Recently, I wanted to see the current state of Apple’s iPad lineup, and I realized something: it no longer makes sense.
Yes, in theory, it makes sense but not in practice. In theory, the iPad is supposed to entertain us for the “low-end” models and be used for creation for the more expensive ones. But already, there’s a problem. For entertainment, you can already use your phone, and for creation, you can use your PC. The iPad is simply too expensive to be an in-between; it must be an alternative.
Now, I’m not talking about making phone calls or editing videos on your iPad, but rather using it to entertain and create, thus leaving the phone to be a quick consultation or discussion tool. This would allow the iPad to be a real alternative to the MacBook (even though iPadOS is well below macOS). All this leads to one conclusion: the choice between a MacBook and an iPad does not only depend on our usage but also on how we use our phone. Indeed, I think at least 80% of you mainly use your phone to entertain yourselves and not for making calls, chatting on messaging apps, or consulting productivity apps. And that’s not all, because it could also significantly reduce screen time if you change your usage habits; the friction of opening social networks on your iPad is quite substantial.
So, you’ve decided to buy an iPad, you chose the iPad Air because the 10th generation iPad is only for entertainment, the iPad Mini is too small, and the iPad Pro is way too expensive. But here’s the problem: there’s only one good iPad, and it’s still very expensive. Ok, you might say “yes, but there’s the refurbished option,” but I would reply that it’s neither a sure thing nor very advantageous because you lose years of updates.
In conclusion, the iPad is an excessively expensive in-between that only suits professionals or wealthy individuals, as well as art school students, and even then, the paper solution exists. This is just my perspective; some will say it’s indispensable for them, others not. In short, the iPad no longer makes sense, and that’s a shame.
