As I said in June when iPadOS was introduced, the operating system might allow me to replace my MacBook Pro as my main operating system. It hasn’t yet, but I think I’m almost there.
The M4 iPad Pro was a four-star product, and the M5 version is even better, though it’s not a necessary update if you have the M4 version of the tablet. You can read all about the improvements to the iPad Pro in Apple’s press release.
I’ve been playing around with the M5 iPad Pro and the latest version of iPadOS 26 in my daily workflow running Apple World Today. I used it with a Studio Display, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Mouse. I keep going back to my 16-inch MacBook Pro, but the laptop could end up being my backup device with the iPad Pro moving into the pole position.
The iPad set-up I have is, admittedly, expensive to configure. However, the Apple tablet has some advantages over the MacBook Pro: a gorgeous OLED display, the ability to use the Apple Pencil, and cellular connectivity.
One of the things that’s holding me back is that doing screenshots for AWT articles is easier on the Mac because I edit images in Pixelmator Pro, which isn’t available on the iPad. However, MacRumors says the app may be coming to the iPad soon. That could make a major change in my daily work.
The downsides of the iPad Pro
Even with the very macOS like changes in iPadOS 26, there are still some limitations to using the Apple tablet instead of a Mac, at least for some folks:
- You can’t have multi-user support. That’s not a problem for me. If the iPad Pro becomes my main computing device, I really don’t plan on sharing it with others.
2) The iPad still pauses background audio as soon as another audio source is played, unlike on a Mac, which is a problem for tasks like video editing while listening to music. That’s not an issue I’ll face very often.
3) There’s a lack of developer tools, such as Swift. I’m no a developer, so that’s no biggie.
4) There’s no clamshell mode; in other words, no ability to use the iPad with the lid closed while connected to an external monitor. Again, that’s not a problem for me as I sit the iPad Pro below my Studio Display with the displays arranged accordingly.
° Moving windows between the two screens can be a little erratic. And, yes, that is annoying.
The upsides of the iPad Pro
On the flip side, the iPad has several advantages over the Mac. The obvious one is the detachable screen lets it serve as a dual purpose device: a tablet and, with the right accessories, a laptop. There are other pluses:
° You can back up your files to iCloud, which you can’t do on a Mac.
° The iPad wakes up instantly, compared to the few seconds it takes for a Mac to awaken.
° This is arguable, but An iPad is generally more secure than a Mac because iOS is more restrictive than macOS, enforcing a stricter “sandbox” for apps and limiting user access. macOS, a a more open platform, allow users to install third-party apps outside the App Store, which can be a security risk if not managed carefully.
° An iPad requires less maintenance than a Mac. The streamlined and highly controlled nature of iPadOS, combined with its simpler hardware design, significantly reduces the need for user intervention compared to th more complex and open macOS environment.
Am I getting ready to make the iPad-to-Mac switch? Not yet, but it feels like that day is getting close.
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