The Reality of Working From an iPad
Working from an iPad Pro always looks like a great option, especially when you’re travelling. Look online, and you will see many people glorifying iPads as these magical devices that will solve all your issues. Although there are many benefits to using this device, there are also drawbacks and things you need to keep in mind.
I’ve been using iPads since the first iPad Pro in 2016. I had a period of one year where I was solely using an iPad as my main computer, and up to this day, I use my 11-inch M4 iPad Pro as a backup laptop and for when I need to travel extra light. With that in mind, my feedback here is based on eight years of experience. However, please note that my iPad usage is primarily for blogging, running my business, creating digital products, photo and video editing. If you use your iPad mostly for drawing, you might have a different experience.
Finally, please keep in mind that this blog is only relevant at this moment in time. In two years, none of this might ring true depending on software and hardware developments. With all that said, in this blog, I will cover the realities that come with working from an iPad, and we will start with the negatives.
It’s No Longer the Budget Option
When I first started working from an iPad Pro, it was considerably cheaper than the Mac alternatives, and it stayed that way for many years. However, in recent times, the prices have started to creep up and compete with Macs. Today, if you buy an iPad Pro M4 with 2TB, a Magic Keyboard, an Apple Pencil, and a dongle so you can plug in all the essentials, you will spend more money than if you bought an M4 MacBook Pro with a 2TB drive. This has now taken the iPad from a budget-friendly device to a luxury item, and for 90% of people, I honestly would not recommend it.
The Battery Life Sucks
If you use your iPad for photo or video editing, be prepared to watch the battery drain quicker than you’d like. If you also have a Magic Keyboard connected, that drain will be even worse. When I am culling through photos, I can easily burn 30% in less than an hour. Of course, this is a very heavy task, and if you’re doing less demanding tasks such as writing, reading, watching videos, or surfing the web, the battery lasts much longer.
iPadOS Is Limited
iPadOS has come a long way; however, it’s still incredibly restrictive. I could be here all day listing all the missing features and issues, but it’s something to keep in mind. Simple tasks such as batch renaming files don’t exist. Monitor support is very basic and isn’t supported for many apps that truly need it. You can’t create custom shortcuts or change the behaviour of the trackpad in the same way as on the Mac, and much more. You can get around these issues using shortcuts and third-party apps, but it’s a hassle. Finally, I find iPadOS to be more buggy than macOS.
Most Apps Are Limited
Although you can find many of your favourite Mac apps on the iPad, 99% of them will be severely handicapped. Final Cut is a shadow of what its desktop app is. Lightroom is missing many key features, and Photoshop is a bit of a gimmick. Some apps like DaVinci Resolve and Affinity Photo do an amazing job of migrating over; however, the interfaces are pretty cramped, especially on the 11-inch iPad. Other apps like Capture One are clearly marketed as companions to the main desktop software. These apps do a great job as temporary solutions while travelling; however, they will never replace the desktop versions.
Many Websites Still View It as a Mobile Device
A lot of websites, such as Squarespace, YouTube, Google Drive, and more, view the iPad as a mobile device. This means you never get the full desktop experience, and you will encounter bugs or odd behaviour. Just like before, there are workarounds for all of this; however, it can be a pain.
The 11-Inch Is the Best Travel Device
So far, this blog has been all doom and gloom, so let me balance it out with the positive aspects. The 11-inch iPad is by far the best travel device due to its compact size. It easily fits into most medium-large slings, and I often go out shooting with it in my bag. This means I can take a break in a café and carry on writing blogs, editing photos, or working on a video.
This also means using it in the tight economy seat of a budget airline or a cramped bus is far easier than even the 14-inch Mac. This only applies to the 11-inch. I owned the 13-inch iPad before, and it was a pain in the arse. Unless I’m travelling for extended durations or need to be productive during my trip, the iPad is my go-to computer for travel and days out.
It’s the Most Versatile Computer
The iPad is the most versatile computer out there. You can use it with a traditional keyboard like a laptop, hook it up to a monitor for a desktop experience, use it as a tablet for more portability, or edit with the Apple Pencil for a more fun experience. Furthermore, I feel more secure using this device in coffee shops and on planes because if a drink is spilt on the keyboard, you only need to replace one accessory, not the entire device.
The Pencil Adds a New Way of Editing
Editing with the Apple Pencil is 10 times more enjoyable than even the best mouse or trackpad. From adjusting sliders and messing with the tone curve to drawing a mask on the photo itself, the experience of editing using a tablet is so much more engaging and enjoyable than any traditional setup.
Apps Are Improving (Slowly)
Despite my critical view of many iPad apps, overall they are improving and catching up to their desktop counterparts. Even though the progress is painfully slow, some apps like Lightroom now have considerably more features today compared to two years ago. With that said, it’s unwise to make purchasing decisions based on hopes and promises of future functionality.
You Can Use It as Your Only Computer
It’s very much possible to use the iPad as your main and only device. Of course, this heavily depends on what you do and what apps you use, but it’s possible. A few years ago I used an iPad exclusively for a long time. A little while ago, when my Mac was down with a hardware issue, I used my iPad as my only device for about a month. In more recent times, I used my iPad as my only device for three months while travelling. Of course, it was more of a pain compared to my Mac, but it was doable.
Summary
To summarise, I would best describe the iPad as a complementary luxury item. If you’re on a budget or want to get the most value for money, this is not the device I would recommend at all. Go and get a MacBook Air/Pro, and you will get way more for less money. This device is best suited for those who have an expensive 16-inch MacBook Pro at home that they don’t want to travel with and need something smaller to take on trips or to coffee shops for lighter tasks. For me, this device has been a worthwhile purchase, and the ROI is well worth it because I’m frequently on the road. However, if I had to only keep one, it would definitely be the Mac.
