iPad Pro Confusion regarding MBA M2 and iPad Pro 11"

[EnigmaticZee]

I am looking to make a purchase for my partner but really confused whether I should go with MBA M2 or iPad 11". Budget is not an issue but the confusion is whether she will be able to do everything she wants to with the iPad.

Primarily, she will be studying online, making notes, documents and secondary she will be teaching. I have tried looking on youtube but couldn't find anything. Can iPad be used for attending interviews, sharing screen etc? The reason I personally prefer iPad because it will be convenient to detach it from keyboard and consume media in bed and touch screen is a plus but I am just wondering whether it will be able to do everything and if that should I go with iPad Pro 11" or iPad Air Gen 5?

I will appreciate any response.

 

[Warped9]

The fact that both devices are now M series chips blurs the line even more. I think it’s a matter of determining if she needs any particular programs or apps that might not run on one or the other device. Also with the iPad she doesn’t necessarily have to remove it from the keyboard case, whether it’s Apple’s Logitech’s or whatever, unless she really want to.

A MacBook Air will have a larger screen than an 11in. iPad Pro, but you can offset that by considering the 12.9 Pro.

Ultimately the iPad Pro would be the most convenient in terms of portability as long as it can do everything she needs.

 

[ericwn]

Also consider your partner’s personal preference in the first place.

 

[rui no onna]

MBA is a safer choice. Not all websites work properly on iPad (or even Safari). At least with the MacBook, she’ll be able to install Chrome or Firefox if needed.

The thing here is you don’t know how well the iPad will match with her workflow until you try.

If you do decide to go the iPad route, I definitely recommend the iPad Pro for FaceID. Paired with keyboard, FaceID is just way more convenient than TouchID. Besides, you probably wouldn’t want to get 64GB anyway and the price difference between 256GB Air 5 and 128GB Pro 11 isn’t much.

 

[Shirasaki]

I also recommend M2 MacBook Air. iPadOS is so limited to many somewhat edge use cases, you’d have to make sure you 1000% know her needs will not and never touch any edge cases iPadOS can’t handle in a few years before committing to that route, assuming That’s the only device you want to buy.

One thing I can tell you, your partner definitely do Not want to be in an awkward scenario where she desperately needs to do something but iPad just can’t do.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Lots of solid replies already but you have to make sure someone is a hardcore tablet user before buying one. I've been through all the iPads in existence and still sell them and replace them with MBA's. I have a MBP 16" as a desktop replacement and my MBA acts as my travel device/tablet around the house. Tablet is cool for that 1% of time but once you start adding accessories, limitations, questionable battery life, inconvenience (e.g. falls over, **** angles), iPadOS, terrible resell value, and insane prices it starts becoming a hard pass.

 

[Digitalguy]

They are complementary devices rather than alternatives, if budget is not an issue I'd get both (maybe just the air for the iPad and no Magic Keyboard). Apple makes some things unique to the iPad and others to the Mac, so that people who want the best experience buy both.

 

[antiprotest]

Except for artists who needs to draw with the Apple Pencil, if I can have only one device I'd pick the Mac.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

They are complementary devices rather than alternatives, if budget is not an issue I'd get both (maybe just the air for the iPad and no Magic Keyboard). Apple makes some things unique to the iPad and others to the Mac, so that people who want the best experience buy both.

To be honest, with MacOS Ventura and the M series chips in both iPad and Macs I’m failing to see what you can’t do on a Mac unless you’re an Apple Pencil user. Everything new in iPadOS is on MacOS to my knowledge…

 

[rui no onna]

To be honest, with MacOS Ventura and the M series chips in both iPad and Macs I’m failing to see what you can’t do on a Mac unless you’re an Apple Pencil user. Everything new in iPadOS is on MacOS to my knowledge…

You can use the iPad without physical keyboard attached. For me, the tablet form factor is the primary draw.

I used to use my laptop for reading manga (Japanese comics) and ebooks. I find the iPad to be much better for those tasks. I go for the Pro models for storage.

 

[0128672]

What does she use now and what's her preference? There's no mention of what she's expressed for preferences and what she currently uses. You could always go the Apple gift card route and let her decide.

It sounds like she's will be in grad school, and for that I'd go with the M2 MBA for better software productivity suite versions than those available for the iPad, especially if she's going to be teaching. And it's easier to manage files and perform backups on an Mac.

The keyboards for an 11" iPad are pretty small and it may be a frustrating experience for extended writing. I have an iPad Air 5 with a Logitech combo touch case and it's nice for short bits of typing but for anything longer than an email or a paragraph or two, I'll grab my MBA.

 

[dockgaze]

I’ve kind of got the same iPad vs MBA dilemma . . . . and without going into all the previous back-and-forth use case scenarios ad nauseam . . . . I’m simply trying find find accurate info on the actual keypad spacing on the iPad’s magic keyboard (11’ and 12.9”) vs MBA. I don’t live near an Apple Store so comparisons are difficult . . . . Anyone know or have the data for the various keyboard spacing configs? I know Apple shrunk some of the return/shift/tab keys on the MK, but it’s the letter/number QWERTY set I’m wondering about.

 

[tastesliketailpipe]

I've got both of those. Thought I could do without a laptop but nah MBA is the one for me right now. Everything is so much easier and quicker to do and multitasking is not tasking at all.