Can an iPad Replace a Laptop?

iPad OS 17 for Even Better Productivity at Work

iPadOS 17 is full of features for increased workplace productivity on the iPad.

With the latest iPadOS, tablet users can:

• Complete digital paperwork more efficiently (features including intelligent form detection, enhanced autofill, document scan and inline display in Notes).
• Visually collaborate through Freeform’s drawing tools, diagramming, real-time collaborative guides, PDF markups, and 3D object exploration.
• Use smarter predictive typing, auto-correct, and dictation to draft long-form reports, brief intranet communications, or hurry out an external-facing email.

A Lighter Alternative to a Laptop

Laptops are lighter than they once were, but still generally significantly heavier than tablets. The 11-inch iPad Pro (sixth generation, Wi-Fi model), for example, weighs 466 grams, and the 12.9-inch equivalent weighs 682 grams. 

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 chip, however, weighs 1.55kg, and the 16-inch equivalent (starting with the M3 Pro chip) weighs 2.14kg.  

The latest iPad Pros, the thinnest-ever Apple product, weigh just 446 grams (11-inch, Wi-Fi and cellular model) and 582 grams (13 inch, Wi-Fi and cellular model).

When you’re frequently hot desking, commuting, travelling, or working mobile, having a lighter alternative to a laptop can significantly impact your everyday carry experience.

Would you use an iPad Pro for work?

When you look at it like we have above, it’s tempting to ask yourself: “With all that upside, why wouldn’t I sayonara my laptop and start unboxing a factory-fresh iPad right now?” 

Maybe you would. Maybe you could. Maybe you should.

But keep in mind the testimony of the many device-onauts who have aborted these missions right around take-off.

Last year, Rami Tabari, an editor for Laptop Mag, guinea pigged with an iPad Pro as a laptop substitute, and tyre-squealed to the hills.

If you want more cautionary tales from critics who parachuted in for a one-week honeymoon with an iPad – like their loyal laptop never existed – Google is flush.

But here is a quick shortlist of bugbears others have sounded in their endeavours to answer if an iPad can replace a laptop:

• Some apps slow down with the touchpad
• The iPad Pro is pricey. Set your expectations low if you want to replace your laptop with an iPad Pro to cut costs.
• The Magic Keyboard isn’t ideal for days of full-throttle productivity activity.
• The iPad is still short of handy MacOS features.

Getting the most out of your iPad for work

Irrespective of which iPad you use for work, you can quickly enhance its capabilities with the right accessories. 

Here are some of the best iPad accessories to keep you productive:

USB car charger:A USB car charger ordinarily plugs into the 12-volt power outlet in your vehicle. This power outlet, which lives in your console space, is informally known as your cigarette lighter socket or accessory socket.

If you’re driving to work with your iPad packed, or you’re headed out for mobile/remote work, a USB charger will charge your iPad much faster than the port built into your car.

With your vehicle transformed into a dedicated fast-charging zone, you’re equipped with one final line of defence to ensure your iPad is ready when you pull up to a meeting or place of work.

USB wall charger: Your USB wall charger plugs into your electrical wall socket and transfers power to your smartphone, tablet, laptop, and other portable devices.

The maximum wattage an iPad Pro can take from a wall charger is said to be around 30 watts.

Apple includes a 20W USB-C power adapter in the box with new iPad Pros, but we recommend considering a 30W wall charger or higher to get the best out of your iPad and extend the charger’s utility to bigger dervices.

At the same time, if you want to simultaneously fast charge your iPad alongside other mobile devices (such as your phone and laptop), our BLITZ 140 can fast charge four devices, big and small, altogether. Our BLITZ 65 also features two USB-C ports to fast-charge two devices simultaneously.

Laptop sleeve: A laptop sleeve is a thin case designed to protect your laptop from the bumps and scratches of everyday life. It also protects your iPad from screen scratches and cracks, and general internal and external body damage.

This can save you thousands of dollars in the event of an accident. It can also win you a lot of peace of mind as you carry your iPad between home and place of work.

Laptop stand: A laptop stand is a portable desk accessory that can elevate your iPad to the best viewing height and angle. If you you’re considering working on your iPad for long stretches, and you want to protect your neck and eyes, you need to display your iPad at the ergonomically correct height and angle. You’ll also need a Bluetooth iPad keyboard in a case or a standalone keyboard.

Desk Mat: A desk mat is a protective material surface that zones your desk and offers extra cushioning while you work. Some modern desk mats are equipped with additional features including device charging capabilities, interior storage pockets, and double-sided surfaces. Adding a desk mat to your workspace while you work on your iPad is a simple way to feel organised as you go about your day.

Using the iPad Pro as a laptop, sometimes…

As tablet-makers such as Apple continue to introduce more laptop-like features to their devices, iPads will become increasingly formidable laptop alternatives. 

Ultimately however, your experience of the iPad as a work device depends on the type of work you do.

If you’re a digital nomad or somebody who frequently works mobile to service clients, it might make sense. But if you’re permanently stationed at a busy desk to simultaneously crunch through big data, large video files, and various power-hungry apps, across four computer screens, the laptop-to-iPad leap sounds like a gap too far.  

Either way, a tablet such as the new iPad Pro has at least some part to play in many people’s working lives.