Apple’s MacBook Air and iPad Pro are very closer to each other. Even the iPad Pro has the same M1 chip as the MacBook Pro.
Which one should I get? This is now a question worth considering for most people.
So this time, I decided to compare the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the MacBook Air (M1 Chip Equiped).
Advantages of iPad Pro
A Stunning Display
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a display that Apple calls “Liquid Retina XDR.” It’s an obscure marketing jargon, but it’s definitely a great screen. Thousands of mini LEDs are crammed in for better contrast than other Mac displays. Full-screen brightness is 1,000 nits, the same as Apple’s $5,000 Pro Display XDR display. These tiny LEDs can be individually brightened or dimmed, resulting in detailed, rich tones.
Fifth Generation Mobile Network (5G) Connectivity
The latest Pro is now available with fast 5G networks ($200 more for cellular-connected models). In extreme cases, Verizon Communications Inc.’s 5G lines have allowed download speeds to exceed 3 gigabytes per second. That’s 50 times faster than my weak broadband connection at home. With a 5G-enabled iPad, video conferencing with “Zoom” and uploading large files are not a problem. But only if you’re near a cell phone base station.
An Amazing Camera
The back of the iPad Pro has a wide-angle camera and an ultra-wide-angle camera. Depth-measuring LiDAR scanners use these cameras in a variety of applications. e.g., scanning documents in the Notes app.
The best camera feature concerns the new 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera on the front of the display. This camera has a much higher resolution than the 720p FaceTime camera on the MacBook Air.
Speedy Face ID
With the iPad, you don’t have to lift a finger to unlock the device or approve the payment system Apple Pay. Both the iPad Pro and MacBook have biometric sensors, but the iPad Pro’s facial recognition system, Face ID, is faster and more convenient than the MacBook’s fingerprint system and Touch ID.
Magic Keyboard
Typing on the Magic Keyboard is just as comfortable as the MacBook Air’s improved keyboard. The trackpad is a little narrow, but you can also use a Bluetooth (near field wireless communication standard) mouse connection (all iPads with the latest “iPadOS 14” are compatible with Bluetooth mouse). It’s great that you can adjust the screen angle, have a backlight, and have a USB-C port. However, I don’t mind the price of the keyboard itself. 11 Inch Model Keyboard Costs Around 300$ and 12.9 Inch Model Costs 350$.
Precise Input By Touch Method
Moving maps and photos with your finger is more natural than clicking with a mouse. And the Apple Pencil turns your tablet into a digital notebook. Highlight text in PDFs with LiquidText, write searchable meeting notes with Penultimate (Application), and sketch with Procreate (Application). There’s no perceptible lag, and like a real pencil or pen, the more pressure you apply, the thicker the line.
Three-Dimensional (3D) Sound
In iPad Pro, Apple introduced a “Spatial Audio” feature that enables virtual surround sound for multi-channel audio content such as “Dolby Atmos.” The feature is available for the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max wireless headphones, but not (yet) for the MacBook. Only certain iOS devices are compatible .
Advantages of MacBook Air
Open Lots Of Windows
Macs can open as many windows as the processor can handle. With the MacBook Air, the “M1” chip made it possible to open a lot. On the iPad, you can split the screen for up to two apps, and only some apps can split the screen within the same app (You can’t display two Google Docs at the same time).
Long Battery Life
The MacBook Air’s battery is said to last 15 hours for web browsing. In a test, playing a YouTube video at 65% brightness, it lasted 10 hours and 45 minutes. In normal usage, it was about 11 hours.
IPad couldn’t give that much drive time. Apple claims that iPad gives 10 hours battery timing on Wi-Fi usage and 8-9 hours on cellular usage. On testing it gives just over 8 hours on Wi-Fi and about 6 hours on cellular. The M1 Chip’s power-efficient processor is offset by power-hungry 5G and ultra-clear display.
Price Side
The MacBook Air starts at $999, but I recommend getting the $1,199 model with an extra 512GB of storage. The iPad Pro starts at $1099, but you’ll want accessories like the $129 Apple Pencil and the $349 Magic Keyboard. Add them all up to $1,577.
Better Peripheral Support
The MacBook has better peripheral support, with two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack. The iPad Pro doesn’t have a headphone jack, just one USB-C/Thunderbolt port (using the Magic Keyboard adds another one, but it’s only for charging).
Compatibility With Printers
The iPad can only use a wireless printer that supports “AirPrint”, but the MacBook can also connect a printer via a USB port.
IOS Apps Support
The M1 chip is based on the processor found in iOS devices, so an M1-equipped MacBook Air can also run iOS apps. However, some apps cannot be used on a Mac, such as Instagram and the foreign language learning app Duolingo.
MacOS Power
The iPad can do quite a bit, but the Mac is generally better. Apple is expected to introduce new software features for the iPad, but for now, iPadOS isn’t as capable as MacOS.
Should You Buy an iPad Pro or a MacBook Air?
Macs have long been the default choice for certain types of work. Macs have had the same screen, keyboard, and trackpad setup since the 1990s. The iPad, on the other hand, is almost a full-fledged computer, with the benefits of a smartphone, such as a touchscreen, cellular connectivity, and sensors such as satellite positioning systems (GPS).
Choosing between the iPad Pro’s simplicity and advanced hardware, or the MacBook Air’s powerful software and old-fashioned setup may be the toughest decision to make. But in many factors MacBook is more efficient.
