What to use in 2024: iPad or MacBook?

Not long ago, laptops and tablets were radically different from each other, so there was no question for buyers about which one was better. But thanks to Apple’s efforts, the situation has rapidly changed. Battery capacities, the latest iPadOS operating system, processor, and memory put the tablet on par with the laptop. In such conditions, making a choice becomes much more difficult, so before making a purchase, we recommend comparing the devices based on seven main parameters. Of course, there are many more criteria for comparison, but these will be crucial when choosing work equipment.

What to choose: iPad or MacBook? Let’s compare the specifications.

Excellent performance, simple and logical interface, multitasking — all of these make the devices indispensable for people of various professions, including businessmen, programmers, scientists, designers, and bloggers. So how do you choose your ideal option?

Portability

The iPad is a thin and practically weightless (from 300 to 700 grams) device that will fit even in a woman’s handbag. Naturally, it will be an ideal companion for travel and business trips. But provided that you limit yourself to “medium-weight” work and watching movies, news, or reading books.

The MacBook takes up more space in a suitcase but is still super light (compared to other laptops): the Air weighs only 1.29 kg, and the 13-inch and 14-inch Pro weigh 1.4 kg and 1.58 kg respectively. The laptop will be an excellent assistant if you plan to work on projects, write code, or do calculations.

Battery Life

The second important aspect concerns the battery life without recharging. And the indicators of both devices are impressive:

• MacBook Air is ready to stream video for 18 hours and serve for 15 hours of web surfing.
• MacBook Pro 14″ M1 and M2: show videos for 17 and 18 hours respectively.
• MacBook Pro 13″ lasts for 20 hours of video playback and 17 hours of web surfing.
• MacBook Pro 16″ M1 and M2 lead in video playback time: 21 and 22 hours respectively.

You might think it’s clear now whether to choose a MacBook or an iPad? Not quite, because the tablet allows you to watch movies for 10 hours, listen to audio, read books, surf the internet, or have 9 hours of conversations in messengers. This is also sufficient for most everyday scenarios.

OS Interface

Apple develops its own operating system for each device. In our case, it’s iPadOS and macOS.

The Mac desktop is made classic: documents, folders, Dock panel with the most popular programs — all are visible. If you need to find or organize files, Finder and Spotlight will help. The Spaces option allows you to create multiple virtual desktops, and the Safari browser ensures secure surfing.

iPadOS is great because you can arrange applications and widgets as you like. To work simultaneously in different programs, developers use Slide Over (floating window), Split View (two objects side by side), and Picture in Picture mode. Safari browser is still used for surfing, and Drag&Drop enables moving photos, texts, files between applications through multitouch.

So what’s better: iPad or MacBook? The gap between the two devices is rapidly narrowing, but the tablet is better suited for leisure and quick tasks of medium intensity, while macOS devices are a versatile tool.

Text Input and Trackpad

MacBook comes with a keyboard and trackpad, and some models — MacBook Pro 15″, MacBook Pro 13″ 2016 and younger — even have a Touch Bar. But there’s no touchscreen interface in the laptop.

However, the tablet does have a touchscreen, and along with it comes the ability to synchronize with the Apple Pencil, making the device an excellent replacement for a graphics tablet. You can freely draw, sketch, and take notes directly on the screen, which is particularly valuable for artists and designers. Therefore, when it comes to the question of choosing between an iPad with a keyboard or a MacBook, the decision for artists will be obvious. Moreover, if you add a keyboard case to the setup, the device will provide a nice bonus: text input will become as easy as it is with a regular PC.

Which is better to buy — iPad or MacBook — is the very decision that depends on the user’s personal needs.

Screen

Every Apple screen is a unique synthesis of clarity, color accuracy, and quality, so when choosing, we recommend focusing solely on its size.

If your goal is a small device that you can always carry with you everywhere, go for the iPad mini (8.3 inches) or Air (10.9 inches). If the symbiosis of compactness and comfort is a priority, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is suitable.

The screen size of the MacBook Air is 13 inches, and the latest version with the M3 processor has a display as large as 15 inches. In the MacBook Pro lineup, there are options with 15 and 16 inches, which are extremely convenient for programming, video editing, and more.

Tasks

Both devices excel at everyday tasks: showing movies, playing music, providing stable web surfing. However, the tablet wins in terms of compactness. It’s easier to take on a trip or use where there’s no table for the device. For example, in bed or on public transport. And if you plan to download something, you can choose a model with increased storage capacity.

As for the laptop, it’s more convenient to watch videos and listen to music without speakers or headphones. However, it won’t be as comfortable to use in an airplane, car, or bus as a tablet.

The laptop is indispensable where there is a regular need to write code or tackle other demanding tasks. And this is true regardless of the environment: whether in the office, on the road, or during business trips. Some of these tasks can also be done on a tablet; however, this device is not as versatile as a full-fledged computer.

Video editing is also possible on both devices: on a PC, there’s Final Cut, and on the tablet, there’s Luna Fusion.

Graphics

Let’s see who will win in the battle of iPad vs MacBook in terms of graphics. We’ve already mentioned that the tablet is valuable for its synchronization with the stylus and the presence of programs like Adobe Fresco and Procreate. This set allows drawing directly on the screen, but sometimes this isn’t enough.

If your project is complex and requires processing in Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, the best assistant is still the laptop, whose capabilities allow for creating computer games, AR, and VR applications. For these purposes, the MacBook Pro 16″ has a 16-core, and the MacBook Pro 14″ has a 32-core graphics processor. A powerful GPU will help tackle such complex tasks as 3D rendering and editing.

What chips do tablets come with? Usually, it’s the A series:

• iPad mini — A15 Bionic chip with a 4-core GPU (for basic tasks).
• iPad Air — A14 Bionic chip with a similar GPU (slightly more demanding tasks).
• The Pro lineup comes with Apple M chips with a 7- or 8-core GPU (for demanding graphics projects).

Like Macs, Pro devices support VR applications, Adobe Premiere Rush, or Procreate, which is a serious claim.

When choosing between iPad Pro and MacBook, don’t forget to check out the latest reviews with technical specifications.

So, can the iPad Pro replace the MacBook?

Yes, but not always. After all, the main area of ​​application of the tablet is quick tasks and medium-intensity work. It also opens up opportunities for creativity. For everyday scenarios, the tablet has everything you need: a touchscreen, compactness, a stylus for notes and drawing, power, and cool software.

The iPad Pro 2018 and newer versions are easily comparable in performance to PCs, so they are suitable for video editing, photo editing, and game creation. Even professional applications on the tablet will work correctly. Photographers who need to process material quickly and efficiently highly appreciate the device’s capabilities.

The Mac still remains more versatile. Its powerful processor, diverse software, long-lasting battery, and ample memory allow it to handle absolutely any task. The absence of a touchscreen keyboard doesn’t disappoint, and since the entire lineup of laptops is lightweight, the devices are successfully used both for stationary work and for business trips.

So far, there is still no concrete answer to the question of what is better: the portable iPad Pro or the powerful MacBook. The final decision remains with the buyer, who knows their needs better.

Both devices are an integral part of the Apple ecosystem. If you started writing a text on your laptop and took the tablet on a trip, continuing your work will be easy. Any device can be connected to an Apple TV, and the Sidecar option turns the tablet into an additional screen for broadcasting.

iPad or MacBook? It’s better to see once than hear a hundred times. Come to iSpace for a consultation and test both devices. Sometimes, even just a glance at the device is enough to determine your favorite.

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