The 12” MacBook was one of the best ideas Apple has ever had, but it was limited by it’s anemic CPU, single USB-C port and horrible butterfly keyboard. But I loved that little computer for personal use, and was wondering how good of a replacement a 11” iPP with MK would be now that iPadOS 26 Public Beta is releasing soon. Obviously, MacBook would always have an edge for productivity, since MacOS is much more robust system, but with all of the new things coming with iPadOS 26, isn’t the gap closed for the average user?
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iPad Pro Is iPad Pro M4 11” with Magic Keyboard and iOS 26 a worthy successor to the 12” MacBoook?
- Thread starter memento mori
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Not at all, as an owner of both. The beauty of the 12" MB was that it could literally do everything, as it was a mac. The iPad is still limited by iPadOS.
Putting that aside, they both have their advantages:
iPad
- much smaller without the keyboard
- touchscreen
- apple pencil
- incredibly thin (when not paired with the keyboard)
MacBook
- a delight to open (can open with one finger, vs the monstrosity of pulling apart the magic keyboard with a strong magnetic force and no finger grips and the apple pencil always being in the way.)
- feels like it weighs less because it is less dense
- aluminum on the outside vs the terrible material used on magic keyboards.
Really the main advantage is still macOS. But the problem I have with the iPad setup is that the iPad hardware is incredible, but then paired with the MK it becomes ugly, bulky, feels worse and is no longer elegant.
A proper M4 12" macbook in the same footprint but with reduced bezels and an updated keyboard would be incredible as the main problem with it was the incredibly terrible performance.
I think Apple hasn't done this just because Tim Cook has no idea where to put it into the lineup. The "Air" is supposed to be both the cheap and the most sleek/portable.
Putting that aside, they both have their advantages:
iPad
- much smaller without the keyboard
- touchscreen
- apple pencil
- incredibly thin (when not paired with the keyboard)
MacBook
- a delight to open (can open with one finger, vs the monstrosity of pulling apart the magic keyboard with a strong magnetic force and no finger grips and the apple pencil always being in the way.)
- feels like it weighs less because it is less dense
- aluminum on the outside vs the terrible material used on magic keyboards.
Really the main advantage is still macOS. But the problem I have with the iPad setup is that the iPad hardware is incredible, but then paired with the MK it becomes ugly, bulky, feels worse and is no longer elegant.
A proper M4 12" macbook in the same footprint but with reduced bezels and an updated keyboard would be incredible as the main problem with it was the incredibly terrible performance.
I think Apple hasn't done this just because Tim Cook has no idea where to put it into the lineup. The "Air" is supposed to be both the cheap and the most sleek/portable.
As a owner of both, very different devices.
The 11" is a great device but is not 12" Macbook replacement.
iPadOS 26 does not give you desktop apps, you have better multitasking but you still have only mobile apps.
While lighter than an 13" it's still heavier than the 12" Macbook with a smaller screen and it's top heavy on your lap.
For me a much closer experience has been my Thinkpad X1 Nano, same weight as the 12" MacBook, better keyboard, 13" screen and cellular as a bonus. But it runs Windows, which you might not like (for me it's perfect since I need some Windows only apps).
The 11" is a great device but is not 12" Macbook replacement.
iPadOS 26 does not give you desktop apps, you have better multitasking but you still have only mobile apps.
While lighter than an 13" it's still heavier than the 12" Macbook with a smaller screen and it's top heavy on your lap.
For me a much closer experience has been my Thinkpad X1 Nano, same weight as the 12" MacBook, better keyboard, 13" screen and cellular as a bonus. But it runs Windows, which you might not like (for me it's perfect since I need some Windows only apps).