Ipad and Ipad Pro vs. MacBook and MacBook Pro - Which Should You Buy - IMore

26/04/2018 iPad and iPad Pro vs. MacBook and MacBook Pro: Which should you buy?
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BUYERS GUIDE
iPad and iPad Pro vs. MacBook and MacBook Pro:

Which should you buy?
Deciding between a MacBook or iPad? Here's the breakdown you didn't know you needed.
SERENITY CALDWELL 23 Apr 2018  16





P undits have gone round and round debating the merits of iPad as computer
or computer as potential touch tablet, but here's the honest truth: Both can
be equally powerful options for very, very different tasks.
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26/04/2018 iPad and iPad Pro vs. MacBook and MacBook Pro: Which should you buy? | iMore
As much fun as it would be to ring up another round in the heavyweight battle

that is iPad versus Mac, I say we call the whole thing off. Instead, let's focus on
what actually matters: tailoring the tasks you need to accomplish with the
computer that makes sense for those tasks.
 See iPad at Apple

 See iPad Pro at Apple
 See MacBook at Apple
 See MacBook Pro at Apple
The iPad and iPad Pro can be an incredible device for artists, those that need a
portable cellular connection, or extreme portability. In contrast, the MacBook
(and by extension, MacBook Pro) laptops are perfect for those who need a
super-charged multitasking machine, a compact Mac, or a permanent keyboard
solution. Both can be ideal on planes, in coffeeshops, studying in classrooms,
presenting in boardrooms, and relaxing in living rooms.
But which one is ideal for you?
 Specs  Ports and expansion

 Price  The operating system
 Size and display  Apps and services
 Processor and battery life  Who should get an iPad?
 Touch vs. keyboard and mouse  Who should get a MacBook?
Check our reviews 

We'll chiefly be exploring iPad vs. MacBook here, but if you want to go really in-

depth with them, we have some comprehensive reviews for you!

 iPad (9.7) review

 iPad Pro (10.5) review

 iPad Pro (12.9) review
 MacBook review
 MacBook Pro review
Specs showdown
At first glance, iPad vs MacBook might seem like an odd comparison, especially
at the specifications level. But there's a lot here to compare and contrast. We'll
be diving deep into how these tablets and laptops stack up, but if you want the
specs, here they are.
OS
iOS iOS macOS macOS

Screen Size
9.7 inches 10.5: 10.5 inches 12 inches 13: 13 inches

12.9: 12.9 inches 15: 15 inches
Screen Type
LED Multi-Touch LED Multi-Touch LED IPS LED IPS

Resolution
9.7: 2048x1536 10.5: 2224x1668 2304x1440 13: 2560x1600

12.9: 2732x2048 15: 2880x1800
Pixel Density
264 ppi 264ppi 226ppi 13: 227ppi

15: 220ppi
Processor
Apple A10 Apple A10X 1.2GHz Intel Core m3 13: 2.3-3.1GHz Intel
to 1.3Ghz Core i5 Core i5 to
15: 2.8-2.9Ghz Core
i7
RAM
2GB 4GB 8-16GB 13: 8GB

 15: 16GB
Storage 
32GB-128GB 64-512GB
256-512GB 13: 128-512GB SSD
15: 256GB-2TB SSD
Connectivity 
Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 4x
Bluetooth 4.2, Bluetooth 4.2, Bluetooth 4.2, USB- USB-C/Thunderbolt
Lightning Port Lightning Port, C port 3 ports | Wi-Fi
Smart Connector, 802.11ac, 4x USB-
optional LTE-A C/Thunderbolt 3
ports
Battery
9.7: 32.4Wh, up to 10 10.5: 30.4Wh, up to 41.4Wh, up to 10 13: 49.2Wh, up to 10

hours 10 hours hours hours
12.9: 41Wh, up to 10 15: 76Wh, up to 10
hours hours
Dimensions
9.7: 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.29 10.5: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.24 11.0 x 7.7 x 0.52 13: 12.0 x 8.4 x 0.59
inches inches inches inches
(251 x 174 x 6.1 mm) (280 x 197 x 13.1 (304 x 212 x 14.9
12.9: 12.0 x 8.7 x 0.27 mm) mm)
inches 15: 13.8 x 9.4 x 0.61
(306 x 221 x 6.9 mm) inches
(349 x 240 x 15.5
mm)
Weight
9.7: 1.03 lbs (469 g) 10.5: 1.03 lbs (469 g) 2.03 lbs (920 g) 13: 3.02 lbs (1370 g)
12.9: 1.49 lbs (677 g) 15: 4.02 lbs (1830 g)
Colors
Space Gray, Gold, Space Gray, Gold, Space Gray, Gold, Space Gray, Silver
Silver Rose Gold (10.5 Rose Gold, Silver
only), Silver
Price
9.7: $329 - $559 10.5: $649 - $1129 $1299 - $1949 13: $1299 - $2899
iPad 12.9: $799
iPad Pro - $1279 MacBook 15: $2399Pro
MacBook - $4199
Price
Before you get into feature comparisons, it's important to consider your budget.
iPad & iPad Pro


The base-model $329 iPad is the cheapest computing device Apple sells, but it
 considering this iPad, you're probably
comes with only 32GB of storage. If you're
going to want to upgrade to 128GB and buy some accessories like the Apple

Pencil and possibly a Bluetooth keyboard. Together, that's going to run you
closer to $600 — and a bit more if you're
 considering picking up the cellular
model.

That said, the higher-end iPad Pro will run you anywhere from $649 to $1229
without any accessories like the $129 Smart Keyboard or $99 Apple Pencil or
AppleCare.
MacBook & MacBook Pro
The MacBook and MacBook Pro both start at $1299 and can be configured all
the way up to $4199; they also offer more out-of-the-box hardware features
(like a keyboard and trackpad).
Bottom Line
If cost is a bigger issue for you than a computer's specific features, the 9.7-inch
iPad offers the most cost-effective entry point into the mobile computing
space. Even if you need to purchase a physical keyboard and Pencil on the base
model iPad, you'll still only spend around $600 to the MacBook Pro's entry-level
$1299 price point.
Size and Display
Apple sells the iPad in three* main sizes

(9.7, 10.5, and 12.9", all with 4:3 aspect
ratios), and the MacBook and MacBook
Pro in three (12", 13", and 15", with 16:10
aspect ratios). What size and screen
type makes the most sense for you?
Read on.
 *Yes, there is a fourth iPad model in

Apple's line, the 7.9-inch iPad mini, but we
don't currently consider it a potential
stand-alone computer replacement for a
number of reasons.
iPad & iPad Pro
The base-model iPad's 9.7-inch Retina display is 2048x1536. Unlike the iPad
Pro's 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch displays, the 9.7-inch iPad has no lamination on its
display, no P3 color space, no ProMotion, and no TrueTone display. It's still a solid
option, but it comes without many of the perks found in the higher-end models.
Speaking of those higher-end models: 

The 10.5-inch iPad Pro P3 Wide Color
display comes in at 2224x1668 at 264 pixels
 per inch (PPI), while the 12.9-inch is
2732x2048 (also 264 PPI).

The 12-inch model is the largest iOS display Apple has ever shipped: While it's
not quite as dense in pixels as iPad mini or iPhone 7 Plus, iPads are designed to
be held further away than your smartphone, making the screens look roughly
equal to the average eye.
Both iPad Pro displays sport Apple's ProMotion technology, which offers a
variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz; this is especially great for anyone who
needs fast touch response or low-latency art or writing work. They also take
advantage of True Tone, which adjusts the iPad's color temperature to match
ambient light, making it look paper-white.
The MacBook's 12-inch Retina display offers a 2304x1440 resolution at 226 PPI,
slightly less dense than the iPad Pro's 12-inch 4:3 screen. It lacks both
ProMotion, True Tone, and the P3 color space.
The MacBook Pro's 13- and 15-inch displays are a little more advanced: They
sport 2560x1600 and 2880x1800 displays at 227 PPI and 220 PPI, respectively;
they're also brighter than the MacBook (with a maximum brightness of 500
nits), and support P3 Wide color.
Bottom Line
If it's size and display quality that matters to you, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is the
best "small" computer Apple has ever made. It packs an overwhelming amount
of features into a compact and portable size. If your desk or backpack can
withstand a larger machine, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a tad bit larger than the
12-inch MacBook, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro is larger than both (and the
15-inch the biggest of the group). In total, the devices range from 1.03 pounds
(10.5-inch iPad Pro, Wi-Fi-only) to 4.02 pounds (15-inch MacBook Pro).
When it comes to displays, Apple has infused the iPad Pro with the latest and
greatest technology it possesses. That's not to discount the beauty of the base
iPad or MacBook's Retina screens; they're still beautiful pieces of kit. But if
you're doing any sort of graphics work, you'll
 want to consider an iPad Pro or
MacBook Pro for the P3 color space alone. Add in a predisposition to gaming,

reading, or drawing, and the iPad Pro's ProMotion technology far outpaces
Apple's base iPad and laptop line.


Processor power and battery life

The base iPad runs off an Apple A10 64-bit SOC (system on a chip), along with
an M10 co-processor and 2GB of RAM; the iPad Pro supercharges that with an
A10X processor and 4GB of RAM. In contrast, the company's Mac line uses Intel
processors with the Core m3, i5, and i7 found in the MacBook and i7 in the
MacBook Pro; they have 8-16GB of RAM, respectively.
All three of Apple's portable lines claim 10 hours' battery life — though some
tasks inevitably require more power than others.
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro line is one of the first to feature processors that outpace modern
Macs, with iMore's Geekbench tests showing single-core speeds coming in at
3935 and multi-core tests at 9299. That's thanks to Apple's A10X Fusion chip,
4GB of RAM, and M10 co-processor — it's a powerhouse package that makes
everyday tasks whiz by. The 9.7-inch iPad received a slightly less powerful (but
still respectable) 3254 single-core score and 5857 for multi-core.
On the battery side, the iPad offers a 32.4-watt-hour battery, while the iPad Pro
models have a 30.4-watt-hour (10.5-inch) and 41-watt-hour (12.9-inch) battery,
respectively; the difference in battery size is due to the extra power drain when
running the 12.9-inch model's larger screen, so that all sizes can sport 10 hours
of battery life.
The MacBook and MacBook Pro lines aren't  slouching when it comes to power:
They both run on Intel's Kaby Lake chipset, which optimizes performance while

providing great battery life and also provides hardware support for H.265/HEVC
(coming to High Sierra later this fall). 

The MacBook uses Kaby Lake-Y, an ultra-low-power version of the standard
Intel Kaby Lake processors, so that Apple
 can keep the laptop's slim form factor
without setting fire to your lap. The MacBook starts with a 1.2Ghz dual-core
Intel Core m3, though you can choose optional upgrades to boost that up to a
1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i7. Its base-model speeds come in slightly below
the 2017 iPad Pro, with iMore's Geekbench tests reporting 3317 for single-core
and 6738 for multi-core benchmarks.
Apple's larger laptops run Kaby Lake in its full-powered form, starting with a
2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 baseline for the 13-inch, and 2.8Ghz quad-core
Intel Core i7 for the 15-inch. Depending on whether you choose 13-inch, 13-inch
with Touch Bar, or 15, you can upgrade these chips to a 2.5Ghz dual-core i7,
3.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i7, or 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i7. In English:
Even the slowest of these are powerhouse chips. The MacBook Pro is designed
to be a portable pro workstation, and Apple has equipped the laptop line
accordingly.
Battery life for all three is benchmarked at a respectable 10 hours for Wi-Fi
browsing, though power users may see a reduced number — I routinely get 6 to
7 hours out of my 13-inch MacBook Pro, but I also run something like 20 open
apps simultaneously, at almost-max brightness.
Bottom Line
The cheapest iPad Pro is more powerful than the entry-level MacBook. This isn't
 
just a figure of speech anymore: It's reality. It can run professional graphics
editing programs like Affinity Photo without a hitch; in contrast, the MacBook
can be made to stutter when opening a many-layered Photoshop document.
That's not to say the MacBook is completely outclassed: It's an excellent Mac
laptop for basic browsing, email, and writing. But if you need a more powerful
base-model computer rather than traditional word processing tasks, the iPad is
that device.
When it comes to pro-level power, the iPad hangs in the race with the MacBook
Pro for a surprising number of tasks — including image rendering — but Apple's
top-tier laptop is still the king of multitasking pros.
Battery life, on paper, is very similar between all three computers, but I give an
ever-so-slight edge to the iPad and iPad Pro here: Apple's power management

is second to none, and — for all of its frustrations — iOS's multitasking
limitations and frozen background appsensure that you're not accidentally
burning battery.


Multitouch & Pen vs Mouse and Keyboard

Here's where the decision gets more personal: How do you like to interact with
your computer? The iPad and iPad Pro's multitouch and pen interface has a
wildly different feel to that of a traditional laptop, and it's arguably designed for
different tasks than your average Mac.
iPad & iPad Pro
You interact primarily with an iPad through its multitouch display. You can tap,
swipe, pinch, and otherwise gesture your way though the entire operating
system and all of its apps, with a virtual, predictive keyboard when it comes to
text entry. This opens up a slew of additional touch-based shortcuts for both
the operating system and third-party apps, but it comes at the expense of
having the traditional mouse-and-pointer input.
You can augment your iPad or iPad Pro with an external physical keyboard — a
must for anyone who relies on text entry — and the Apple Pencil, the company's
drawing and writing stylus. If you plan to do any handwriting or drawing, the
Pencil is a must-have: It's one of the best stylus options on the market, and
works flawlessly with the iPad and iPad Pro.
The MacBook and MacBook Pro both take  after laptops past, with a trackpad
and physical keyboard, though each offers specific twists on the genre.

The MacBook and entry-level MacBook Pro offer a Force Touch trackpad with
support for Force Click and gestures, allowing for more subtle and powerful

interactions; they also sport a built-in full-size keyboard with new butterfly
switch-style keys. 
Upgrade to the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, however, and you'll get the
equivalent of a tiny multitouch iOS display where your hardware function keys
once lived. These virtual function keys adjust and change depending on the app
you're in and your personal preferences, offering you dynamically changing
options for tab switching, autocorrect, frequently used app commands, and
more.
Bottom Line
While each input has its own pros and cons, I find that this is largely a personal
preference. Do you feel like you can get the majority of your work done on a
multitouch device without a mouse and pointer? (Conversely, will you be able to
do all your work without the benefit of directly manipulating your canvas or
drawing on it?) It's an answer only you can find.
Or, to quote iMore Editor-in-Chief Rene Ritchie:
“
You can add a keyboard to the iPad Pro and get close to a MacBook
experience. You can't add a capacitive display to the MacBook.
Ports and expansion
Both the MacBook and iPad are one-

port devices. The MacBook features a
single USB-C port for charging and
peripheral connection, while the iPad
uses Lightning for power and
accessories. In contrast, the MacBook
Pro offers an array of 2-4 USB-C ports,
depending on the model.
iPad & iPad Pro
Though the number of uses for it has grown, both the iPad and iPad Pro still
ship with a single proprietary Lightning connector. With it, you can use
adapters (sold separately) to interface with non-powered USB devices
— principally cameras and SD cards — to retrieve photos, connect to
microphones, and more. It can also connect to VGA and HDMI displays.

 port: the Smart Connector, which
Technically, the iPad Pro line has a "second"
provides power to dockable accessories. But because that category currently

just includes keyboards and power docks, I'm less inclined to call it a true port
so much as a proprietary charging solution for accessories.
Also along those lines, we're not counting the headphone jack as a true port,
either. (Sorry, headphone jack lovers.)
The MacBook is also a one-port device. But unlike the iPad Pro, the Mac makes
it simpler to use third-party peripherals — with only one port, that ability was
vastly reduced (and sprung a veritable fountain of jokes about adapters as a

result). Even with only a single USB-C port, however, you can still do a lot with
the MacBook — but yes, you will need an adapter (or hub) to work with older
USB devices and accessories.
The MacBook Pro addresses this issue somewhat by providing 2 USB-

C/Thunderbolt 3 ports on its base model; 4 ports on every Touch Bar model.
You'll still need adapters for older USB devices, but you aren't limited in your
adapter use by needing a charge.
Bottom Line
Peripherals and accessories are where the Mac has long shined, and this
contest is no different. While you can do a lot with an iPad Pro, if you need the
flexibility multiple ports provide — and no restrictions on the type of
accessories you can use in said ports — you'll want a MacBook or MacBook Pro.
The operating system
This is the sticking point for most iPad

vs Mac decisions: Which is better for
getting my work done — iOS or
macOS? The answer depends on a
number of factors, and as with
interfacing, it's a highly personal
decision.


iPad & iPad Pro 
All iPads ship with iOS 11, Apple's latestmobile operating system. iOS has
become increasingly advanced for iPad users over the years, and iOS 11 is no

different. It brings an full-featured multitasking system to the tablet, offering
drag and drop, multiple window interactions, and an instantly-accessible Dock.
The A10 and A10X processor, when combined with iOS and graphics framework
Metal, also lets third-party developers to build even more complex apps for
iPad users — including AR experiences. In the past, the iPad has been dinged for
its apps being less powerful or complex than their Mac counterparts; that
statement is increasingly no longer true.

The MacBook and MacBook Pro both run Apple's latest laptop and desktop
operating system, macOS High Sierra. It's a multi-user, multi-window operating
system that combines the power of a traditional UNIX environment with a full-
on graphical user interface.
The Mac is powerful and flexible as a result, but that flexibility can mean less
focus within single apps; macOS is also entirely built around the keyboard and
mouse interface; working with a stylus requires an external tablet solution (or
being really good at painting with your fingers on the Force Touch trackpad).
Bottom Line
iOS may have started life off as the "simple" operating system, but it's evolved
in such a way that millions of people now work directly on an iPad. If the
software you need is available on the App Store, it's easier than ever to spend
your work or school day with a multitouch device.
That said, there's a reason why macOS has been long-favored by professionals:
Its multitasking workflows and powerful third-party programs allow those
comfortable with a keyboard and mouse interface to work and study the way
they always have. Coding professionals, too, will likely favor the Mac for
programs like Xcode (which aren't available at all on the Mac). If you need
advanced multitasking options and software that's not available on the iOS
App Store, the Mac is the route to take.
Software availability and services
Apple offers a variety of services for 

both its iPad and Mac users, including 
app stores, cloud backup, music
subscription, and more. 


iPad & iPad Pro
While both iPad and Mac have an Apple-run App Store, the iPad cannot even
consider running non-App Store apps unless they've been directly shared
through an enterprise program — they must be sandboxed and fit Apple
guidelines for security and performance reasons. That hasn't reduced the
availability or quality of apps, however: iPad users can download millions of

apps for their devices, including productivity software, games, apps for creative
professionals, and more. It increasingly contains modern takes on classic apps
like Microsoft Office, Affinity Photo, Adobe Lightroom, Coda, and Pixelmator, as
well as unique apps all its own, like Procreate and Adobe Comp.
The iPad also hooks into Apple's free iCloud service, which provides users with
wireless sync to all your Apple products; you can pay additional fees to back up
your photos, subscribe to Apple Music, and more.
I mentioned Apple's Mac App Store above — it works similarly to the iOS App
Store and provides secure access to all kinds of games, productivity,
communications, and entertainment apps. You're not restricted to playing in
this sandbox, however; you can also download apps from the web, other app
stores like Steam, or your favorite developers. This includes desktop-class apps
unavailable to iOS, like Xcode, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Creative Cloud, and many
more.
 Requisite security note: Only download apps from developers you recognize, and
never open unknown files or app types.
Like the iPad Pro, all Macs come with iCloud support baked into their operating
system.
Bottom Line

On the software and services side, it comes down to the apps you need to run
for your school or work career. There are
a ton of great programs out there for
both iOS and macOS, but the Mac does edge out in front when it comes to
boutique software — especially finance- or office-related. Conversely, iOS has
seen the most innovation in graphics work,
 especially with the introduction of
the Apple Pencil as an input tool; users planning to draw or sketch should
seriously consider the iPad over a Mac.
Who should get an iPad or iPad Pro?
The iPad isn't your average laptop, and it's all the better for it. As a multitouch-
first computer, it can help people for whom traditional computers have always
been inaccessible, intimidating, or otherwise off-putting. Its hardware keyboard
accessories provide the option for more traditional text input, but it's not
required — only provided if you need it.
The tablet is not only as powerful as

many laptops, it can empower more
people to get more out of it, thanks to
the directness of its interface and
simplicity of its operations. For graphics
professionals and students, the iPad
can be an even more powerful purchase
thanks to the Apple Pencil, eliminating
the need for digital design tablets and
spiral-bound notebooks.
 Not sure which tablet to buy? Check out our iPad vs iPad Pro
showdown!
The iPad line is also ideally suited for people who want the absolute lightest
computing experience possible for use around the house or while traveling. For
everything from gaming to working (especially with the Pencil and keyboard) it
can accomplish everything but the most intense computing tasks, in the most
highly-portable form factor yet devised.
 See iPad at Apple
 See iPad Pro at Apple
Who should get a MacBook or MacBook Pro?
The MacBook and MacBook Pro lines 

are best suited for people who are used
to a traditional computing experience,
be that advanced keyboard shortcuts, 
multiple users, or even Terminal.

The MacBook blends the traditional 
laptop experience with portability and
power, giving users a lighter-weight
option without going for an iPad, while
the MacBook Pro targets high-end
professionals who don't mind a slightly heavier machine in exchange for Apple's
best portable computing power out there. In addition, students who rely on
aging university software and websites, as well as those who plan to do more
numerical and typing work, may find that a MacBook better suits their needs
than that of a tablet.
If you absolutely have to have a laptop, but you want the most minimal laptop
possible, look into a MacBook. And if you need more power for your job or
school work, check out the MacBook Pro.
 See MacBook at Apple
 See MacBook Pro at Apple
Still undecided?
If you're still having trouble choosing between an iPad Pro or one of Apple's
laptops, jump into our forums and we'll try to answer your questions and help
you out.
 iPad discussion forums

 Mac discussion forums
iPad Buyers Guide





 Which iPad model should you get?

 Should you upgrade to iPad Pro?
 iPad Pro vs. MacBook: Which should you buy?
 Buyers Guide Buyers Guide
 View Comments (16)
Serenity Caldwell
Serenity is the Managing Editor at iMore. She's been talking, writing about, and tinkering with
Apple products since she was old enough to double-click. In her spare time, she sketches,
sings, and in her secret superhero life, plays roller derby. Follow her on Twitter @settern.
IPAD PROS
My 9.7 iPad (2018) review: Drawn, written, edited,

and produced with an iPad
More than anything else, the Apple Pencil is the gamechanger for the 2018 iPad. So I used it to
draw, write, and create a review done entirely on the 9.7-inch tablet.
SERENITY CALDWELL 13 Apr 2018  37
F or about a year, I worked exclusively on an iPad Pro. During that time I

learned a lot about the highs (and massive lows) of iPad productivity, fell in
love with the Apple Pencil, and discovered how best to balance my iPad and
Mac lifestyle.


It's no secret to say that the iPad has changed how I work and think on my

devices. I use it for work, roller derby, casual sketching and idea generation,
watching movies, and so much more. And  it's why I've continually been bullish
on the device, even when sales lagged and great multitasking was but a rumor
on the road map. 
To me, the 2018 base-model 9.7-inch iPad is a special beast: It hits a line drive
right through the company's fabled intersection of technology and liberal arts
— and at the right price point. The iPad Pro did it first, but at a cost
unattainable for all but the tinkerers and serious artists, and without iOS 11's
crucial multitasking features. At $329, the iPad offers a low-end tablet
experience unlike any other on the market. Add an extra $99 for Apple Pencil,
and Apple has created the best device for all-purpose education, period.
But it's easy to make that claim, and a whole other thing to explain why I
believe it so whole-heartedly. As a result, I decided to try and prove it: Starting
with a blank page in Procreate, I created an entire iPad review video by just
using my 2018 iPad, Apple Pencil, and third-party apps. My Mac came into play
only once — when I uploaded my video to YouTube.
Here it is.
"Filming" my 9.7 iPad review on my iPad


Rene and I have filmed and edited reviews on Apple devices before, starting
with the iPhone 6s review back in 2015.But this iPad review was a bit different: I
shot only one piece of live-action footage (using my 10.5-inch iPad Pro to film

me working on the 2018 iPad).

Instead, I used techniques I developed with my Linea review to "film" the screen

of my iPad as I worked in apps and OS features across the device. I achieved
this chiefly with iOS's built-in Screen Recorder, though I also used a few
Procreate video replays of my line-drawings.
Screen Recorder will record pretty much anything save for copyrighted video,
which makes it an incredible tool for making timelapses of drawings, workflows
in Keynote, app experiences, and more. In total, I "filmed" in apps like:
 the aforementioned Procreate and Linea Sketch

 Keynote
 Astropad
 Glider Classic
 Swift Playgrounds
 iTunes U
 Boulevard AR
 VHS Cam
 Prompt
 Safari
 iBooks
 The App Store
To create timelapses of video, I used the excellent LumaFusion video editor,

which lets you speed up clips to 6x their original speed. I'd import the videos,
cut the areas I didn't need, and speed them up; if they still weren't fast enough,
I'd export that clip, then re-import it into LumaFusion and re-layer the speed
adjustment.
To import some of my found-footage, I used a web-based YouTube exporter to

grab the direct URL of two YouTube videos (a section of Steve Jobs's 1985
speech on education at Lund University in Sweden and a small clip of Wired's
incredible piece on preserving the personality of a dying family member inside
a chatbot), then downloaded the video to GoodReader, where I was able to
save it to the Files app.
I was also lucky to have access to some old digitized Hi8 footage of my
childhood computers, courtesy my father, which were stored in Dropbox (and
easily downloaded to Files).


I also used Keynote's new Magic Move and Line Draw features to draw atop the
footage, and recorded the final
Steve Jobs speech and some roller derby
animation using Screen Recording. 
Once I had all my video clips, I primarilyassembled them in iMovie, with

LumaFusion playing the part of a section editor — I'd edit a section of
timelapsed footage in LumaFusion, then drop it in as a single chunk in iMovie
so as to avoid too many moving pieces. (iOS still has many limitations when it
comes to editing in a mobile environment, and I've had detached audio clips
move too many times in a big project not to play it a bit safe.)
When I was ready to add music, I hopped into GarageBand and composed a
few little ditties using the app's Toy Box Sound Library — it was my first time
using GarageBand's sound library to make something, and I came away
incredibly impressed with the technical ability of the app. (iMovie crew, take
notes!) Even never having used it, I was able to compose something that didn't
sound completely awful, and in under an hour, to boot. GarageBand even lets
you export the resulting MP3s directly into an iMovie project, making my
scoring process nice and easy.
The last thing I made — the review's opening and closing titles — were created
using Screen Recorder and iOS 11's built-in Markup tool.
During the process, I sent Rene and a few friends some edits in progress by
using Screen Recorder over iMovie's preview screen — it saved me from having
to export an in-progress timeline, which at times had upwards of 45 minutes of
unprocessed footage residing in it.
For the final movie, I exported it to Photos, then uploaded it to Google Drive
— where my Mac took on its sole duty, uploading the video to YouTube. (I
probably could have done this step via iPad, but I didn't want to risk the chance
that the app would compress the video file during upload.)
Would I make another iPad review on an iPad again?

Absolutely
This process took a few weeks of trial and error as I built — and rebuilt — my
workflows and tried to figure out how exactly I wanted to showcase the iPad's
myriad skill-sets. It's certainly the most involved project (short of designing my
wedding) that I undertook on an iPad.
 of some of the video editing tools

But here's the best part: With the exception
(seriously, iMovie team, you folks have work to do), everything I did on my iPad

was much easier than it would have been to make this on a Mac. The Apple
Pencil remains, to my mind, one of the best tools Apple has ever created — in a
vacuum, it's a pretty decent stylus; when paired with the power of an iPad,
 for writing, drawing, precision
however, it offers almost unlimited flexibility
editing, strain-free navigation, and creativity.

Yes, the iPad is more expensive than a Chromebook. Yes, it has a long way to go
before it can be the perfect tool in the classroom.
But I can't do a fifth of what I did on the 2018 iPad & Apple Pencil with any
other $429 tablet — including Apple's older iPad models. This combination
smokes the competition, and I've already seen it take root in people who had
otherwise long put off getting an iPad. After bringing it to an art night with
design friends last week, two of them went out and purchased 2018 iPads and
Pencils.
The price is right. The tools are superb. This is the tablet I've been wanting since
Jobs came out in 2010 to introduce the original iPad: the true meeting of
technology and liberal arts.
And while there are things that could be better, and (many) tools Apple can still
improve — there's momentum here for this product that I haven't seen before.
And I can't wait to see where it goes.
9.7-inch iPad

 9.7-inch iPad FAQ 
 iPad buyers guide

 9.7-inch iPad Unboxing


 Reviews iPad (2018)
 View Comments (37)
Serenity Caldwell
Serenity is the Managing Editor at iMore. She's been talking, writing about, and tinkering with
Apple products since she was old enough to double-click. In her spare time, she sketches,
sings, and in her secret superhero life, plays roller derby. Follow her on Twitter @settern.
500M Consumers Reached Yearly
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Ipad and Ipad Pro vs. MacBook and MacBook Pro - Which Should You Buy - IMore

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26/04/2018 iPad and iPad Pro vs. MacBook and MacBook Pro: Which should you buy?

iPad and iPad Pro vs. MacBook and MacBook Pro:

SERENITY CALDWELL 23 Apr 2018  16

As much fun as it would be to ring up another round in the heavyweight battle

 See iPad at Apple

But which one is ideal for you?

 Specs  Ports and expansion

Check our reviews 

iOS iOS macOS macOS

9.7 inches 10.5: 10.5 inches 12 inches 13: 13 inches

LED Multi-Touch LED Multi-Touch LED IPS LED IPS

9.7: 2048x1536 10.5: 2224x1668 2304x1440 13: 2560x1600

264 ppi 264ppi 226ppi 13: 227ppi

2GB 4GB 8-16GB 13: 8GB

9.7: 32.4Wh, up to 10 10.5: 30.4Wh, up to 41.4Wh, up to 10 13: 49.2Wh, up to 10

iPad & iPad Pro

MacBook & MacBook Pro

Size and Display

Apple sells the iPad in three* main sizes

 *Yes, there is a fourth iPad model in

iPad & iPad Pro

Speaking of those higher-end models: 

MacBook & MacBook Pro

MacBook & MacBook Pro

iPad & iPad Pro

MacBook & MacBook Pro

Or, to quote iMore Editor-in-Chief Rene Ritchie:

Ports and expansion

Both the MacBook and iPad are one-

iPad & iPad Pro

MacBook & MacBook Pro

vastly reduced (and sprung a veritable fountain of jokes about adapters as a

The MacBook Pro addresses this issue somewhat by providing 2 USB-

The operating system

This is the sticking point for most iPad

MacBook & MacBook Pro

Software availability and services

Apple offers a variety of services for 

iPad & iPad Pro

availability or quality of apps, however: iPad users can download millions of

MacBook & MacBook Pro

Who should get an iPad or iPad Pro?

The tablet is not only as powerful as

 See iPad at Apple

 See iPad Pro at Apple

Who should get a MacBook or MacBook Pro?

The MacBook and MacBook Pro lines 

 See MacBook at Apple

 See MacBook Pro at Apple

 iPad discussion forums

iPad Buyers Guide

 Which iPad model should you get?

 Buyers Guide Buyers Guide

 View Comments (16)

My 9.7 iPad (2018) review: Drawn, written, edited,

SERENITY CALDWELL 13 Apr 2018  37

F or about a year, I worked exclusively on an iPad Pro. During that time I

"Filming" my 9.7 iPad review on my iPad

 the aforementioned Procreate and Linea Sketch

To create timelapses of video, I used the excellent LumaFusion video editor,

To import some of my found-footage, I used a web-based YouTube exporter to

Once I had all my video clips, I primarilyassembled them in iMovie, with

Would I make another iPad review on an iPad again?