Apple’s (AAPL) latest 13-inch iPad Pro is a marvel of engineering.
But the software still hinders the iPad Pro’s true potential, relegating the device to a slick, over-the-top package for consuming content rather than allowing the iPad Pro to realize its productivity potential.
The company has packed its latest M4 processor into a thinner tablet than Apple’s iPod Nano, with up to 10 CPU and 10 GPU cores, which is more than you’ll find in its current MacBook Air and at least one version of the MacBook Pro.
At just 5.1 millimeters thick, the iPad Pro feels like when you hold it at one end, the other end will hang down like a loose piece of paper. Of course not. The 11-inch iPad Pro is almost as thin at 5.3 mm thick.
There’s also the new Ultra Retina XDR display. Apple says it combines two OLED panels to increase the overall brightness of the display, offering the same outstanding benefits you’d get from a regular OLED display. This means inky blacks and bright colors.
And all of this will cost you dearly. A base 13-inch iPad Pro with Apple’s Magic Keyboard will set you back $1,648. That’s much more than the high-end 13-inch MacBook Air and the entry-level MacBook Pro.
But I could deal with that price if the iPad Pro didn’t have one major drawback: iPadOS.
Software hangups
Over the years, the iPad has made progress towards offering Mac-like features.
You can run multiple apps simultaneously, connect to an external display for a larger workspace, group apps together, and more.
But iPadOS still holds the iPad Pro back from its true potential.
I wrote this entire review on the iPad Pro. Although this has served me very well, I’m still limited in how I can organize windows. The biggest hurdles include the fact that I can only run four apps on the screen at a time without needing to capture from the side panel, and that the apps default to the iPad versions instead of the full Mac version.
It’s these kinds of things that make it difficult to use the iPad Pro as a full laptop replacement, although Apple clearly wants you to think that way about the tablet.
To say I was torn would be an understatement. I love how powerful the iPad Pro is, how gorgeous its screen is, and how incredibly thin it is. But I also want him to do more than he is with all of this.
Apple is clearly worried that it will undermine MacBook sales if it turns the iPad Pro into more of a Mac.
And this is probably true. Ultimately, if you have money to spend, it’ll be easier to recommend an iPad Pro with macOS over a MacBook Air.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the Air has lost its value: It will continue to serve as a great entry-level laptop for Apple, while the MacBook Pro will remain the company’s most powerful portable.
A laptop killer by nearly every measure
The new iPad Pro outperforms most super-thin laptops on the market.
The massive touchscreen is great, the Magic Keyboard is as responsive and comfortable to use as a standard MacBook, the trackpad is large and offers haptic feedback when you click.
Moreover, there is a new camera on the right side that acts as a solid front camera that automatically keeps you in the frame when you use the iPad Pro in landscape mode, thanks to the Center Stage feature. Stereo speakers also help when you want to use it on the go or as your mini TV for meetings or similar purposes.
Did I mention that despite this tablet’s thinness, the M4 chip is ridiculous? I ran the Geekbench benchmark, which tests CPU performance, on the iPad Pro and my wife’s 2023 MacBook Air with an M2 processor, and the iPad practically supported the Air right on my coffee table. We are speaking figuratively.
It also easily outperforms my 2021 MacBook Pro with its M1 Pro chip and 32GB of RAM.
There is no escape from this; The 13-inch iPad Pro is a beast, especially for its size.
Apple will host its annual WWDC event on June 10, and there’s also a chance that the company will announce an update that will make the iPad Pro a true laptop killer. At least that’s what I hope for.
And if you’re on the hunt for a high-powered iPad that’s much more powerful than other tablets, the Pro is the way to go. If you can get past Apple’s software decisions, then you should get one too.
But if you were hoping this Pro would be the laptop replacement you’ve been waiting for, you’re out of luck.
Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DanielHowley.
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