only you can answer what would work best for you. everyone isgonna tell you what works best for them so these types of questions aren’t really helpful to the person unless you wanna build your experience around what other people like or need. Which would be very bad because then you’re not getting what you actually want or need.
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iPad Air iPad Air vs Neo
- Thread starter Mainsail
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MR is a tech forum. It is chuck full of people posting what type of tech they have and how they use it. Getting peoples' opinions about a specific set of devices and use case does not mean that you are going to follow any one posters advice or opinions. It's a data point. It's a dialog. People make their buying decisions based on a variety of inputs: reviews, personal needs, personal experience, budget and ...yes.....input from others, which one can choose to follow or ignore.
What in the world would make you think I am building my experience around other people's needs?
To the OP: Find a way to swing BOTH the Neo and the iPad Air. I’ll bet you’ll have plenty of use cases for both. Different tools for different jobs.
FluffyDog6
macrumors newbie
This is the way.
These devices have different use strategies. I find different devices do one thing or another better than another one.
However, the Macbook NEO, assuming you can find one for sale, struggles for me running Logic Pro (gets glitchy on playback) while my 5th gen iPad Air runs Logic Pro without difficulty. I've tweaked the settings on the NEO, but there seems to be a hard limit to what it can manage in real time. In theory it has a more powerful chip than the iPad.
I assume the difference between iOS and MacOS is the issue here, with the desktop OS having a lot more overhead than iOS. But who knows? The NEO has its own special characteristics that have it accompany me most days as an adjunct to my iPhone.
Or, a MacBook Neo + iPad 11 cost about the same as an iPad Air + Magic Keyboard. So, that's another route.
Exactly. To own a desktop setup as well as a laptop and a tablet is not unreasonable. I’ll bet most would find plenty of use for all three. And, if one is careful, such a kit can be assembled without spending insane amounts of money.
I own a Mac mini, iPad Air, and a Neo and I find plenty of uses for all three of them.
- Mac mini for daily use
- iPad Air for when I want something light weight for reading, surfing the web, etc
- Neo for when I need something portable that will run MacOS apps or when working on documents while portable
If you look at my signature, you can see I do more or less the same thing. The only difference is I am fortunate enough to own Apple’s higher-end devices. But the point is one is not forced to spend this kind of money. A Mac Mini or iMac is more than enough for most people, one can opt for a MacBook Air or Neo if one doesn’t need a MacBook Pro… and even the base iPad (at $299 on Amazon right now) will get the job done.
I forgot to add.
I know that not everyone can afford to buy all three at one time or even close together. I sure can't. I bought my M4 Mac mini and once it was paid off, then bought the M3 iPad Air. I had the iPad paid off before buying the Neo two months ago.
I take full advantage of the zero interest financing when purchasing directly from Apple with the Apple Card.
I know that not everyone can afford to buy all three at one time or even close together. I sure can't. I bought my M4 Mac mini and once it was paid off, then bought the M3 iPad Air. I had the iPad paid off before buying the Neo two months ago.
I take full advantage of the zero interest financing when purchasing directly from Apple with the Apple Card.
I sure can't afford to get a Mac Studio, iPad Pro and MB Air or Pro even with spacing the purchases out. And there is nothing wrong with going with a Mac mini, Neo, and iPad as long as they suit your needs. One should stay within their own budget.
rui no onna
Contributor
Yeah. Like I use the iPad 90% of the time but I'm glad to have desktops and laptops when I need them.
I guess it is a good question to engender conversation. But the prequisites change things a lot. Assume you have a desktop for heavy lifting is a huge assumption, since many folks choose a laptop to do desktop and mobile chores, whereas far less folks attempt to use a tablet for everything.
IMO it is just each individual's preferences, especially Mac OS (my personal strong preference) versus iPad OS. And those preferences will often change as time goes on.
IMO it is just each individual's preferences, especially Mac OS (my personal strong preference) versus iPad OS. And those preferences will often change as time goes on.
You are correct that preferences/needs can change over time.
I got along just fine with a Mac mini and an iPad. Then it came down to having a need to run MacOS only apps while portable. I was saving up to purchase a MacBook Air but then the Neo was released. The Neo fits all of my portable needs when I have to run MacOS. I still use the iPad quite a bit when I can get away with iPadOS apps.
The correct answer is get both. Always get both😂
I think the iPad only makes sense if you need/want it for drawing or want to use the apple pencil, otherwise the Neo is the best all rounder.
I have an iPad and I do love it but I find that I have to force myself to use it..
I have an iPad and I do love it but I find that I have to force myself to use it..
rui no onna
Contributor
Nah. I can’t draw and rarely use the Pencil. I still prefer using the iPad.
I reckon it boils down to whether you want to have a physical keyboard or prefer to go pure tablet mode.
Personally, I wanted the tablet form factor (for reading, etc) so I got the iPad.
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jz0309
macrumors P6
I traded in my M2 iPad Air for the base Neo, not missing my iPad Air ...
But as they say, different folks, different strokes
true.. I just use mine, normally in bed or the couch and just keep in the Magic Keyboard..
If it's a laptop you want but if you want a tablet for tasks other than just drawing or for the pencil, then the Neo isn't the best for you.
I just got a neo, transitioning from a m4 IPP 11”. So far so good
ThailandToo
macrumors 65816
Because get an open system of being able to install any app you want. You get the keyboard included. While my iPad Pro is fun to watch content on, it’s not that much better than watching it on a MacBook. And when I carry the iPad Pro with the keyboard case and Pencil, it’s just as heavy as the MacBook. To me, the iPad is fun, but it’s form over function vs the MacBook does it all better except drawing and slightly worse display.
DankeBrutus
macrumors regular
I guess it depends if you want a computer or a content device. The iPad Air would be a much better content consumption device. The speakers get louder, the screen is higher resolution, it's super portable. The Neo is a much better all-round device since it is a regular computer.
xxFoxtail
macrumors 65816
I can personally do everything I need to use a computer for on my iPad, so I don’t exactly need or want another Mac currently. The added iPad benefits are tablet features (reading, drawing, using with my fitness equipment, Fitness+).
Since I have my iPhone Air now, which to me is a mini tablet, I think if I can go back and not get my M4 iPad Pro and just keep my MacBook, I think that would have made more sense to me. Though, I’d wish to have a smaller MacBook.
Since I have my iPhone Air now, which to me is a mini tablet, I think if I can go back and not get my M4 iPad Pro and just keep my MacBook, I think that would have made more sense to me. Though, I’d wish to have a smaller MacBook.
I7guy
macrumors Westmere
It’s such an individual decision based on how one uses their devices. My wife’s IPP M1 is a workhorse. My IPP M5 is mostly a consumption device. The Neo gets used when needed, but the form factor of the iPad makes it more desirable in multiple situations.
I don't get how the iPad is not night and day better than the Mac for content. You can lay down on the sofa and literally watch a movie holding it in your hand. It feels like your personalised theatre in the dark. With the laptop, its heavier as you cannot detach the keyboard and you would have to place it on your chest which will make for a significantly less immersion than the iPad.
Secondly, the iPad is a sheet of paper. I can pick it up in my hand and move around holding the content. You cannot do that with a Mac. Try going through a 400 pager document on an iPad vs Mac. You can scroll much faster on the iPad compared to the track pad on the Mac.
Also the display is not slightly worse. Its night and day worse. You have a Tandem OLED on the iPad vs. a MiniLED on the MacBook and inbcase of Neo vs Air, the Air still has a higher res display. There is no contest in HDR content as OLED blows it away.
The Mac is a computer. It does stuff like spreadsheets, professional environments etc very well which the iPad is less flexible at doing. The iPad does lesser stuff than the Mac but what it does do, its so much more comfortable vs the laptop.
I will say the iPad is a consumer oriented device which does professional stuff on the side while its the exact opposite with the Mac.