Which Is Better iPad Pro or MacBook?
The iPad Pro is often described as a laptop without a keyboard. It is fast and powerful, portable and functional. Adding a keyboard to the iPad Pro is one way of increasing its functionality as a laptop. However, some might argue that instead of going for an iPad Pro 12.9, a Macbook Air should be the obvious choice. Why add expensive accessories such as a wireless keyboard when these features are already available in a laptop? Let’s go through the two gadgets’ similarities and differences.
1. Price
The iPad Pro 12.9 and MacBook Air's price tags are similar at first glance. The iPad Pro 12.9 starts at $1099 for 128GB and goes up to $2199 for 2TB of space. Meanwhile, the Macbook Air with Apple’s M1 chip costs $999. The M2 MacBook Air with 256 GB and 8-Core GPU (integrated graphics card) costs $1,999. The higher spec version with 512GB and 10-Core GPU sells for $1,499. However, the bill starts adding up when you start adding accessories to the iPad to make it feel more like a laptop. For example, the Magic Keyboard for an iPad Pro 12.9 is $349, while an Apple Pencil costs $129.
2. Display
The iPad Pro 12.9’s display wins over the MacBook with flying colors - pun intended. Its Liquid Retina XDR display is the best on the market. More than 10,000 custom mini-LEDs are set uniformly on the screen, creating incredible brightness and contrast ratios. The colors are vibrant, and the details are sharp and clear. Apple describes Liquid Retina XDR technology as an "optimal viewing experience," displaying higher LED density than any of its kind. The MacBook’s display is slightly bigger but not as fancy. It has a retina LED-backlit display and a 2560 x 1600 pixels resolution. However, it doesn't compare to the iPad Pro 12.9's level of brightness and clarity or 2732 x 2048 pixel resolution.
3. Processing Power
This specification shows one of the most significant differences between an iPad Pro 12.9 and a MacBook Air. The iPad runs on iPadOS, which gives you a more interactive experience due to the touch input. The iPad’s operating system also allows you to use a wireless mouse, Apple's Magic Keyboard, or an external trackpad. Or you can use your fingers or the Apple Pencil, which does not work on the Macbook Air. Plus, you can take advantage of the iPad Pro's multitasking features, such as Split View or Slide Over, where you can run two apps simultaneously. Meanwhile, the Macbook gives you a desktop experience and allows a wider variety of software to download and run.
Which of the two devices is faster? Both are the fastest among their peers. The Macbook Air has an M1 Apple Silicon Chip and comes either with a seven or 8-Core GPU. The iPad Pro has the A12Z bionic chip and an 8-Core GPU. The A12Z clocks a maximum speed of 2.49GHz, and the M1 chip has a much higher clock speed of 3.2GHz.
4. Cameras
The iPad Pro 12.9 has top-of-the-range cameras. In fact, if content creation is your thing, then choosing the iPad Pro is a no-brainer. The tablet has a 10MP ultra-wide and 12MP wide camera, allowing you to include more in a photo. The front has a 7MP TrueDepth camera that is great for selfies, online calls, and unlocking your iPad with facial recognition. The MacBook Air has one camera situated over the screen, a low-resolution 720p.
5. Connectivity
The iPad Pro 12.9 is no match for the MacBook Air in this category. Apple’s lightest laptop has two Thunderbolt C ports and a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. This allows you to charge your computer and connect to another device while privately listening to your favorite podcast. The iPad Pro has one USB Thunderbolt 4 port.
However, the iPad Pro comes with a cellular option. Admittedly, this bumps the device's price, but it also means you can stream a movie or play a game while on the train home. You can't do this with the MacBook unless you connect to Wi-Fi or download the film.
6. Portability
Both devices are easy to carry, but the iPad Pro comes on top for obvious reasons. It is smaller compared to the Macbook Air. The Pro 12.9 is 11 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches and weighs 1.4 pounds without a case. Apple's laptop is slightly bigger and heavier – 12 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches and 2.8 pounds. Since the iPad Pro is easy to take with you throughout your day, we recommend investing in a case to protect it. Zugu Cases makes the best iPad Pro 12.9 case on the market. Sleek and elegant, the Zugu iPad Pro 12.9 case is TPU plastic, an extremely durable material. The case offers military-grade protection against a five-foot drop on concrete. It is also magnetic and includes ten kickstand angles you can choose to read, browse, watch a movie, or type. Each ten slot has a magnetic that firmly holds the kickstand case. You can also mount it flat on any magnetic surface, such as a refrigerator.