All iPads Is the iPad dying?

[Yebubbleman]

I think the iPad is lost between the iPhone (mobility+power) and the new Macs (real pro apps, usability and productivity). If Apple launch a MacBook Pro with 5G, Catalyst may be the salvation for the iPad app developers.

Mac Pro

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I use iPad as a big clock.

No. It's not dying. Not even close.

It does suffer from the problem of seeming superfluous to those who have never owned one.

 

[spiderman0616]

It's easy to think that going by WWDC, because the Mac got the big software redesign this year. Next year, when the cycle swings back over to iPadOS getting the bigger updates, everyone will think the Mac is dying again. Fortunately, this is not how Apple looks at the iPad and Mac--they don't need one to "kill" the other. It's become obvious in recent years that they're using all the devices in their ecosystem to push all of their hardware and software forward. In fact, macOS takes heavy cues from iPadOS, and if the rumors are true, Mac hardware design will start doing the same soon.

iOS and all its variants (iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS) are Apple's most successful software platform by an incredibly large margin. The iPad lineup is a very important part of that platform because it teeters between professional and consumer. It would make zero sense for Apple to kill it.

I would agree with a lot of the people above too--iPad Pro has been firing on all cylinders lately and even though it's a stable, mature product now, Apple continues to push it forward and keep it in the conversation. I've never once bought a new iPad and thought "My last one was better".

 

[Bustermd]

I don't think its dying, not by a long shot for all of the reasons everyone mentioned.

What I do think is that for most people, owning a laptop and an iPad has become completely redundant. Obviously there will be exceptions for specific people in creative fields, etc. And I'm speaking as someone that has both a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro. I find myself using one or the other, but rarely both. And I'm gravitating more and more to the laptop because frankly multitasking, managing multiple file types in a meeting (PDF, word, excel spreadsheets), and file management completely stink on iPad OS. Note taking with the Apple Pencil is good in theory, but I find its painfully inconvenient in real life But that's for me: for someone that would use their "computer" to just watch Netflix, check email, and browse the web an iPad is perfect.

The other thing I used to think my iPad was good for was media consumption while travelling. However, with increasingly large iPhone/smartphone screens I've found (when people actually were able to travel) that carrying an iPad and an iPhone was incredibly cumbersome, especially if you had to carry a laptop as well, and watching movies, or reading book/magazine on the plane on your phone is by far good enough.

 

[BenTrovato]

It’s not dying but their vision for the product is terrible. They tried to have it replace laptops instead of innovating the tablet so that you would rather use it than a laptop. Then they gave up and slapped on the keyboard/trackpad. So it’s not dying, it’s merging with laptops which I think is a mistake.

 

[cgsnipinva]

I don't think its dying, not by a long shot for all of the reasons everyone mentioned.

What I do think is that for most people, owning a laptop and an iPad has become completely redundant. Obviously there will be exceptions for specific people in creative fields, etc. And I'm speaking as someone that has both a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro. I find myself using one or the other, but rarely both. And I'm gravitating more and more to the laptop because frankly multitasking, managing multiple file types in a meeting (PDF, word, excel spreadsheets), and file management completely stink on iPad OS. Note taking with the Apple Pencil is good in theory, but I find its painfully inconvenient in real life But that's for me: for someone that would use their "computer" to just watch Netflix, check email, and browse the web an iPad is perfect.

The other thing I used to think my iPad was good for was media consumption while travelling. However, with increasingly large iPhone/smartphone screens I've found (when people actually were able to travel) that carrying an iPad and an iPhone was incredibly cumbersome, especially if you had to carry a laptop as well, and watching movies, or reading book/magazine on the plane on your phone is by far good enough.

Agreed - I have a Mac (desktop) for my home -- I use an iPad Pro for mobility.

For work I use my iPad Pro when I travel as its lighter than my laptop.

 

[GGJstudios]

I certainly don't think the iPad is dying. Quite the opposite, in fact. Still, I would like to see the iPad progress more, mostly in terms of software, because I'd like to be able to use it instead of the MacBook Pro as my primary device for most things. I know I'll always need the MBP for heavy lifting, but if the iPad apps would catch up a bit more, I could use it most of the time. The primary area of weakness for me is spreadsheets, which I use extensively. Numbers can't match Excel in functionality, and Excel on the iPad is a stripped-down version of Excel for the Mac. I'm hoping a solution presents itself before I have to invest in a new Mac.

 

[jagolden]

Smartphones will inevitably replace tablets in the future. It's not difficult to think when you see the pandemic situation, the need fot big screens, redundancy of mobile gadgets and the fact of the new Macs coming. Why will you need this large iPod touch when your iPhone will connect directly to your big screen?

• Mac Pro
• Next-gen iMac
• MacBooks ARM 5G
• Apple Glasses

Apple wouldn't develop expensive projects like the new Macs for nothing. Think different.

Because you can’t sit in your chair with a big-screen in your lap. Nor really conveniently with a keyboard attached. If people think an iPad is just a big iPhone or iPod it’s very short-sighted. Try using real business software on a daily basis on your phone or perform high level graphics editing on your phone (real software for that not even available). Worthwhile text editing or writing on a phone - forget it unless emojis are the way you want to communicate

 

[cgsnipinva]

I certainly don't think the iPad is dying. Quite the opposite, in fact. Still, I would like to see the iPad progress more, mostly in terms of software, because I'd like to be able to use it instead of the MacBook Pro as my primary device for most things. I know I'll always need the MBP for heavy lifting, but if the iPad apps would catch up a bit more, I could use it most of the time. The primary area of weakness for me is spreadsheets, which I use extensively. Numbers can't match Excel in functionality, and Excel on the iPad is a stripped-down version of Excel for the Mac. I'm hoping a solution presents itself before I have to invest in a new Mac.

I think it will - rumors are that with the common silicon platform - there will be more parity between Mac and IPad applications -- numbers can now do 1 million rows with 75 columns or something which is a huge increase capacity for both Mac and IpadOS. There are also newer functions. Development will speed up now that they can write once and apply to all.

 

[Jonathantuba]

I do wonder if the OP is trolling, as it is such a ridiculous statement. The iPad is not going anywhere - Apple sells more iPad than they do Mac. I think for the majority of people the iPad is all they need. Macs are more specialist tools for specific business uses. I use an iPad Pro for 95% of my work as a company director. I do have an iMac in my office, but just use for a few specific tasks and when I want an extra screen - but can manage without - in fact I do for weeks at a time when travelling on business (pre-Covid!).

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

I think it will - rumors are that with the common silicon platform - there will be more parity between Mac and IPad applications

Yes. Also the new “sidebar” on the iPad Apps and trackpad support. I’m sure Mac apps are coming to the iPad.

 

[dmccloud]

I think it will - rumors are that with the common silicon platform - there will be more parity between Mac and IPad applications -- numbers can now do 1 million rows with 75 columns or something which is a huge increase capacity for both Mac and IpadOS. There are also newer functions. Development will speed up now that they can write once and apply to all.

What rumors? Apple said during the WWDC keynote that going forward, apps would be released for both iOS/iPadOS and MacOS. The idea going forward will be "code once, deploy universally", which is something that many developers have wanted for years now. If you have the time, watch the "State of the Union" keynote from WWDC, where they went into greater detail about the ARM transition.

 

[muzzy996]

I think it will - rumors are that with the common silicon platform - there will be more parity between Mac and IPad applications -- numbers can now do 1 million rows with 75 columns or something which is a huge increase capacity for both Mac and IpadOS. There are also newer functions. Development will speed up now that they can write once and apply to all.

The parity is in the processors which will help with the development of software that leverages the unique hardware features of each platform to make a more cohesive ecosystem of devices. There was nothing in the recent keynote that lead me to believe that Apple is looking to merge hardware in the next couple of years . I hope that I am right because I no sooner want an iPad bulked up to be more of a laptop than I would want a MacBook that folds back on itself just to be used as a tablet.

 

[cgsnipinva]

What rumors? Apple said during the WWDC keynote that going forward, apps would be released for both iOS/iPadOS and MacOS. The idea going forward will be "code once, deploy universally", which is something that many developers have wanted for years now. If you have the time, watch the "State of the Union" keynote from WWDC, where they went into greater detail about the ARM transition.

I was not articulate in my words -- I am in agreement with your point.

 

[stlredbird]

Far from it. It’s certainly not a laptop replacement yet for me, far from it, but for the first time I see light at the end of the tunnel.

Recently I decided to see if I could create a short video advertising upcoming speaking engagements for my company using only my new 12.9 ipad with magic keyboard and apple pencil. I tried out several video editing apps until finally settling on Lumafusion. It wasn’t ideal, I used all 6 available video layers, had to work around certain shortcomings of the software like no masking or eases or even the ability to move key frames. In the end however I had a one minute 4K video that was suitable to submit and use for marketing purposes. It was really a fun proof of concept project. Would I do it again? Not for a video like that but certainly on simpler projects. I may have gotten too ambitious but I really wanted to test what was possible.

I think for writers, many illustrators and artists, and even video content providers like you tubers, the iPad could already replace their laptop needs.

For me I need a little more robustness on the video editing side, more akin to After Effects, plus a fully functional Photoshop and InDesign. But like I said I see light at the end.

 

[Timothy Leo Crowley]

No. The iPad is not dying. Quite the contrary, it's more popular than ever and makes Apple a LOT of money.

 

[Apple_Robert]

No. It's not dying. Not even close.

It does suffer from the problem of seeming superfluous to those who have never owned one.

It’s biggest problem, is the fact that the software is no where close to the hardware capabilities. IPADOS is incrementally removing the gap between two sides. The problem is the change has been very, very slow and modest.

 

[SoYoung]

OP, I'm not agree with you at all. In fact, over the years with the more powerful iPad pro's and their bigger screen and awesome accessories like the magic keyboard case, I think the iPad never be as good or useful as of now. I love my iPads (yes I have more than one) way more than my iPhone. These days, I almost only use my phone for, actually, phone related stuff, like calls, messages, and light web browsing or watching youtube videos but thats it. I found the iPad way more confortable to use with the bigger screen, more powerful (for pro model) and now my iPad became my laptop replacement with the magic keyboard accessory.

I think the iPad is on its prime since a couple of years IMO. And I know many people who don't use their phones as much as like 10 years ago when it was a brand new gadget.

 

[Jonathantuba]

OP, I'm not agree with you at all. In fact, over the years with the more powerful iPad pro's and their bigger screen and awesome accessories like the magic keyboard case, I think the iPad never be as good or useful as of now. I love my iPads (yes I have more than one) way more than my iPhone. These days, I almost only use my phone for, actually, phone related stuff, like calls, messages, and light web browsing or watching youtube videos but thats it. I found the iPad way more confortable to use with the bigger screen, more powerful (for pro model) and now my iPad became my laptop replacement with the magic keyboard accessory.

I think the iPad is on its prime since a couple of years IMO. And I know many people who don't use their phones as much as like 10 years ago when it was a brand new gadget.

I mainly use my phone for actual calls, taking photos, and quick web reference on the move. 95% of my online time is on my iPad Pro. For me it a lot more important device.

 

[pshufd]

The iPad has a cost advantage over the Mac. That said, I'm using the iPad less and less lately as I prefer using the MacBook around the house because of the keyboard and screen space and the ability to work with it instead of just do consumption. I still do use my iPad Mini though; just not as much as before.

 

[Jonathantuba]

The iPad has a cost advantage over the Mac. That said, I'm using the iPad less and less lately as I prefer using the MacBook around the house because of the keyboard and screen space and the ability to work with it instead of just do consumption. I still do use my iPad Mini though; just not as much as before.

I am heading in exactly the opposite direction, using my iPad Pro for more and more, and the Mac less and less. I find the iPad Pro (with Magic keyboard) quicker, more reliable, as well as more pleasurable to use.

Shows we are all different, and lucky to have a choice.

 

[aevan]

I use iPad as a big clock.

I think this is the reason why you think iPad is dying.

 

[pshufd]

I think this is the reason why you think iPad is dying.

It makes a good workout timer.

 

[iOS Geek]

Ive seen more Chromebooks than iPads in schools.

Our district has done Chromebooks for the last 7 years and are moving to iPad's/Macs for this school year for teachers and students K-12th grade. My wife is actually supposed to get hers from the district sometime next week so she can start working with it to get her lesson plans going. We don't yet know if our schools will be starting the year online, but it'll be interesting to see how things go if that's the case. Online learning ended up being a major strength for our district because the system in place already with the Chromebooks made the transition easy. We'll be finding out how easy (or not) things will be with iPads and using Apple's classroom apps if we continue with online again. (or whatever it is they've got. I'm not familiar with their education suite).

I wonder which iPad she'll be getting from the district. She currently has the most recent Air as her personal one.

 

[poorgolfer]

In my opinion iPad is not dying out. I use mine as a TV for Netflix etc. and an ultra-portable workstation for accessing office 365. It's a very convenient form factor. I agree that for most use cases the base iPad models are just fine. I have the 10.5 inch Pro that is overkill for my usage. I have an Apple Pencil that I barely use.

 

[Suspenders]

I love my iPad Pro. I use it almost exclusively as my main computer for pretty much everything I do and I'm a photographer.

There are some quirks (i.e. file management, website editing, uploading photos to shared drives), but I find that the pluses outweigh the negatives for me.

The way I see it, things will continue to get better for iPadOS over time and in its current form, I'm quite happy with everything it can do.