The State of the iPad (April 2020 Update)
The iPad has reached its 10th anniversary since the announcement of the iPad as a category in 2010. Apple’s positioning on the iPad has always been the bridge between smartphones and laptops, and single-handedly killed the netbook industry for good, as we can see within the next 10 years.
Fast forward to 2020, the iPad has pretty much evolved into an entirely monopolistic category, competing with Google and Microsoft towards what would replace the PC with their own approach. We wouldn’t touch regarding the race towards the post-PC era, but the chart below summarizes the positioning of each player. None of them has been ultimately successful on replacing the computer… for now, and we might end up seeing three different categories in its entirety. Only time will tell at this point.
But let’s get back to the iPad.
The Development
The first five years (2010–2014), Apple has been reiterating the iPad, adding more hardware features and capabilities, while software follows what iOS (which was mainly focused towards the iPhone) has to offer. This strategy has since changed after Apple announced the iPad Pro in September 2015 with its gigantic 12.9" display. The noticeable change wasn’t that it is gigantic, but it’s more on the fact that Apple has now positioned the iPad as a computer replacement. While the slogan hasn’t talked much about computer replacement, Apple did something drastic on both hardware and software.
On the hardware side, Apple has added a hardware keyboard that is attached on the side of the iPad and served as a screen cover. This allows physical typing experience without sacrificing part of the iPad display to be covered with the digital keyboard. On top of that, Apple pencil helped users to be able to create a sketch, animation, or writing notes to the tablet, adding more pro capabilities in the device.
On the software side, Apple released iOS 9, which enables split-screen view for the first time, boosting its capabilities to open two apps at once.
In 2017, Apple become more serious about challenging the iPad as a computer replacement. In addition to the 120Hz screen (claimed to be for better latency for drawing) and the noticeable change of the smaller size to 10.5", Apple released this video:
This has sparked a huge ton of discussions and debate within the tech community and has the mainstream audience attention during that time. The big change in 2017 is more on the software, with iOS 11 completely redesigned the experience of using the iPad, from collapsible docks, drag-and-drop, to the new way of multitasking.
Many have concluded that while the iPad is powerful enough to complete pro-level tasks that may make it a computer replacement, the software has been hindering the potential, as the device is touch-only, and the closed-loop nature of iOS did not allow the flexibility of software integration to the hardware just like how a computer used to do on PC and Macs.
I need to add at the time of iOS 11 launch, there are a lot of pro-level apps that has been publishing on the App Store for the iPad. Notable example include Procreate, LumaFusion, and Affinity Photo.
In 2018, Apple once again redesigned its Pro lineup to be cleaner in design, adapting the all-screen form factor, which was borrowed from iPhone X. While this has nothing to do with capabilities, this upgrade has one thing that makes people excited: The shift from the Lightning port to USB-C.
This allows the iPad to use a commonly used USB-C ports to transfer data, plug in existing devices (such as a camera), and project iPad screen in 4K. The potential has once again been raised with every iterative upgrade, and more towards being able to replace most of a user’s work on the iPad. At this point, the iPad is very capable in terms of CPU and GPU to handle tasks without lag, and has been ahead from the competitor, especially the ARM-based CPU, and has been comparable against PC-based CPU as well without sacrificing too much on power.
In 2019, Apple decided to separate the naming of iPad’s iOS development as iPadOS, while adding new iPad exclusive capabilities. One notable feature is the ability to open two windows of the same app, which unlocks more capabilities for users to use the iPad as a pro device. iPad OS also unlocks Desktop Safari, where websites now loads desktop site instead of mobile. From this point onwards, feature development on the iPad will be more versatile without sacrificing trade-off from the iPhone counterparts.
In 2020, Apple has updated its hardware to now include LiDAR scanner and Ultra-Wide lens for AR purposes. In addition, the iPad now has near-studio quality microphones adapted from the 16" Macbook Pro.
But one thing is catching everyone’s eye: The Magic Keyboard Case. Not only it has a physical backlit keyboard, but there is also a trackpad, which has notably been adapted on iOS 13.4. This allows users to use a mouse cursor (or circle) to interact with the iPad, allowing new potential towards the vision of replacing a computer.
And now we have come to this point, and we would be asking: Is the iPad ready to be a computer replacement? We will discuss this in a case by case basis, with an overall takeaway from myself, who has been using the iPad Pro as a daily driver since 2017.
The Use Case Study
I’ll give the overall key takeaway from myself first. iPad has become a very capable device, no brainer there, and has been able to do 95% of everyone’s tasks (up from 90% in 2017). However, an iPad should still be complemented with at least 1 PC or Mac. Anything, it could be a laptop or a desktop, Windows or Mac, slow or lightning powerhouse. Because the remaining 5% tasks are usually reserved for productivity that might still be fatal without it.
That’s the broad answer. But let’s get to the case by case basis. Leave a comment or message to me if you like to leave a tip regarding your experience with the iPad.
Can you Edit Media on the iPad?
This includes photos, audio, and video editing. The iPad has become very capable of replacing tasks done on PC or Mac in regards to this, but there are also slight limiters to it as well. We have Affinity Photos and Photoshop (or Photos) for photos, LumaFusion (or iMovie) for videos, and Ferrite (or Garageband) for Audio. (Disclaimer: I may not be aware of what a good Audio editor apps on the iPad yet) Importing files from camera and external storage devices has been fully supported, and the ability to plug in Sound Interface has been great for audio production. I could say it may be able to replace Photo and Video editing, but Audio is still slightly limited. I may also think that the lack of open-source plug-ins might be another hindrance for photo and video editors alike.
Oh, and get the iPad Pro for the USB-C feature.
Can you Produce Content on the iPad?
This includes articles, animation, sketches, graphic design, and podcasting. Most of these tasks has had an iPad alternative for creation on the iPad. Importing raw files and exporting it to the internet or files are as seamless as ever. Content production is the best use case for the iPad, as it is fully supported with capable 3rd party apps. Aside from the Apple Pencil and the keyboard support, the 2020 iPad Pro also features a 6-array microphone for studio-quality sound.
Can you do Office Work on the iPad?
Now, this is where I excel at. My work as a VC has always been an office work. Meaning in Google Apps, I used mostly on Google Drive and its office trinity, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. I would say office work has been done wonderfully, with other office suite from Microsoft (OneDrive, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) and Apple (iCloud Drive, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote). However, what is lacking is that the apps are a limited version of what a desktop can do. For example, in Microsoft Excel, creating a basis for a system with codes and plug-ins, or creating themes and importing elements in PowerPoint hasn’t reached the same potential with the computer counterparts, and therefore some foundational work may still need to be done on the computer.
Also, get the iPad Pro if you need to project your screen often, as the USB-C is more commonly used standard for screen projecting. The iPad can essentially become a desktop workstation for many.
Can you do Student Work on the iPad?
For K-12, I believe you can. For college, as long as there is no computer-specific apps, it would be no problem at all. Most included programs are designed for the computer though, and it could be problematic for someone who do not have a computer.
Can you code on the iPad?
Funny thing is that Apple did not envision the iPad to be a coding powerhouse, and may still need Mac or PC to do the job. There is currently no way to create an iPad app, or anything else… on the iPad. Remote work may be possible, but there will be a lot of obstacles in the way.
Can you Consume Media on the iPad?
Well, yes. Yes, it does. And it does exceptionally well, much better than the computer in most cases. This is the biggest reason why people are using the iPad much more than their computer. It is not a necessity though, because we also note that the same way also applies to smartphones. With Desktop Safari, you will unlock tons of features that may be desktop-exclusive and is inaccessible with smartphones.
Can you Game on the iPad?
The world of mobile and desktop/console gaming are sitting in two different realms. Yes, the iPad is very powerful and is very capable of mobile gaming, on which we have seen a huge development. But it will be unable to run desktop or console gaming.
However, yes, you can play Fortnite in iPad and play with your fellow on PC. And yes, you can use a PS4 or Xbox controller for it. Because it has been optimized for the iPad.
The Good and Bad for iPad Use Cases
What are iPads are good at? Media consumptions are a definite yes, but it has been the case since 2010. Pro apps are taking over the capabilities of what the iPad can do, and that includes Email, basic office work suite, production apps, editing apps, and more. However, if there are any specific apps that haven’t been optimized for the iPad yet, unfortunately, it would be a hindrance. If you do not have a PC, you may be left out with nothing or unoptimized software, so make sure the situation is clear before getting the iPad and using it as a daily driver.
I may have left out various occupations that I haven’t covered, and therefore if anything comes up, I will be updating it on the next state of the iPad article. For now, these are the case study that I have been able to extract.
To summarize, I made a flowchart to help you with your purchase decision:
Bonus: What Accessory is Needed for the iPad?
While the iPad doesn’t look too pricey, its expensive accessories may take out larger money than expected, so to put it into perspective, here are some takeaway regarding the accessories. If the objective of the iPad is for media consumption, then there would be no need for any accessory. But everyone who would like to use the iPad for productivity and work will need to consider these three first-party accessories to purchase that will augment the iPad experience for the most part.
- Get the Apple Pencil if you need to draw, sketch, and taking notes.
- Get the Smart Keyboard (or Folio) if you need to type a lot. This applies to Student and Office Work.
- Get the Magic Keyboard (or Trackpad) if you have an iPad Pro and plan to use the iPad as a daily driver for your work, as it will decrease movement fatigue from touching the screen often. And iPadOS 13.4 will augment the cursor experience, allowing to hover on certain items, which would be beneficial on Desktop Safari.
Conclusion
To rephrase what I have been saying in the beginning, the iPad has become a powerhouse monster for an ARM-based computing device. While it has been in a lead in terms of powerhouse and capabilities against Google and Microsoft’s approach, it hasn’t been perfect yet. The adaptation of mouse support in the iPad will further push the boundary of the iPad towards a computer replacement, and it will allow more users to use the iPad for its daily driver. I believe it has touched the majority of users that can use the iPad as their daily driver, but I am still recommending anyone to have at least one computer before purchasing the iPad.
If you are able to live without a computer for at least a year, then it is safe to sell your computer and live just with an iPad.
