Can an iPad replace a Laptop/MacBook for your workflow?
As tablets have massively improved in recent years, the gap between a tablet and a laptop has grown smaller and smaller. So the question raised by many people is: “Can a tablet replace a laptop?” The answer is slightly more complicated than a yes or a no, as it’s different for each and every person. However, here is an upfront conclusion if you can’t read the whole thing, an iPad will be able to replace a laptop for the vast majority of people. If you would like to know if you are part of the majority or not, keep reading…
For the sake of comparison, I will be using iPads and MacBooks to compare, as they are usually one of the best in the industry, but this also applies to all android and windows machines.
Hardware Differences
The difference in hardware is probably the least important in this discussion, as iPads are getting more and more accessories each year, such as keyboards, which further closes the gap between iPads and MacBooks. Nonetheless, a major hardware difference is the presence of a touchscreen in iPads. Therefore, if you require a touchscreen on your device then it’s a no brainer to go with the iPad, for example, if you’re a student that needs handwritten note taking, or if you’re an artist or graphical designer that needs programs such as procreate. It is important to mention though, that a lot of the newest windows laptops come with touch screens and 2-in-1 functionality, these devices are probably the best for you if you can’t make a decision by the end of this article.
Furthermore, laptops tend to have larger screens, so if that is a deal maker for you, you’ll need to go with the laptop. Another important, yet not so problematic, hardware difference is that laptops come with built in keyboards and trackpads, whereas you need to usually buy a separate keyboard if you want to connect to your iPad, this is not a major problem though, as iPads tend to be cheaper than MacBooks and therefore buying a keyboard accessory wont bring the price above the laptop price.
Software Differences
This is probably the biggest deal breaker for most professionals, and it should be the point to consider most when making your decision. MacBooks come with full-blown desktop OS called Mac OS, it is a traditional keyboard and cursor operating system based on unix. iPads however come with a touchscreen mobile OS called iPadOS, it is extremely similar to iOS but with a few extras that make the most out of the larger screen, stylus and accessory support on iPads.
The reason software is the most important factor, is because many professional programs will only work on Mac OS (or windows). So if you are a professional video editor and you need programs like Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, then going for a laptop is a no-brainer, it is important to mention though that there are alternatives on tablets, such as LumaFusion, however, they usually lack a lot of the very important professional features.
If you’re a programmer, whether it’s front-end or back-end, you need a laptop. While there are a lot of new apps on iPads that allow you to write code and run it. It is still not the same as the Mac, so if you are serious about programming, you probably already know that a tablet will not be able to replace a laptop.
Productivity
If you really value productivity, and you use your computer almost all day long. Then you should probably go with the laptop, because for almost any given task, the laptop will probably complete it in a few less seconds every time, making you a lot more time efficient, since all these few seconds build up and you will have eventually saved hours if not days of your life.
Media Consumers
If you want to get your device just for media consumption (Youtube, Netflix, Twitter, …). Then you really cant go wrong with any of these devices, it’s just down to what design you prefer. Personally, if I only use my device for media consumption, I would go with the iPad since I think I’d value having a touchscreen and slightly greater portability.
Final Verdict
As mentioned before, the answer for this question is not the same for everyone, because of the different use cases for each individual, and because it is partly based on personal preference. In conclusion, you most probably could do with a tablet, it’s just a small minority of professionals that will need a laptop.
