iPad Pro Should I get an upcoming iPad Pro with keyboard and pencil or Apple Silicon Macbook Pro?

[KensaiMage]

My use case is:

Running a woocommerce/wordpress shop with only 2 products.
Writing a book.
Reading and surfing the net a lot.
Having video conferences.
Taking the device with me everywhere.

I know that the iPad Pro would be more pleasant to use as a consumption device, and the MacBook Pro as a productivity device. I know that both devices can do all the stuff I need. But I don't know what decission to make. Please help me make the right choice.

I'm posting it here because I would like to hear the answer from actual iPad Pro users.

Thank you in advance for your honest opinion!

 

[The Samurai]

This question is difficult given we don't know what kind of Apple Silicon macs are deffo launching. Rumours are that of a 12" or 13" air but given where we stand today, can't really answer your specific question.

IF I were going to be making a decision today, I would opt for one of the many great deals on the current MBA / MBP and the budget iPad (for consumption). If I were going for one, I would get the Macbook Air/Pro.

My experiences with the 11" iPad Pro:
1) I run a few Squarespace websites and found the iPad Pro wasn't able to handle it i.e. forms could not be edited. Some of the block features wouldn't work resulting in me having to go to the desktop.

2) File system really isn't there on the iPad.

3) By the time I added a pencil, keyboard case with trackpad, I was very easily touching the Macbook territory.

4) I often found that I had to run around circles for the basic of things on the iPad and given my productivity mindset, I was often losing time in what should have been straightforward.

 

[AutomaticApple]

My use case is:

Running a woocommerce/wordpress shop with only 2 products.
Writing a book.
Reading and surfing the net a lot.
Having video conferences.
Taking the device with me everywhere.

I know that the iPad Pro would be more pleasant to use as a consumption device, and the MacBook Pro as a productivity device. I know that both devices can do all the stuff I need. But I don't know what decission to make. Please help me make the right choice.

I'm posting it here because I would like to hear the answer from actual iPad Pro users.

Thank you in advance for your honest opinion!

If I were you, I would go with the iPad Pro. The iPadOS version of Pages works great for writing books, the iPad Pro has a better webcam, it happens to be more portable, and it works great for surfing the web.

 

[alanderp]

Based off your usage, I'd recommend the iPad Pro as well...

This is a pretty subjective question, but I have an iPad Pro 11" and thought that would be my main device, but I just can't make it work as my single device. I constantly revert back to my MacBook Pro for serious work. I "could" make it work, but the extra effort to organize things and just make the iPad my main device is not worth it to me.

My iPad has become my digital notebook, textbook reader, and my MacBook Pro for everything else including work and meetings.

 

[xeux]

Based strictly on your intended use, the iPad Pro would be a great fit.

 

[one more]

iPads are generally great, with new Magic Keyboards, mice support, etc. However, writing a book and anything related to web-development still works much better on MacOS. I manage two WP sites and while it is doable on an iPad, there are situations in which it becomes super awkward or does not work at all. If you are comfortable using the code window, it may be ok, but the visual editor is very cranky. So if you have time, patience and curiosity, you can probably get used to it and find some workarounds, while rebuilding your usual workflows. Both iOS and WP platform are constantly improving, so things might get brighter for iPads in the future, we just don’t know when. For now, if you want web-dev things to be done fast, I would recommend something with MacOS.

Book-writing will also be much better ergonomically and more natural on a Mac.

The few elements I can think of that are better on an iPad now, compared to MacBooks, are:

1) iPads are lighter and easier to move around/transport;
2) ProMotion on iPad Pros makes browsing smoother;
3) If you draw/illustrate/annotate - a Pencil can be great;
4) If you need to switch between different languages, iPad’s on-screen keyboards are great.

For anything else - Macs are still way better, IMO. ?

 

[one more]

Based strictly on your intended use, the iPad Pro would be a great fit.

Except for “Running a woocommerce/wordpress shop with only 2 products” and “Writing a book” parts.

 

[DiamondarBoss]

I have the 11” iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard. My use cases are similar to yours, and it hasn’t disappointed me. I love the iPad.

I would reccommend 256GB or higher if you can afford it, though. I got the 256gb.

 

[thisismyusername]

If I had to have only a single device, it would be a real laptop every time. iPad Pros are great devices and I really like mine but they're still secondary devices and I don't see that changing. There's too many workflows that are just plain easier on a real computer.

I suggest a laptop in your case, but not necessary an Apple Silicon based one (any cheap laptop would do fine plus I'm not sure I'd jump to such a new product/technology when it has to be used to make a living), because of that first requirement. Half of my day job is web development and there's no way I'd want to do that on an iPad. I've tried and it's just not the right tool for the job. Yes, it can be done in some circumstances but it sucks. I only do it when I absolutely have to (e.g. I'm traveling with just my iPad and there's a work emergency).

If I were you, I'd probably get a MBA and maybe the cheapest iPad for times when you just want to use a tablet. Based on your usage, you don't need a MBP or an iPad Pro. Also keep in mind that an iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard can easily be more expensive, heavier, and bulkier than a MBA.

 

[one more]

If I were you, I would go with the iPad Pro. The iPadOS version of Pages works great for writing books, the iPad Pro has a better webcam, it happens to be more portable, and it works great for surfing the web.

Writing a book on an iPad would imply investing into some sort of a quality keyboard too, thus adding more cost & bulk. The OP could easily get the latest MBA for the same price. The entry MBA with 256 GB SSD is 999$, iPad Pro 11” starts at 799$ for 128 GB, but then you need to add a good keyboard, etc., bringing it very close to 1K or higher.

 

[DarthDon]

it depends what you do with it. both are (or will be) perfect. for the mbp you have to wait at least for one more year (>micro-led plus arm). mb 12" will come very soon and you will safe the money for keyboard etc.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Writing a book on an iPad would imply investing into some sort of a quality keyboard too, thus adding more cost & bulk. The OP could easily get the latest MBA for the same price. The entry MBA with 256 GB SSD is 999$, iPad Pro 11” starts at 799$ for 128 GB, but then you need to add a good keyboard, etc., bringing it very close to 1K or higher.

In terms of price and portability, this would be a very good option.

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[Freida]

You want honest opinion? Well, don't ask silly questions. Once AS is out and new iPP is out then come here and ask. Until then, we don't know what will be better for you even though its most likely the iPad.

My use case is:

Running a woocommerce/wordpress shop with only 2 products.
Writing a book.
Reading and surfing the net a lot.
Having video conferences.
Taking the device with me everywhere.

I know that the iPad Pro would be more pleasant to use as a consumption device, and the MacBook Pro as a productivity device. I know that both devices can do all the stuff I need. But I don't know what decission to make. Please help me make the right choice.

I'm posting it here because I would like to hear the answer from actual iPad Pro users.

Thank you in advance for your honest opinion!

 

[ejin222]

My use case is:

Running a woocommerce/wordpress shop with only 2 products.
Writing a book.
Reading and surfing the net a lot.
Having video conferences.
Taking the device with me everywhere.

I know that the iPad Pro would be more pleasant to use as a consumption device, and the MacBook Pro as a productivity device. I know that both devices can do all the stuff I need. But I don't know what decission to make. Please help me make the right choice.

I'm posting it here because I would like to hear the answer from actual iPad Pro users.

Thank you in advance for your honest opinion!

It seems like a MBP fits your first two needs, while the iPad fits the latter 3. I'm sure running your shop and writing a book will be more pleasant on MacOS with full, desktop apps, while surfing the net, the better cameras, and the portability fits the iPad Pro better. And, with better battery life and LTE, the iPad has that over the MBP.

Ultimately, no one knows what the new Apple Silicon Macs will be like now, so we can't really answer that for you. Good luck.

 

[ecstaticax]

I am SysAdmin at an Italian University. In my office, i have a MacMini, and I also use my own MacBook Pro 15. During lockdown time, I used mainly my iPad Pro 2020 for nearly every work activity (Ssh, screens and Remote Desktop to servers), meet and zoom for conferencing, email, browsing, small Google docs activities, even some Word editing.
Excel on ipad is not good. It’s good for small activities, even the web version is better.
I have a WordPress blog, and iPad is good to edit pages.
At launch I bought a Magic Keyboard, and now iPad Pro is really great.
If you use Office a lot, perhaps Mac is the best choice. If you can have and old machine to remote connect into it (at home I also have a 2011 MacBook Pro always on as server, download machine, backup, nas and so on), iPad Pro is the best choice.
My main work machine now is surely my iPad Pro. I also use it to play music (now it features prosumer apps, like Cubasis 3), to edit movies recorded with my DJI drone (LumaFusion is surely the best app), to take notes, to have a journal (DayOne forever), to watch movies (with spatial audio on AirPods Pro), and much much more. I surely would not go back to Mac as main device.
With FE Explorer and a NAS file system is not a problem.
I hope Microsoft will release a real Office and Apple a conversion of xCode for iPad. Then the match will be over.

 

[mmomega]

Yes.

 

[Dhonk]

As a golfer, I describe Apple products as like wedge selection. I have a 47° PW, 52°, 56°, and 60° to fill my needs. My bro has a 45.5 PW, 50°, 54°, 60°. Different tools for different people.

I use a 16° MBP for my teaching related stuff at home, used 12° MB for light-medium consumption on the couch, an iPad Mini 5 when traveling, and an iPhone X (soon to be 12 mini).

My cousin uses an iPad Pro 11” (2018) with magic keyboard stand, and is upgrading to iPhone pro 6.1 or 6.7.

my point is we all have different use cases. I once liked an iPad for lounging around and casual browsing. But as I do a lot of my texting from a laptop or iPad, I prefer using the full keyboard and not a keyboard case for an iPad. I might switch to an iPad Air 4, but I want to see if a more powerful 12” MBP comes out first

 

[darngooddesign]

Your computing needs are pretty light, you could get an iPad Pro and a used MacBook Pro. Even one from the 2014/2015 MagSafe era would fit your needs well.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Why would you need a MacBook Pro for this? In your case, I would opt for a MacBook (Air).

 

[JD2015]

My use case is:

Running a woocommerce/wordpress shop with only 2 products.
Writing a book.
Reading and surfing the net a lot.
Having video conferences.
Taking the device with me everywhere.

I know that the iPad Pro would be more pleasant to use as a consumption device, and the MacBook Pro as a productivity device. I know that both devices can do all the stuff I need. But I don't know what decission to make. Please help me make the right choice.

I'm posting it here because I would like to hear the answer from actual iPad Pro users.

Thank you in advance for your honest opinion!

As it stands, I would recommend the Ipad Air 4th gen or IPP with the magic keyboard (best keyboard, trackpad and charging all in one accessory by a country mile). I am finding myself doing more and more with my IPP 12.9 and use my Macbook air less and less. I find video conference calls not ideal on an IPP due to the position of the front facing camera, but is okay to get by with the app limitations not allowing to connect to another camera of choice. What the IPP gives you especially if you go for the celluar is much more freedom of movement. You wont then have to tether to an iphone which can be a pain if you always are out and about. However, as others have said until we see the first Silicon macbook an definitive answer cannot be provided.

 

[japanime]

In terms of price and portability, this would be a very good option.

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Great recommendation!

My wife has an iPad Air on pre-order, and I intend to buy her that exact keyboard. I already own one and absolutely love it. The round keys might be a turnoff for some users, but I find them to be great. It's built rock-solid, the key travel is just right, and the disposable batteries that came with it are still going strong a year after I bought it.

Mine is a dark grey model, which might have been discontinued since I don't see it on the Logitech website. The white one would probably look pretty dirty after a bit of use. But my wife will like the rose-colored one.

 

[The Samurai]

Great recommendation!

My wife has an iPad Air on pre-order, and I intend to buy her that exact keyboard. I already own one and absolutely love it. The round keys might be a turnoff for some users, but I find them to be great. It's built rock-solid, the key travel is just right, and the disposable batteries that came with it are still going strong a year after I bought it.

Mine is a dark grey model, which might have been discontinued since I don't see it on the Logitech website. The white one would probably look pretty dirty after a bit of use. But my wife will like the rose-colored one.

I have this keyboard for my iMac and is absolutely lovely to type on. Best keyboard ive used in a decade , easily.

 

[Infinitewisdom]

I’ve been thinking about this question quite a bit. My biggest issues with iPads revolve around not being able to use all the Mac software I need AND also not being able to backup my files like I can on a Mac. If these two issues were resolved for iPads I’d be all iPad all the time. The form factor, lack of a fan, instant on, etc, these are all things that are incredibly good on iPads.

 

[one more]

I’ve been thinking about this question quite a bit. My biggest issues with iPads revolve around not being able to use all the Mac software I need AND also not being able to backup my files like I can on a Mac. If these two issues were resolved for iPads I’d be all iPad all the time. The form factor, lack of a fan, instant on, etc, these are all things that are incredibly good on iPads.

Agreed, iPads are crippled exclusively by iPadOS limitations, their hardware is great otherwise. For now iPadOS is macOS “light” edition, which still makes having a computer indispensable for certain common tasks (like restoring a DFU-ed iDevice).

 

[darngooddesign]

...which still makes having a computer indispensable for certain common tasks (like restoring a DFU-ed iDevice).

I think you are overestimating how common a DFU restore is.