iPad Pro vs. MacBook Air in 2024 - Which Should You Buy?

Which device is better for getting work done: a MacBook Air or iPad Pro? What about creativity tasks or content consumption? We’ll take you through the strengths of each device and, ultimately, which one we think is the best option.

Specifically, we’ll take you through the iPad Pro's strengths, like the Apple Pencil, its touch screen, display tech, the advantages and disadvantages of iPad apps and iPadOS, and how each device’s form factor compares to the other. Then, we’ll take you through the strengths of the MacBook Air and MacOS, as well as the vast difference in price between both devices.

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🕰️Timestamps:
0:00 - Apple Pencil
1:18 - Scanning Documents
1:50 - Touch Screen
2:21 - Display Tech
3:11 - Face ID and iPad-only apps
4:30 - MacBook Air vs. iPad Pro form factor
5:10 - Touch ID
5:28 - MacOS
6:29 - Battery Life
6:47 - Web Browser choice
7:25 - Price difference
8:09 - Recommendation

6 Months Later purchased the iPad Pro, MacBook Air and all other Apple products shown. 6 Months Later has no relationship with Apple. This video has no sponsor.

Any Amazon links we provide in our descriptions are in conjunction with our Amazon partnership. The channel receives a small percentage of revenue from any sales generated by viewers clicking the links.

#Apple
#iPadPro
#MacBookAir
#MacOS
#iPadOS

[MonthsLater]

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[Langkinhsaigon-SaigonHoloscope]

I am a businessman, student, and an amateur YouTuber.😊 Previously, I owned both a MacBook Pro M3 Pro and an iPad Pro M2 12.9-inch and soon realized that the iPad Pro could handle almost every tasks so well and is incredibly versatile for me.🤔 I create all my YouTube clips using LumaFusion, and it performs much better on the iPad.👌 So, when the iPad Pro M4 came out, I immediately sold my MacBook Pro and exchanged it for a Mac Mini M2 with 16GB RAM to be the main hub at home, along with a 13-inch iPad Pro M4. Life has never been better.✌😍

[mingluke]

The biggest mistake to buy an iPad Pro is to replace your Mac. Many things iPad Pro can’t do such as connect to an external dvd drive, import music from CDs to you Apple Music library and what’s more is web browsing is more buggy on iPad versions

[Viewer-zsxj]

working in a school setting I have seen more students every year leaning towards the iPad Pro M1 and M2 because of the familiar touch interface and the second-hand price.

I honestly see most people start with iPad then move to having both Mac and iPad when they get into college. I think this is case for most people in Genz.

[jimtipton]

I think if a persons computer use is limited to things like email, note taking, messaging and even some spreadsheet and pdf manipulation the iPad is a no brainer. If you do more intense things like video or photo editing then that 16 GB MB Air would be the way to go. I'm fortunate to have both a MBP and the iPad M4 11. I use the iPad 70% of the time. I think the decision between one or the other would be a hard one, but the pro's of the iPad and how I use it would have me leaning that way. Cheers and great video!

[Viewer-zsxj]

I personally use both an iPad Pro and a MacBook Pro. I prefer the iPad for PDF things (when connected to the Mac), drawing and light things like reading books & news and as a kids entertainer. I have also found the iPad better with stage manager. I have found that apple kinda treats the iPad as a half way accessory: "yeah you can use the iPad or the Mac by themselves but you will have a far better experience with both. But as always, anything work heavy or complicated and its when reach for MacBook Pro. And for gaming, It's always a tower PC because of cost & practicality. Windows laptops with styluses run way too hot and the ones that offer close to what the iPad does for me aren't worth the money. The iPad, It has almost always been a very niche product. Apples marketing team and ecosystem is certainly working wonders as most people have an iPad but leave to collect dust in the empty drawer.

[brad]

My main reason for buying the iPad Pro was that I have a powerful gaming desktop for all of my main computing tasks, and I was going to use the iPad as a consumption device exclusively. While, as you mentioned, it’s great for that, I still find myself wishing I had gone with a MacBook. Oddly enough my main gripe with the iPad + Magic Keyboard combo is the ergonomics. The iPad is very top heavy when in the configuration and is quite frustrating to use away from a desk, which is quite ironic actually. So now I’m weighing the pros and cons of trading in the iPad and buying a MacBook or living with a ~$2000 tablet that I don’t really like to use.

[RealJason]

Finally, I’ve been waiting 6 months for this video. 🌎

[WineWorldTV]

Unless someone needs an iPad Pro specific feature, you're right, there's no reason to buy one. IMO a regular iPad with a basic keyboard case is fine for someone that wants a portable solution at a lower price. Depending on the iPad and keyboard, it ends up being as heavy as, or even heavier, than a MBA so there's that. In general I use my MBP (2017) at home on the couch or when I travel. I'll use my iPad (9th) for short trips. It's not as sturdy to use as a "lap" computer. And sometimes I bring both because each can perform specific tasks the other doesn't, and I can also use the iPad as a 2nd monitor. It needs to be physically attached since the MBP doesn't support wireless monitors.

[QuantumCanvas]

As someone with both of them, I see this as an absolute win

[ganderthepanda]

Both. Multi screen setup on the go. Or notes on the ipad with research on the mac.

Best combo for college imo

[BRAZZERSXXXXXX]

I have a M1 iPad Air and a M2 15 inch 512GB MacBook Air and it’s a BEAST… but I use the iPad 10x more than the Mac, only thing holding the iPad back is software but i love iPad OS because it’s so simple and easy to use

[Angel-HC]

MacOS is just a FAR superior and more open operating system than iPadOS. For a Windows user I think it bridges the gap really well. You can install ANY piece of software that you want and not be locked into the App Store like you are on the iPad. The magic keyboard and trackpad they sell for the 12.9" iPad Pro is just sad and you'll end up paying the same as you would for a similarly spec'd Macbook Air once it's all said and done. Also the iPad with magic keyboard becomes quite Sure the keys are nice, but the trackpad is tiny. One of the best decisions I made was selling my iPad Pro and going back to my Samsung S7 tablet and buying a Macbook Air instead since all I used the tablet for was note taking and the Samsung feels so much nicer to write on than the iPad. Yeah, it's not part of the ecosystem, but I use Dropbox for all my cloud storage needs anyway. The Samsung notes app has more features that were useful to me when I was in college than the iPad notes app. Also I hate the Apple Pencil.

[lucristianx]

When it comes to scanning nothing beats a glass scan by a printer.

[shubhasheeshbagchi]

Thanks for this. Have been in a dilemma from long time. I am laptop person, using Windows. Wanted to have an Apple device on the go. This solves many questions in my mind.

[soberanisfam]

Bought a surface pro 11 oled. Tablet + laptop ✌️

[alvarogan]

Couple years back I bought the ipad Pro as I had a gaming desktop that I used for all the big tasks and the ipad for content and for light work and lots of note taking now I don’t really wanna buy the magic keyboard as the battery isn’t as good as it used to be and I am more ok the go than before so, I’m considering buying the macbook air and just leaving the ipad for content and games (I have the playstation remote and apple arcade) and study in the mac and the desktop.

[yippiecalle]

I think for my set up an iPad Pro as my laptop and a Mac mini as my work set up would be the best

[Eliteboss]

I’m in a dilemma, I currently have a iPad Pro 2018, and I was thinking about upgrading and the iPad Pro 13 inch and Mac air are the same price at £1, 299, and I already have a windows gaming laptop.

[georgettewolf]

I have a Magic Keyboard which I like, but at my desk I have a Logitech Natural Keyboard that I can use with either my Mac or my iPad Pro. Logitech’s keyboard is superior to any Apple product I’ve tried. I still miss the fantastic keyboard on a Zenith laptop I used back in the early 90s. You people have no idea what you’re missing.