Apple introduces new products each year. Whether it’s an iPad Pro or a MacBook Air, you can be sure that the new model is always more potent, lighter, energy-efficient, and in some cases, even less expensive.
However, because all products undergo the same update cycle, it can be challenging to keep track of what is currently offered and what the key distinctions between each product are. So, let’s quickly review the current offerings in the Apple Store.
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Table of Contents
iPad vs MacBook Models
The entire lineup has switched to the new, improved scissor mechanism: Magic Keyboard, as Apple has finally abandoned its buggy butterfly keyboards.
Naturally, this year’s Apple lineup includes a number of models that feature the much-discussed Apple M1 chip. This Apple-designed component, a lightning-fast CPU core, is anticipated to provide appreciable improvements in energy efficiency.
The entry-level MacBook Air costs just $999 ($899 for students) and has enough power for all the common daily tasks that most people will ever need to complete.
MacBook Pro 13″. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is the ideal device for software developers, designers, heavy web users, and gamers who require additional computing power while still being mobile. It is your first step into the world of real productivity.
MacBook Pro 16″. The top model in the lineup is the brand-new 16-inch MacBook Pro, perfect for any creative who requires a large screen and up to eight CPU cores. However, the starting price is $2,399.
And if you don’t mind waiting, Apple is rumored to be introducing a new size to its MacBook lineup this summer. It is anticipated that a 14-inch MacBook Pro model will be available in July 2021. Reports suggest that the 14″ model could come equipped with an update to the The M1 chip has a slightly improved screen, more memory and storage, and. The pro lineup should also include a traditional 16″ model, although both sizes are expected to have updated design and new cool features.
One key element is software. Install the hand-picked Mac and iPad apps from Setapp to compare and select.
There are five different iPad models currently available, which is a significant number when compared to the current MacBook lineup. What makes them different from one another?
iPad mini 7.9″. The smallest iPad has a Retina display, True Tone technology, and the most recent A12 Bionic chip for finely detailed sketching and seamless multitasking.
iPad 10.2″. The largest Retina display and low price, which start at just $329, make the original iPad the most popular option even though it hasn’t received any updates in a while.
iPad Air 10.5″. A device for prosumers, the iPad Air is powerful enough to handle almost any creative task while still being reasonably priced for the majority of people.
iPad Pro 11″. The iPad Pro is an excellent alternative to any laptop on the market thanks to its full-sized keyboard, Liquid Retina display, 12 MP camera, and most recent A12Z Bionic chip.
iPad Pro 12.9″. While the iPad Pro weighs about half as much as a 13-inch MacBook, it has the largest iPad screen to date. Starting at $999, this device is extremely capable from all angles.
If you want more value for your money, it might be a good idea to hold off until the anticipated Apple event to see if they have any news and announcements that might persuade you to get one of the upcoming updated iPad models rather than the ones already in the current lineup. An updated iPad lineup is anticipated to arrive this spring.
So what do you choose from all of these options when you need a new device today? Of course, the answer is dependent upon your intended use.
Best For Work: MacBook Pro 13″
Even though the MacBook Pro vs. iPad Pro debate is receiving more and more attention these days, most people still concur that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is your best bet if you’re looking for a truly adaptable office solution.
You can open and modify any file with ease using a MacBook because you have access to the entire operating system. You can also read, write, design, code, make intricate spreadsheets or presentations, and do a lot more. It’s true what some people say: the iPad Pro is catching up. But the iPad vs. laptop workplace debate will lean toward the latter for a while.
Best For Study: MacBook Air Or iPad Pro 11″
The iPad Pro for college option has grown significantly more attractive over the past few years because student assignments typically have much higher levels of predictability than office tasks. You can use it to read online, respond to emails, write papers, chat with friends, listen to music, and watch movies.
On the other hand, all students can purchase the new MacBook Air for a discounted price of just $899. Some software you might need to use may not be available on iPadOS depending on your field of study. Final thoughts: Your university program’s requirements play a major role in this MacBook Air vs. iPad Pro debate.
Best For Gaming: MacBook Pro 16″
When playing your favorite fast-paced shooter, you don’t want to notice your screen lagging behind because the CPU is having trouble keeping up. You should always choose the best hardware available because today’s games are more demanding than ever. Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro is the product in question.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro can support up to eight CPU cores (5 GHz Turbo Boost), 16 GB of RAM, 8 GB of AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics memory, and a 60 GHz refresh-rate display. Even though this powerful and large MacBook starts at $2,399, it is unquestionably worth the price for gamers.
Best For Creativity: MacBook Pro 16″ Or iPad Pro 13″
The iPad Pro vs. MacBook Pro competition can become quite heated when it comes to creative expression, whether it be design, illustration, or video editing. In actuality, every gadget offers unique benefits.
The ideal tactile device is the iPad Pro with a 13-inch screen. The eight-core graphics processor powers this display’s 600 nits bright, 120 Hz, color-accurate display, which is so advanced that nothing even comes close. This device is capable of almost any 3D or augmented reality task imaginable, as well as high-end video editing and photo retouching. Additionally, the new Magic Keyboard’s trackpad adds an intuitive and powerful element to typing and moving around. Last but not least, the iPad and the new Apple Pencil combine to create a drawing, sketching, painting, designing, and illustration experience like no other.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, might be the backup option when it comes to creative expression for projects that are more technical in nature, like app development or film post-production, where having a powerful processor and a keyboard (and mouse) is essential to your workflow.
Best For Media: iPad Air
The primary function of an iPad or MacBook for many people may be to enjoy media in the most natural way possible, including movies, books, magazines, and the internet. Should they choose the iPad Pro instead of the MacBook Air at that point? Probably neither.
iPad For all of your casual, everyday media consumption habits, Air is a surprisingly reliable option: it’s portable, light, has a gorgeous Retina screen, a potent processor, and a long battery life. Starting at just $499, it is also much more affordable than comparable professional-level products. See more about Review On MacBook Air: M1 & M2
Specific Comparison
Price
Don’t be deceived by the beginning cost. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 for the tablet itself, but the price increases significantly once you start adding accessories (we’re comparing it because its screen is the closest to the 13.3-inch MacBook Air display). For instance, the second-generation Apple Pencil costs $129, and the Magic Keyboard ranges in price from $299 to $349. That comes to $1,348 for the iPad Pro and the keyboard and $1,477 if you add the Pencil.
The Wi-Fi + Cellular option on the iPad Pro also includes integrated LTE connectivity, something the MacBook Air lacks. You begin with 128GB of storage but can upgrade to 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB for an additional $100, $300, or $500.
The cost of the MacBook Air is more obvious. It costs $999 when equipped with the M1 CPU processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, which is twice as much as the iPad Pro. A keyboard is also provided. The Air comes with an 8-core integrated GPU version of the M1 chip for $1,249 (the $999 model has a 7-core GPU), and the storage is increased to 512GB.
Display
While the MacBook Air’s display is slightly larger than the iPad Pro’s (12.9 inches vs. 13.3 inches), the iPad Pro’s screen is superior in almost all other respects. A fast refresh rate of 120Hz is also only available on the iPad Pro’s panel.
With a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels versus 2560 x 1600 for the MacBook Air, the iPad Pro’s display is sharper.
The iPad Pro’s screen averaged 559 nits of brightness during our lab tests, far exceeding the MacBook Air’s 365.8 nits. Expect more vibrant colors from Apple’s tablet because the iPad Pro outperformed it in terms of the sRGB color gamut (122% vs 114%).
The only area where the Air triumphed was in terms of color accuracy. The iPad Pro received a Delta-E score of 0.34, which is slightly higher than the Air’s 0.22 and below the perfect score of 0.
Keyboard And Touchpad
Compared to the previous MacBook Air’s butterfly keyboard, the new MacBook Air’s improved scissor-switch keyboard provides a much more comfortable typing experience. The layout is more responsive overall and provides more travel (1mm vs. 0.5mm). The large 4.75 x 3.2-inch touchpad on the MacBook Air is another feature.
The optional Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro has the same scissor mechanism and 1mm of travel as the MacBook Air and offers a similarly satisfying typing experience.
You can tilt the iPad Pro’s display up to 130 degrees by magnetically fastening it to the floating cantilever structure of the Magic Keyboard. The iPad Pro Magic Keyboard’s touchpad is smaller than the MacBook Air’s, but in our review, we found no issues with this.
The iPad Pro Magic Keyboard costs significantly more than the other keyboards, which is the biggest difference between them. It starts at $299, which is enough to make you wonder why you aren’t just purchasing a laptop.
Ports
No contest exists in this round. Along with a headphone jack, the MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt C ports. There is only one USB-C port on the iPad Pro, and there is no headphone jack. However, if you choose the Magic Keyboard, there is an additional USB port for passthrough charging.
Performance
The processor in the iPad Pro is arguably among the strongest ever found in a tablet, and the MacBook Air, which is significantly faster than previous models of the Air, also changed the game.
Both the A12Z Bionic and M1 Apple Silicon chips in the new MacBook Air and iPad Pro have 8-core CPUs. While the iPad Pro has only 8-core GPUs, the Air is available with either a 7-core or an 8-core GPU.
The iPad Pro used to perform better on Geekbench 5, which gauges overall performance, when compared to the Intel MacBook Pro. The iPad scored 1,126 on the single-core portion of the test and 4,720 on the multi-core portion. With scores of 1,303 and 5,925, the MacBook Air performed even better.
Cameras And Special Features
The iPad Pro is the best device to use if you want to produce content. Apple’s tablet comes with a 12MP wide camera and a new 10MP ultra-wide camera that allows you to capture more of the scene when taking pictures. The MacBook Air is unable to record 4K video at speeds up to 60 frames per second, but the iPad Pro can.
For selfies and quick face recognition device unlocking, the iPad Pro also has a front 7MP TrueDepth camera. And unlike the MacBook Air, the iPad Pro has a LiDAR scanner that significantly boosts the performance of augmented reality apps.
Support for the Apple Pencil is another significant benefit of the iPad Pro. You can easily take notes, draw on documents, and annotate them with the $129 accessory. Additionally, the iPad Pro’s magnetic top is where the Apple Pencil charges.
Though it uses some machine learning savvy to enhance the quality of your stream, the MacBook Air only comes with a low-res 720p camera for video chats. Additionally, the Touch ID button on the keyboard deck can be used to log in instead of your face. However, the fact that the MacBook can run apps from the iPhone and iPad means that the Air can’t be easily discounted when discussing special features.
Battery Life
This round was previously close. The iPad Pro performed admirably for 10 hours and 16 minutes on our battery test, which involves continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi with a screen brightness of 150 nits. With a time of 9:31, the Intel MacBook Air was unable to match that.
The MacBook Air, however, ran for a lot longer, clocking in at 14:41, after Apple switched from Intel to its own ARM-based Apple Silicon.
iPados Vs Macos
The main distinction between the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air is this. The operating system that powers the iPad Pro is called iPadOS, a touch-first platform that now accepts cursor input throughout the OS. Now you can quickly select text using a Bluetooth mouse, an external trackpad, or Apple’s own Magic Keyboard with trackpad. You can also use various gestures, like flicking three fingers up to see all of your open apps.
iPadOS continues to support multitasking features like The customizable Today Screen provides you with useful widgets to stay on top of your day, as well as Slide Over (running apps on top of others) and Split View (running two apps side by side). Additionally, the Apple Pencil can only be used with the iPad OS to annotate documents, draw, and take notes.
macOS provides a more traditional desktop experience. You get more capable desktop applications, and the Dock is always visible. As an illustration, the iPadOS version of the Chrome browser does not have a bookmarks bar. On macOS, you also have a lot more options for the software you can download, whether you decide to use the Mac App Store or the internet.
However, as long as your computer is powered by an Apple Silicon processor, you can now run iOS and iPadOS apps with the addition of macOS Big Sur.
Conclusion
Each device emphasizes different things and has different advantages and disadvantages. The truck vs. cars comparison made by Steve Jobs still makes sense to me. The distinction is that finding the ideal tool for each individual’s circumstance is what matters, not whether more people need a truck or a car. Like we allow laptops to be laptops, let the iPad be the iPad. You probably aren’t the target market if you don’t see the advantages of the iPad over the Mac. For some use cases and jobs, an iPad is a better fit than a Mac, and the opposite is also true. In their respective fields, both kinds of devices are excellent.
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