Apple’s iPad Pro vs. MacBook Pro is produced to accomplish similar tasks making it a good comparison prudent. You will be able to use them for browsing the internet, shop online, send emails, edit videos, or play games.
Despite this, the iPad Pro vs. MacBook Pro has different priorities. Most users can expect either device to handle everyday use. But there are situations where one clearly beats the opposite. Here’s what you can read for better information before buying.
The iPad Pro and MacBook Pro are similar in some ways, and more so today than they ever were in the past.
iPad Pro vs. MacBook Pro
Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, and also the addition of mouse support for iPadOS, mean you’ll be able to use the iPad Pro as a laptop. The MacBook Pro line is switching to Apple Silicon, unifying processor design across Apple products.
You can’t turn a MacBook Pro into a tablet, though, which highlights a fundamental difference. The iPad Pro is often used at a desk, standing on a bus, or lying in bed. But you can only use the MacBook Pro on a flat surface.
What the MacBook Pro lacks in versatility, it gains in customization. A MacBook Pro can run more software because it can access apps outside its own App Store. And you will be able to get into options you won’t find on any iPad. The MacBook Pro also can connect with more external devices simultaneously.
Ease of Use and versatility
You can use an iPad however you seem comfortable, and iPadOS adapts only on how you’re using it. If you would like to change from tablet to laptop, you don’t need to open a box to own that choice. Just attach the Magic Keyboard and begin typing.
Apple’s MacBook Pro, which runs macOS, takes pride in its easy use compared to Windows. That’s for an honest reason. MacOS is approachable, and Apple has applied lessons learned from the success of iOS to the making of macOS.
Still, macOS traces its lineage back to the first Mac OS released in 1984. Apple-designed it to be used at a desk with a keyboard and mouse by people with ideas of home computers.
The company has removed friction from macOS over the years, but it’ll never shake this legacy. A MacBook will always be more complex than an iPad. You can only count that as a negative if you’re searching for simplicity.
Multitasking
The iPad Pro and MacBook Pro both support multitasking. But the MacBook Pro could be the favorite. The iPad Pro’s multitasking is rudimentary. Users can open two apps side-by-side in Split View or use a feature called Slide Over to position one app on top of another. The iPad Pro also supports picture-in-picture, and also the iPad has several touch gestures designed to allow flipping between apps easily.
The MacBook Pro has no limit on the amount of apps users can open and use. They can watch multiple videos simultaneously. It can also be used to export a video from Adobe Premiere Pro while chatting on Slack with coworkers, watching your favorite reality TV series, and keeping tabs on incoming emails.
The iPad Pro’s external display support is limiting. Users can connect it to an external display, but the iPad Pro will only mirror its screen. All MacBook Pros can extend usable display space to a minimum of one external display and handle multiple aspects and resolutions.
Customization
MacOS is complex but supports extensive customization. Here’s just a sample of options accessible on a MacBook Pro that an iPad Pro won’t allow you to touch.
- Resolution or aspect ratio of a built-in or external display.
- File directory settings.
- Advanced printer or scanner settings.
- Advanced power management, like wake on LAN or critical battery level.
- Installation of apps not acquired from the App Store.
The iPad Pro doesn’t support many features, especially those associated with external devices. You cannot use an iPad Pro as a file server. Can only use it with wired printers, but it is not easy to set up. The iPad Pro doesn’t support external scanners. Apple’s App Store bars virtualization software, so you cannot run Windows or Linux in a virtualization app.
At this time, you would possibly be wondering, “who cares?” most of the people don’t care about the tasks above. Still, it’s essential to understand these limitations before buying because the iPad Pro won’t support that one niche feature you would like.
The Final Verdict
The choice between iPad Pro vs. MacBook Pro may be a choice between approachable versatility or powerful customization and capabilities. iPad Pro is intuitive and simple to use, yet useful for several users in many situations.
A digital artist will use it differently than a videographer, who will use it differently than a gamer, but all three will find the iPad Pro simple. The MacBook Pro is complex and customizable.
Users can expand their features in powerful ways to accomplish specific tasks the iPad can’t do. They can use it to host files, create an app for iPhone or iPad, or power a triple-monitor workstation, but you will have to place in some work.
