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

[@6MonthsLater]

📑Blog Post: 6monthslater.net/2024/09/ipad-pro-vs-macbook-air/ 🛒 Product Links (Affiliate Links): 👉M3 MacBook Air: amzn.to/3T5Wh5l 👉M4 iPad Pro: amzn.to/3V7RyAx 👉iPad Pro Magic Keyboard: amzn.to/4bE4cyc 👉Apple Pencil Pro: amzn.to/4c2PNLw 👉Paperlike for iPad: amzn.to/3ZkvgiF 👉ESR magnetic screen protector for iPad: amzn.to/3XsxDgu 👉 View all of our recommended products: www.amazon.com/shop/6monthslaterreviews 🔗 Related Video links: 👉Kindle Scribe: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fne7ZZqGntGmic0 👉Vision Pro Review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHSnqIdreZWAiMkv=otAQEzlBdFs&list=PL2XWjlJjGp3t9ZGYEopWFANLI1DookqiR&index=5&t=1s 👉Android vs. iPhone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enWcf5Snf8SId6c 👉Windows vs. Mac: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooTVlWxqidB-Y9k ❤ Follow Josh: 👉 Threads: www.threads.net/@joshteder 👉 Reddit: www.reddit.com/user/joshteder/ 👉 Instagram: instagram.com/joshteder/ 👉 Mastodon: mastodon.social/@joshteder 👉 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshteder/

[@QuantumCanvas07]

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

[@SaigonEye]

I am a businessman, student, and an amateur KZbinr.😊 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 KZbin 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.✌😍

[@linkvos8151]

Money does buy happiness

[@SaigonEye]

@@linkvos8151 sure it does, specially when u spend it wisely!😉

[@nikicarrie4071]

Is editing easier on the iPad

[@Aartikandpall]

@@nikicarrie4071same question

[@peckz.]

@@nikicarrie4071yea

[@Viewer-zs6xj]

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.

[@mingluke12]

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

[@RuralSquirrelJuror]

It shouldn’t be thought of as a laptop replacement as much as a laptop alternative

[@diamondknight4815]

It's an alternative, a hybrid which is what I want. I don't need all these fancy programs. Ipad pro is for the people who want a little bit of everything

[@anthonyh2884]

99% of people do not use CDs in 2024! 👎🏽😬

[@mingluke12]

@@anthonyh2884 but some music aren’t available on ITunes Store

[@Vidyoutube1970]

I need a mobile apple device to use when aaah from Mac mini. Have tried both and am much happier using iPad Pro. Have settled with that. No regrets

[@jimtipton8888]

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-zs6xj]

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.

[@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.

[@ganderthepanda8146]

Both. Multi screen setup on the go. Or notes on the ipad with research on the mac. Best combo for college imo

[@Pencil-q3x]

That's a bit expensive.

[@ganderthepanda8146]

@@Pencil-q3x True, but so are textbooks. And carrying them in digital form is way easier on an ipad.

[@brad3605]

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.

[@whooblah]

Have you tried streaming from your gaming pc to the iPad? This is one of the reasons I've decided to purchase it, it has the best display on the market

[@lucristianx]

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

[@aaronbrunelle2194]

Agreed

[@louiemoldy]

I disagree, I use scanner pro with my iPhone and it comes out better than most scanners

[@shyamananth]

There is no point in spending 500 USD more on iPad, unless you are a digital Artist.. How many times a year you will sign documents? Buy Air with 16GB /512 GB and get a Samsung T7 . You are good to go for next 10 year, for all home and casual needs, given that how powerful M3 is and how efficiently Mac OS is crafted. Just go for Mac Book air M3.

[@fike301]

Love these comments and reviews claiming one must be a pro to justify buying a pro…it’s for pros 😂 I remember when plasma tvs in sears sold for over 5000usd ! And there’s what a hundred or so dollars diff with iPad models…..:sorry I will buy the one I want 😊

[@RealJason]

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

[@MichaelRyanNewell]

I use a Mac for work, while sitting at a desk. I am typing this on an iPad… I don’t lay in bed with a MacBook Pro. I hope that’s the answer.

[@shubhasheeshbagchi1161]

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.

[@ixeybitsey]

I’m a student, have side hustles and edit vertical content plus do light graphic design. For me I think If I’m going to have a MacBook I do still need an iPad with its Apple Pencil but maybe not the iPad Pro. It seems over redundant to have it. But if I’m only using one device and I need both features then yeah iPad Pro FTW. In my case since I have 3 devices I chose the basic iPad model, a MacBook Air and an iMac with upgraded specs. (I’ve acquired them separately so they are not evenly upgraded thus not a huge expense.) If I only had to choose two devices I would still keep the Basic iPad and have a MacBook Pro instead for that extra work load and storage.

[@neettim]

Woah I totally didn’t know about how browser apps aren’t really browser on an iPad. This totally just confirmed my choice. Thank you for the video! Will be waiting for the next MacBook Air to release.

[@neettim]

In addition to that, I did not like how limited having an iPad is in terms of software and abilities. For example, I don’t like how iPad does not have the ability to extend displays, only mirrors it. Again, thank you for the valuable video. I will definitely need macOS more than iPadOS.

[@dillonlynch92]

Honestly i like my iPad more for the simple fact you can get it in WiFi and WiFi cellular

[@senglee9501]

I tried so hard to use Macs, every thing is off, down is up and up is down. Windows user for me but I do Love IPads, iPhone’s, and AirPods.

[@goldie819]

apple needs to make the ipad and the macbook kiss already

[@MeaganSutherland-y9u]

Like a touch screen MacBook? What kind of kiss

[@ARoseRisen]

😂😂😂 got the joke

[@luisbaltodano227]

Thanks, Josh, this was extremely informative, great comparison video. You’ve gained a subscriber.

[@Xiuhcoatl1]

They are two different devices, one is a mobile device the other is a computer, I use it as an extension of my phone yet close to a computer but it’s not and that’s completely ok for me too, I’m not going to replace it with a computer

[@shakboom8866]

Which is best for students who wants presentations, Microsoft works ?

[@ruready2118]

Just choose the laptop if you can only buy one of them, it might not be nice, but won’t go wrong.

[@johneduardoctavianoiv9749]

I couldn't agree more. I use my Macbook as a substitute to TV, I can bring it anywhere, and it's what I need over iPad. 😊

[@johneduardoctavianoiv9749]

Same thoughts here.

[@greysongaddy879]

What is the drawing app he’s using for the iPad

[@Eliteboss2004]

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.

[@yippiecalle421]

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

[@alcidesfy]

If you want a toy to watch netflix on, buy an iPad. If you want a computer, that does Windows, Linux, video games, and emulation, has a file system and you can actually write, develop and get productive on, get a Mac. Just get a mac.

[@franknielsen3562]

Can you use a MacBook Air to open apps like you tube. I have security cameras to connect too. Can a MacBook Air do all of these.

[@theheroblueprint]

Yes

[@franknielsen3562]

I have an iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation. I am 76 and I mostly watch you tube video’s constantly and some pictures on how to fix something. I am getting an iPhone 16 on Black Friday hopefully My son who helps me, said I should get a mac book, because I can keep photo’s on my iPhone from being deleted. I know he will help me as needed. He is well educated and does some programming. Do you think I should get a MacBook and which one. Thank You

[@cambridge8964]

Hi sir, why don’t you just store your photos with iCloud to keep them from being deleted or just backup them to your iPad 😂if you only want to keep photos I don’t think you need to buy a MacBook .

[@nicogaleano-monsalve6217]

thank you!

[@WKurt96]

Amazing review

[@jameglittlejohn8585]

In my opinion, it seems like a better comparison would be the iPad Air instead of the iPad Pro

[@ath0017]

I need help! For a laptop i will mostly used it for presentation ppt not a heavy user, more like media consumption, watching youtube, Netflix. Im stuck between a macbook air m3 16gb ram(1150$) or an ipad air and a windows laptop(600$+500$). Which one should i go with?

[@abstrxct1x]

a windows laptop and ipad does seem better for price wise but a macbook is also good and will last long

[@leonardpool4680]

I ended up wanting something that could play Genshin Impact and similar games etc, as well as something I could FaceTime, browse, KZbin, and email. I do wish I could play steam and whatnot. I did get the pro with the m2, smaller screen and 8 gb ram and she holds up pretty well.

[@allenschneider1847]

Do you have the 11" or 13.9" ipad?

[@6MonthsLater]

13.9"

[@andrewroderick9159]

I have an old MacBook Air. I was considering buying an iPad Pro since I already have a MacBook, but I think my MacBook is too old, and sometimes, it suddenly shuts down. also if I buy an iPad I have to buy an apple pencil and a magic keyboard which are more expensive than MacBook air m3, so I prefer upgrading my macbook.

[@alvaroga1n]

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.

[@jaymirobinson5688]

As someone who will be a student soon, I like to write (can’t type with Microsoft since it’s not free apple product 🙄), am hoping to journal more, take pics, notes, email… can I get away with an iPad??

[@stankramer6262]

apples...oranges. I buy both.

[@ericB3444]

Definitely buy the iPad Air fifth generation if you can get it for around $350 new now

[@portman8909]

Only 64 gigs of storage

[@ericB3444]

@@portman8909 that should be enough. Dont over do the use of that.

[@ericB3444]

@@portman8909 you could add a gigabyte if you know a Smurf that can get in the lightning port or rather USB-C and simply insert an additional gigabyte.

[@catalin-viorelbriceag1097]

Slowed to a crawl with 3 Safari tabs, Music and Mail? Nah, fam. My M1 Air with 8GBs keeps 3-5 tabs open all the time, Apple Music, Discord, WhatsApp, Mail, iMessage AND Genshin Impact that hogs 1.6 to 2GBs of RAM alone. Never got the RAM in Activity Monitor to the red zone. Most of times it used a bit of swap and compression magic and IT WORKED! No noticeable slowdowns whatsoever.

[@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.

[@georgettewolf6743]

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.

[@madsnygaard6444]

Ipad OS is a walled garden nightmare

[@Kaimerah]

Hmm this is rough the tech dude in me thinks the MacBook would be better but I legit have a 1200 gaming pc and all I’d really want a MacBook/ipad for is note taking/writing and doing research

[@mikkovirtanen9866]

So if you buy Windows 11 laptop you feel even more free and thinking why i before use macbook and specially why i use iPad :D

[@possiblyinsane6995]

i have all apple computer types. imac, macbook pro, ipad etc... i'm someone who buys an apple product not for need but mostly due to consumerism. recently my macbook air display failed and i decided to replace it with an m4 ipad pro 13 inch. my workflow consists of google suite, microsoft office, inutit products and zoom all of which can be accessed through a web browser. browsers on ipad are limited but thats a trade off i'm willing to make. when im traveling i understand that im not gonna have access to my usual daily driver, which is a desktop. obviously working on even a 13 inch macbook is superior to what the ipad offers when it comes to windows and mutitasking. the ipad offers a cellular connection, its detachable, has face id and dual oled. cellular capability being the biggest benefit imo. I have run into some limitations withs some apps like slide show, its not perfect. that being said, don't be working on your slide show just hours before you present it. if you don't have a macbook or an ipad yet, get a macbook its a no brainer, unless you need that pencil. you may end up in a situation where you need the touch capabilities of the ipad and the app compatibility of mac os. in which case get whatever you can first i suppose.

[@newfnshow031]

Jesus man, these prices are insane for 2 things u can definitely live without . There are plenty of people that have nothing but a phone

[@KandiceJackson-j3w]

There are plenty of people that run business and they really need more than a phone. If that’s not you, no biggie.

[@douglasizzo]

My dude...how many gd docs are you signing?!?

[@Subhan-f2s]

I got a ipad pro m2 11 inch shell i upgrade to m4 or buy a macbook for editing school and some gaming

[@buddhabrot3]

I think for the price comparison, better instead of apple pencil you should substract the ipad keyboard and get a cheaper one like esr which still is 140$ but not upwards 350$ for the magic iPad Keyboard

[@buddhabrot3]

And does almost the same just has it‘s own battery and can‘t thus be loaded together with the ipad through 1 USB C

[@MrChbnovember]

I loved the iPad Pro and now I can’t stand it. University student working on masters degree in accounting and the MS Office software is garbage on IPad and wasted so much time compared to regular computer . Buying MacBook next week . Now the iPad Pro is a $1400 Netflix player

[@Traumatree]

For me, it doesn't make any sense that the iPad with the M chip doesn't use MacOS/X as their base OS as a unification needs to be done some day. iPad OS shouldn't exist anymore (or until they phase out their older Ax chips). And I can't wait for iPhone to sport the M-chips either so we could all have a real portable computer. Imagine walking with your phones that you dock and can use your keyboard and 2-3 27" display to work. I think this should be the future Apple should aim for. One OS to rule them All would be nice and quite easier to maintain imo.

[@Luis-bg1hf]

Yes, and then apple could give everyone free iphones as a congratulations gift... the fact that apple still creates iPadOS is for people to buy a MacBook and an iPad, they don't want to kill their sales on MacBooks

[@simonmortiz7428]

Totally Agree macbookair best choice

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Thanks for this. I was considering an iPad, but, as I suspected, a tablet doesn't cut it. I don't do art or need to take notes and I was surprised that when I configured an iPad to match the Macbook Air, it was more money. Not interested.

[@Realopinion49]

Go for Air

[@arn1098]

Google extensions are very important! We living in 2024 but Apple still trying to limit us 😅

[@newfnshow031]

if u want to be productive u need a MacBook, period. You can do a lot on iPad but it's much harder and it takes long meaning u get less done with your time. I tested both since the first day iPad came out and spent many thousands of dollars

[@zarahussain9738]

All you need is word if you’re a student haha

[@robert.mills5]

Until they put cellular on a MacBook, I'll keep my iPad...

[@KingMinosxxvi]

Ipad air will be the same price

[@soberanisfam1323]

Bought a surface pro 11 oled. Tablet + laptop ✌️

[@JBrown-go8ru]

Unfortunately, you probably run the horrible, Windows 11, with it. No thanks! Rather get a basic Lenovo laptop, install Linux Mint, and an iPad for consumption.

[@soberanisfam1323]

@ ew a phone OS? No thanks 😂😂

[@Luis-bg1hf]

@@JBrown-go8ru Don't know what is worst, using W11 or Mint

[@sabarishmenon4318]

For note taking, buy a notebook.

[@WilliamJohnson-g9u]

macbook is better

[@maxsquared]

Click here, here and here.....

[@kylecastellino6402]

Compare 14 inch base M3 MBP with iPad Pro M4 11 inch

[@hgoodman9]

Always macbook-air over ipad.

[@Subhan-f2s]

I got a ipad pro m2

[@SumanKarmakar-hk4dz]

First like

[@markaznar1979]

Is this even news worthy? We all know this

[@josedelapinio]

Ipad pro vs macbook air its simple : buy a lenovo