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Very interesting, dual iPad set up and no full laptop at all or run windows?
Oh I have a 15” MBP which is only used for work and mostly stays docked on my desk. And I have a Mac mini which I only use as a file and media hub.
 
I have a 9.7" iPad Pro that I use fairly regularly along with my M1 Air. I'll use Sidecar when I'm at my desk working, but when I'm lounging around in the evening I like using the iPad for web browsing, news reading, etc.

Though since getting the M1 MacBook Air I'm certainly not in a hurry to upgrade this iPad. I'll probably keep using it until it stops working on me (or until it can no longer reliably do the simple things I ask of it these days).
 
I don’t have a MBA but I use my 12.9” iPP exactly like one, always attached to a keyboard base (except for when I need to draw, which is why I have the iPP and not a MBA). And I have an iPad mini for the casual stuff. I use the mini a lot more than the 12.9 because I use it like a huge phablet—I carry it around the house and use it for everything except heavy productivity. (I like a small phone when I go out though.) The 12.9 is used just for heavier personal productivity and occasionally for work.

If I didn’t need to draw, then I’d have a MBA and iPad mini. The mini is mainly because I have a small phone though, so if I liked big phones, then I’d probably just have a MBA and iPhone max and forego iPads altogether, even though the max is quite a bit smaller than the mini.
I currently have the MBA + iPhone Pro Max setup you describe and definitely does get you by but I miss having an iPad... my only worry is if I go iPad Pro I likely will use that vast majority of the time and the MBA will start to gather dust (currently the MBA is my "couch surfing" device and the iPad will totally take that over).
 
I currently have the MBA + iPhone Pro Max setup you describe and definitely does get you by but I miss having an iPad... my only worry is if I go iPad Pro I likely will use that vast majority of the time and the MBA will start to gather dust (currently the MBA is my "couch surfing" device and the iPad will totally take that over).

The iPad definitely has some nice qualities. It’s easier to pick up and start using, and the Touch UI is more intimate and intuitive than a Macbook. And the display quality on the pros is probably better.

Yeah your MBA would likely collect dust. But I take it you still require the MBA for certain things, since your question is only regarding getting an iPad?

I don’t like redundancy between my devices either. We all try to minimize it as much as possible. But as long as there is even one sliver of unique function that is important to you, ie. it can’t be adequately replicated by another device, then in my opinion the device earns its keep, despite the redundancy. For example, my iPad mini does pretty much exactly the same things as my larger iPad Pro and my iPhone. Its only unique attribute is that it’s a significantly more ideal size for reading for long periods. Reading is a very important activity to me, therefore to me the mini earns its keep. After knowing that, the redundant functions don’t bother me. They can even be convenient.

So I think the question you have to ask is, if you have both a MBA and iPad, will they both have at least one unique attribute/function that is important to you? If yes, then in my opinion you have your answer right there. If no, then you might have some more wrestling to do.
 
Curious for MBA owners (especially M1 owners), do you also own an iPad? If so, how often is each device used and for what purpose?
See my sig. I use my big one all the time. Watch TV and movies on it all the time in the office while working on Air. Also for displaying our sheet music at church. My brother gave me the mini before I got the big one. I wanted to see how it was before I bought one of my own. I ended up getting the big one cuz it would be better for sheet music, but he let me keep the mini as he had gotten a new one for Christmas that year. I don't use that too often anymore. Sometimes I'll use it out in the garage to have TV or movie going, but usually if I'm out there I have my Air hooked up to a TV out there on TB2 to HDMI, or just the big iPad.
 
I currently have the MBA + iPhone Pro Max setup you describe and definitely does get you by but I miss having an iPad... my only worry is if I go iPad Pro I likely will use that vast majority of the time and the MBA will start to gather dust (currently the MBA is my "couch surfing" device and the iPad will totally take that over).
Get an iPad Air. Bigger than the iPhone, Smaller than the MB Air. Not quite as fast as the MB Air, too.
 
Hi,

I have a M1 2020 Air. I use it along side an iPhone 11, and a Series 1 Apple Watch. I don't see a role for any iPad for me, at least.
 
Yep, have an ipad air and a 6th Gen. The ipads were an entry back into the Apple ecosystem followed by a used 2011 mini and the imac in 2017. Recently acquired the m1 MBA and next week the m1 mini.
 
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I use a laptop to work on, an iPad to watch things or just general browsing then I have a Kindle for reading. Each do their jobs better than the others.
 
Yes. M1 MBA and an iPad Air 4. I use my iPad for media consumption and browsing around the Internet when I’m laying around relaxing. The MBA I use for more advanced complex tasks.
 
I have an iPad Air 2 (2017) which I use a lot compared with MBP 15 (2015 - too heavy most times). The iPad seems to accept up-to-date software, including iOS. One point not mentioned yet - iPad is much more robust than a laptop - three mac laptops I owned have developed or suffered keyboard problems. That doesn't happen with my iPad.
 
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I have a M1 MBA and currently a first Gen 12.9 iPad Pro that is now getting on to be 6 years old later this year. When I first got my MBA it replaced a 15" Macbook Pro, and I noticed that my usage of the iPad dropped by about 25%, and my usage for MBA increased by 25% compared to my MBP. I have ordered a new M1 12.9" iPad Pro. If I want to type anything I tend to use my MBA. If it is just browsing the Web or watching movies I tend to use the iPad. My old iPad Pro will be donated to my wife, which will be a significant upgrade to her old iPad Air.

I did think about getting a Magic keyboard but decided against it, as I had an Apple Keyboard case for my old iPad, but almost never used it. Now I have a more portable MBA I will use that if I want to type anything.
 
I have an 11" iPad Pro, but I owned that before I bought the M1 MBA. Different use cases for me. Sure, there's some overlap, but can't use an Apple Pencil on a MacBook Air. I use the iPad to read/review PDFs, scribble notes in meetings (well, when there were meetings), and will use the iPad to browse the internet in bed. I use the MBA for when a need to type a lot or when I need to work on large PowerPoint decks.
 
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I got the 2018 iPad.
My girlfriend uses the ipad all the time for browsing and playing games.

I use it to play radio in the background for the dog when I leave for a couple of hours.
And if I need to be productive on the m1, I use it with sidecar.

The iPad is a beautiful machine, but I can live without it. So for me, this is the first and last iPad that I bought.
 
I want to own an iPad of my own (my wife has one) but I find that my use case for it is far too basic to own one. It would only be used for reading websites and watching YouTube. Also, I find that my iPhone is pretty effective for that use case. I like the vision of only having one device but I’m far too used to MacOS to switch platforms. The design choices that they’ve made in iPadOS don’t appeal to me after using macOS all my life.
 
I own both (see my siggy). I use the iPad when I'm away from home and no work-related tasks are needed. I'm a musician and find that the iOS apps often don't give me what I need. Sometimes my MBAir doesn't either and I have to depend on my MBP. Overall the Air is for work and the iPad is for play. Oh BTW I think my iPad screen is inferior to my MBAir screen.
 
I own both (see my siggy). I use the iPad when I'm away from home and no work-related tasks are needed. I'm a musician and find that the iOS apps often don't give me what I need. Sometimes my MBAir doesn't either and I have to depend on my MBP. Overall the Air is for work and the iPad is for play. Oh BTW I think my iPad screen is inferior to my MBAir screen.
If I were to get an iPad Pro it would be for the "better" screen so that makes me leery if you said your MBA is better...
 
The iPad definitely has some nice qualities. It’s easier to pick up and start using, and the Touch UI is more intimate and intuitive than a Macbook. And the display quality on the pros is probably better.

Yeah your MBA would likely collect dust. But I take it you still require the MBA for certain things, since your question is only regarding getting an iPad?

I don’t like redundancy between my devices either. We all try to minimize it as much as possible. But as long as there is even one sliver of unique function that is important to you, ie. it can’t be adequately replicated by another device, then in my opinion the device earns its keep, despite the redundancy. For example, my iPad mini does pretty much exactly the same things as my larger iPad Pro and my iPhone. Its only unique attribute is that it’s a significantly more ideal size for reading for long periods. Reading is a very important activity to me, therefore to me the mini earns its keep. After knowing that, the redundant functions don’t bother me. They can even be convenient.

So I think the question you have to ask is, if you have both a MBA and iPad, will they both have at least one unique attribute/function that is important to you? If yes, then in my opinion you have your answer right there. If no, then you might have some more wrestling to do.
I like the perspective...I am definitely pulling the trigger on an iPad once we see what WWDC has in store.
 
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My personal use is around 80-90% iPads so I've got a few.

Bought the M1 MBA late last year but I barely use it. It did solve my battery and fan noise gripe with laptops but apparently, I'm still not fond of clamshells. I'd much rather use the iPad with just touchscreen and OSK most of the time or go to the desktop when I need to do non-iPad stuff than use the MBA.

Work is pretty much 100% Windows but the office provides a desktop and laptop for that.
 
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Welp...grabbed a current gen 11 inch iPad Pro on sale at Best Buy today and have 30 days return period which should take us comfortably up through WWDC to see if the M1s/More RAM will actually able to be utilized
 
Curious for MBA owners (especially M1 owners), do you also own an iPad? If so, how often is each device used and for what purpose?
I have the M1 MBP and currently have a 3rd get 12.9" iPad Pro; I've already ordered my 12.9" M1 iPad Pro. I use both of my devices daily for work. I also do digital illustration on my iPad on a very regular basis. I use my iPad for a lot of personal stuff, too. I email, browse, read, etc.
 
I have an iPad Air 2 (2017) which I use a lot compared with MBP 15 (2015 - too heavy most times). The iPad seems to accept up-to-date software, including iOS. One point not mentioned yet - iPad is much more robust than a laptop - three mac laptops I owned have developed or suffered keyboard problems. That doesn't happen with my iPad.
Agree I see people rocking 10 yr old iPads.
 
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