iPad Pro 12" or MacBook Pro 14"

[212rikanmofo]

Need some opinions here. Still unsure whether I made the right choice on getting a MBP 14". I will be using it mainly for surfing, watching videos, chatting, light gaming on steam, graphic design (ui/ux, web design, development), and perhaps light video editing just for fun to learn.

Do you think an iPad 12" would be better for my intended uses? I like the portability of the iPad and the ability to use the pencil to draw and sketch. I also like the smart keyboard. You can attach it and use a mouse just like a laptop but the choice is also there to be able to use it as a tablet if you choose to do so. While the MBP is nice, it's definitely a pure laptop.

 

[Lucas Curious]

wait for the upcoming MacBook

 

[cababah]

Yep...pull the trigger on next gen MBA w/ the M2.

 

[wilberforce]

Not sure what you have right now, understand from your other thread you have a 12" MBA, but you do not have an iPad? Presumably if you do, you would best know yourself.

In any case, the iPad is excellent for surfing, using in bed, sketching, although I prefer the 10 to 11" size.

I don't think an iPad is a good substitute for a laptop. People get the big one, attach a keyboard, mouse, etc, and make it work, but I think it is not a good substitute. Multitasking and file management is still poor. Depends what you do, how important productivity is. It is difficult exclusively using an iPad for "real" work. It is great for consumption, some creative arts, and for some writing.
If you have a desktop Mac, then an iPad is an excellent companion. But if you have no Mac (or PC), an iPad alone is quite limiting

 

[212rikanmofo]

Not sure what you have right now, understand from your other thread you have a 12" MBA, but you do not have an iPad? Presumably if you do, you would best know yourself.

In any case, the iPad is excellent for surfing, using in bed, sketching, although I prefer the 10 to 11" size.

I don't think an iPad is a good substitute for a laptop. People get the big one, attach a keyboard, mouse, etc, and make it work, but I think it is not a good substitute. Multitasking and file management is still poor. Depends what you do, how important productivity is. It is difficult exclusively using an iPad for "real" work. It is great for consumption, some creative arts, and for some writing.

I have an old 12" Macbook Retina (Early 2015 model). I don't have an iPad. I sometime borrow my sisters.

 

[wilberforce]

I have an old 12" Macbook Retina (Early 2015 model). I don't have an iPad. I sometime borrow my sisters.

OK well, you have some idea. You are probably the best judge of what would work for you.

One thought: this is a great opportunity to try out an iPad for 14 days (assuming you are in a country where Apple allows returns in 14 days) - which is actually now extended to Jan 8, at least in U.S. Get the keyboard with it and give it a go. Return the whole thing if it doesn't work out. That's what the return period is for; so you can try Apple products out with no risk. (As long as you don't damage it).

 

[terryw1]

Have both…two completely different animals. Your use case mix is interesting because it’s about 50% consumption and 50% production. This would be the equivalent to what I have today. I have a special bag that allows me to carry both most of the time.

In your use case it is difficult to state just 1 device. For consumption purposes both have stellar screens and sound. I would say equal to each other. Video editing and the like can be done on both devices…albeit different workflows. The ability to take notes and draw is one that is compelling for the iPad. If you actually use your device as a computer or for production activities….it is hands down the Mac book pro.

I use my iPad like 75% of the time and my Mac book pro the rest. As mush as I love my iPad, if told and I mean I could only keep 1 device….then it would be the Mac book pro.I tried living with one device but having had experienced the both…ended up with 2. The 14” base MacBook Pro with 1 TB and a iPad 2021 12.9 pro with 1 TB. It did allow me to get rid on my imac(27) so I really ended up with 2 devices instead of 3!

I probably have not helped much with your decision as I concluded I needed both!
But if you could have only 1 device…go for the Mac book pro. You can always add an inexpensive iPad ~500 for note taking and drawing, the only real things you are missing with the 1 device.

 

[haruhiko]

They are different products and shouldn’t be directly compared, it just happened that they are both based on Apple silicon.

You will know if you really need to do “computer” stuff that can’t be done by iPad apps and the web browser.

 

[yitwail]

Need some opinions here. Still unsure whether I made the right choice on getting a MBP 14". I will be using it mainly for surfing, watching videos, chatting, light gaming on steam, graphic design (ui/ux, web design, development), and perhaps light video editing just for fun to learn.

Speaking as a web developer, I have to test sites for desktop and mobile, and MacOS Safari Web Inspector is very handy because you can inspect/troubleshoot websites in your iPhone or iPad, and if you don't have either, you can still install Xcode and use iOS simulator to do the same, but none of that's possible with an iPad Pro. An example of the sort of thing you can do in Web Inspector is to change the CSS for some element, and see the result right away, without having to change the source on the server and reloading the page. It's especially nice that the MBP & iPhone in my case don't need to be physically connected, because wifi is sufficient, once you set MacOS Safari to Connect via Network. Granted, you can simulate some of this by resizing a window for example, but that's not a substitute for testing on an actual device.