able to open that PDF or Word doc. Takes me around 5 min to set it up in class, with my macbook it takes like 1-2 minutes. Besides that I just like writing on paper more. Paper and Laptop is the better combination for me than an iPad for classes at least.
I use my iPad at home a lot though, especially for annotating pdf documents, reading (i have a lot to read since i major in two languages) and for watching youtube or netflix
At age 55, I use my iPhone for calls, texting, maps, quick web searched and checking money accounts. The screen is too small to read a lot or watch videos. Use my iPad a LOT and am very used to the pop-up keyboard. Will never buy a keyboard for my iPad. My ipad is one handed and goes almost everywhere I do. Buying my first MacBook Air this week, as I’m moving towards being an educator. Making keynote presentation, storing tons of documents, video clips, images. I think my iPad will always be my best everyday buddy.
Don’t trick out your iPad with a keyboard and stop trying to make it in to a laptop, learn the touchscreen, I been using my iPad , no keyboard as my only computer for 4 years, g-board allows for swipe typing making it fast to type , fexiboard is a keyboard that let you have a keyboard with snippets of text as well as a clipboard manger making the typing experience awesome.
For me iPad is the drawing and making animation tool. Or iPhone with bigger screen, not Mac.
bro can you please write your own words? I'm hearing the ai-speak and it makes my ears vomit. thank you.
As a plumber iPad is what I’ll use on the field when I need to mark up docs, draft quotes and invoices from templates, collect signatures, dispatch, etc. The Mac Mini I have in my home office is basically me here I will run admin and lock in on bookkeeping.
For me personally, my iPads are my drawing and 2D animation kits. My mini for the rough draft work like storyboarding and the animatic, then my 13" Pro for the final project. I always work better if I have that direct pencil-to-paper experience. A drawing tablet + monitor doesn't do it for me. I also do the other iPad stuff like take notes, read books, schedule, maybe play a puzzle game here and there. The only multitasking I really need is playing music or an audio book. For me, the iPad is the perfect environment for what I need. I acknowledge that my needs are a bit niche, though. Most people don't need more than the A16 iPad.
This is a MacBook user problem not an iPad user problem because people like myself who have only ever used an iPad do not think that it is lacking in features it is only MacBook users who consistently compared it to a MacBook that think that way.
I use my iPad Pro 99.99 percent of the time, but when I need to do something I know it can’t handle, I switch to my Lenovo ThinkPad X1.
People try and replace a MacBook with an iPad and expectations fall short because of the OS. For most people and professional work flows the iPad can fit perfect into their life. I got rid of my MacBook and my M4 iPad Pro can do everything I need it to do for work. This is the only device that is this versatile as it can be a tablet, laptop, desktop. It offers even more for my work flow than the MacBook did and the screen is the best. For people who want Mac OS or know they need a laptop then don’t try and replace it with a iPad you will regret and pay at times even more. Because its so versatile the price reflects it and people seem to struggle to understand it. When you can have three work setups, touch capabilities, Apple Pencil, oled screen, and the M4/M5 chip price makes sense.
Great video, carry it everywhere I go
Just wanted to leave this as constructive criticism. Spend more time on your script for the video. So much of your script throughout the video is clearly written by AI. I might be in the minority, but it certainly matters to me when the AI influence patterns come across so strong. Makes it hard for me to take you seriously
I’m not the type to constantly swap devices. Apple is neither fish nor fowl. Why can’t you do everything on a single device, like my Surface? It’s a tablet running the desktop version of Windows 11 with a detachable keyboard. It runs real software, not just those smartphone apps. That thing can actually multitask. I can have the radio app running while playing Netflix at the same time, or watch online TV while writing in Office. Just try doing that with that "baby toy" from Apple, the iPad. That’s why I find Apple simply too limited; you just can't get real work done on it. You could buy an M5 iPad Pro with maxed-out storage and 5G, plus the keyboard you have to buy separately, and the stylus. It’s still fundamentally the same as the base model, just with expensive bells and whistles. iPadOS and the App Store won't run any differently, even if you shell out $2,000 or more for it. It’s all gimmicks; ultimately, for 90% of its lifespan, you’re just messing around in the browser and streaming content. You aren't really doing anything productive with it. Don't even get me started on those few high-end apps that are supposed to replace a desktop PC; you can count them on one hand. No, guys. Apple is simply a huge mistake for heavy users, people like me who actually use a computer to get things done and want to utilize the hardware's full potential. So don't come at me with a "TikTok machine." I'm talking about real work. The Apple iPhone is the same story: way too expensive for what it actually is. And your Mac is basically just a streaming laptop 90% of the time; the bulk of my software won't even run on it unless I use cloud services or emulation. That’s where the problem lies. A huge chunk of the computer industry is built on x86, Intel and AMD. It’s great that an Apple laptop has a three-day battery life, but… But it’s no use if you constantly have to go back to a Windows PC because things just don't work on the Mac. And that’s what needs to change. I’m not going to spend 2,000 euros on a MacBook Air M5. plus a Windows license and a drive that’s too small. just to run Spotify, Microsoft Office, and a virtual machine to boot Linux with windows. It’s essentially a $200 laptop sold at an absurd price. I think I’ll just stick with my Tuxedo. Apple is fine for basic, everyday tasks, but I just can't take it seriously. There are too many strings attached and too many limitations. Just look at how many devices you need to perform a single task. basically Tim Cook’s entire product lineup. That’s why I’m not interested. It’s just ridiculous.
I’m a man who only has an iPad not a Mac
So my iPad Pro is good enough for me
But it makes no sense why an iPad has a full fledge processor more than capable of dual booting iPadOS and macOS. Its 2026 why do we still need to carry 2 devices? One device should do all. Tablet on the go, dock it or connect the keyboard/trackpad and it becomes a full fledge desktop. If you dock it, disable touch. Even if they improve iPadOS, why put that much effort in when you have macOS? No need to reinvent the wheel.
I like using the iPad for Procreate and video editing on the go as it is some much easier to carry around.
I use my iPad Pro 11 M4 99 % of the time. And I’m a quite heavy user. You have to change the way you think, how you use it. If you try to use the iPad as a MacBook, you’ll fail. You have to use it as an iPad…
Good video, though I believe the multitasking capabilities of iPads are significantly better than you implied, especially after iPadOS 26. While Mac/Macbooks are more capable at it, iPads can definitely handle light to medium multitasking these days. I originally owned a M1 iPad Pro and used it as a supplementary device alongside a MacBook. Now, I have the M5 iPad Pro, and it has become my primary device. It’s touch-focused interface works well for me, and the workflow issues I had with my iPad compared to my MacBook a few years ago now works well or has reasonable workarounds.
I agree with your points. After 20 years of macbooks, I convinced myself every time I wanted to get a ipad, to just not get one. In recent years I have been watching a lot more shows and movies so I got the A16 figuring what do I have to lose since it's so cheap?… and I love the thing. But the problem I have is I'm always having to delete so many things before I can download more stuff and i have to send photos and videos to a HDD instead of just keeping it where it is. I never opened up the mail or messages apps on the ipad cause I don't want the constant interruptions and distractions that I would have while watching things on the macs. But checking things out on safari is good to go as long as I don't have to do any serious typing. I'm not getting a keyboard and I'm still not talking to it. lol I'll be getting the new ipad pro whenever that comes out… with lots of storage… the max, and I don't care how much it costs. lol I can't decided what screen I want, but I'm leaning towards the 11 inch. But hey… I'm glad it took me 20 years to realize I love this ipad stuff… look how much money it saved me over the years. lol
IPad needs the full desktop office suite
I tried it too, an iPad Pro 13" A12Z instead of my MacBook, which was 8 years old at the time. I used the iPad for a year, constantly had to come up with workarounds (iPadOS wasn't as advanced back then as it is now), and then bought a MacBook Pro M1. What a relief: macOS without limitations. For now, I have an iPad Mini as well, and this is the perfect match.
I have an M1 iPad Pro 13” and an Intel 2018 1/2 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. iPad gets most use yet clearly despite the age of my MBP it is still the better experience. My next purchase will be a MBP and use the iPad for what it is best – a companion.
Depends on the person. I'm an artist, so the transition from a MacBook Pro to an iPad Pro was an easy one. The iPad is the best digital sketchbook ever made. But pretty soon after getting my first iPad Pro in 2018, i realized I enjoyed doing EVERYTHING on my iPad more than i ever did on my MacBook. I enjoy surfing the web on it more. I enjoy writing emails on it more. I enjoy editing photos & videos on it more. And i definitely enjoy consuming media on it more. I don't even use an external keyboard with my iPad Pro. I just use the onscreen digital keyboard. It works great. I can type super fast on it and it doesn't add any weight to my iPad. I sold my macbook pro years ago and haven't looked back. I have fully adapted to an iPad only workflow. When i use my brother's macbook pro now I laugh. Mac OS is so clunky and impersonal! I will never buy another laptop again. So can an iPad replace your laptop? Of COURSE IT CAN.
Well, I use iPad for everything. I like use apple fitness plus, I read an iPad, I write note, I’m answering email and messages, I love watching movies and videos. Incredible display Oled give me unreal experience with colors photos and iPadOS. Sometimes I really think, do I need Mac or just pc? And can’t find answer, because I so much love this design. This form-factor and thissimplicity use – it’s something next level computing. I’m 36 old man and love technology, but iPad my love, can’t live without him.
I work remotely as a sales rep in a Windows world. I navigate that environment with my 11” iPad Pro M5. The iPad has never given me pause to consider if I should have brought my Mac or PC. It’s simple, built to meet my workflow, and I can work comfortably in a vehicle. In a pinch I can photo edit. I still prefer the Mac for photo and video projects. Between the two the iPad gets more screen time. Cheers!
I have an 11" M4 iPad Air that I use mostly for content consumption because when I want to do some detailed work (like building a spreadsheet in Excel) I use my Mac mini. For me it's just easier to do a task like that with a regular keyboard and mouse. However, I've discovered that the iPad is an ideal travel companion since it can do all the basics I need when I'm on the road or flying (especially when flying, it's much easier to get through TSA and it fits on those tiny trays in coach).
⌛ iPhone < 15 min 🕒 Pad 15–60 min ⏰Mac > 60 minutes. Which one are you actually using wrong?