Mar 25, 2020 The most common tasks people perform on their laptop or desktop PC are the very same tasks in which the iPad excels: exploring the web, checking email, finding out what friends and family are up to on Facebook, playing games, balancing the checkbook, writing a letter or a paper for school, etc. Productivity has also become increasingly easy on the iPad. Mar 04, 2020 Laptop vs. Chromebook: Which portable computer is best in 2020. Not sure how a Windows or Mac laptop is different than a Chromebook? Here's the answer.
Lightweight power
MacBook Air
Powerful iOS computing
iPad Pro
The MacBook Air is a lightweight and super portable computer that has a gorgeous 13-inch Retina Display screen with two USB-C ports. It also has a powerful dual-core i3 processor, and you can configure it to have an SSD up to 2TB and 16GB of RAM. It also has the new scissor-switch keyboard mechanism. However, it only comes in the 13-inch size and starts north of $999.
Pros
- 13-inch Retina Display
- Super lightweight and compact
- Two USB-C ports
- Dual-core Intel i5 processor with up to 1TB storage and 16GB RAM
- Runs macOS
- New and improved scissor-switch keyboard
The iPad Pro is a great computing device if you need to do things like writing, researching, simple coding, photo and video editing, and more tasks with iPadOS. You can choose the more portable 11-inch size, or go big with the 12.9-inch, and take great photos and video with the 12MP camera with Ultra Wide lens and LiDAR scanner. However, you're still limited by iPadOS and iPad hardware.
Pros
- Available in 11-inch or 12.9-inch sizes
- Liquid Retina Display
- Ultra Wide camera and 4K video recording
- Configurable up to 1TB of storage
- USB-C port
- New LiDAR scanner
Cons
- Still limited by iPadOS
- Only one USB-C port
- Keyboard accessories are pricey
While iOS and iPadOS have come quite a way since Apple first introduced the iPad, it still has some limitations when compared to a full desktop computing operating system like macOS. If you want a true computer without any limits, then the MacBook Air is the better buy. If you don't mind the limitations of iOS and just need a powerful tablet to do your entertainment and work on, then there's nothing wrong with the iPad Pro.
It comes down to what you're looking to do
Source: iMore
Both the MacBook Air and iPad Pro are similar in terms of size (especially the 12.9-inch), but that's about it, honestly. We think that the MacBook Air is the better buy of the two because you're getting a full-featured computer experience with macOS while having a lightweight and portable package that can go with you anywhere. Plus, it just feels more natural to use for productivity, and you get true multitasking without weird RAM hiccups like constant refreshing of suspending apps on iOS/PadOS 13.
MacBook Air | iPad Pro | |
---|---|---|
Cost | Starting at $999 | Starting at $799 |
Size | 13-inch | 11-inch or 12.9-inch |
Screen | Retina Display | Liquid Retina Display |
Processor/Chip | Intel Dual-Core i3 | A12Z Bionic |
Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
Ports | Two USB-C | One USB-C |
Operating System | macOS | iPadOS |
Starting storage | 256GB | 128GB |
Configurable storage | Up to 2TB | Up to 1TB |
RAM | 8GB, configurable up to 16GB | 6GB with 1TB model |
Camera | 720p FaceTime HD | 12MP with Ultra Wide lens and 4K video and 7MP TrueDepth Camera |
While the MacBook Air has a higher starting price point than the iPad Pro, we think that it's comparable if you look at similar storage space and capabilities. For a 256GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro, it costs $1099 for Wi-Fi only (or $899 if you go the smaller route), but again, you only get about 4GB of RAM, one USB-C port, and are limited to iPadOS. For $999, you get a 256GB MacBook Air with a 13-inch Retina Display, Intel Dual-Core i3 processor, 8GB of starting RAM, two USB-C ports, and it runs macOS, which is much more capable than iPadOS.
With a MacBook Air, you're able to do pretty much anything you would need, such as social media, email, writing, programming, and testing out apps in XCode, photo and video editing, graphic design, project management, finance, and much more. And since it runs macOS, you have true multitasking, where you can have more than three apps on the screen at one time. Plus, the MacBook Air is the most portable laptop offering from Apple — it's so lightweight that you'll forget you even have it with you sometimes. Apple has also replaced the faulty butterfly keyboard with the new and improved scissor-switch keyboard mechansim that was first introduced with the 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2019.
Source: Apple
Meanwhile, even though the iPad Pro comes in a smaller 11-inch size, you get fewer ports, RAM, and must use iPadOS. There are also new Smart Keyboards with trackpad support coming too, in case you want even more of a laptop-like experience with just your iPad Pro.
Even though iPadOS has come quite a way since the iPad's debut in 2010, it's still held back by limitations, such as only having three active apps on screen at a time through Split View and Slide Over modes. iOS also likes to refresh suspended apps after a period of idleness, which means multitasking is slightly hampered.
If you do not mind having to use iPadOS to do everything (it's possible, but can take more time than using a Mac), then an iPad Pro could be your only computer. However, we require a bit more for our computing needs, which is why we think a MacBook Air is better.
We recommend a Mac for serious computing
Apple has made a lot of improvements in iPadOS, and while it's good for basic, short-term sessions, we can't recommend it if you need something for longer periods. With a MacBook Air running macOS, you can have pretty much an unlimited number of windows open, and they will truly continue to run in the background, and not be put into a suspended state as it would be on iOS/iPadOS. Plus, windows can be resized to however big or small you need them to be on macOS, instead of the 50/50 or 25/75 or 75/25 ratio in Split Screen or on-third screen size Slide Over window.
And keep in mind that the iPad Pro, despite the 'Pro' moniker, will always be limited in terms of RAM, regardless of the screen size and storage capacity you choose. The MacBook Air starts out with 8GB, which is already about double the RAM of the iPad Pro, and you can even configure it up to 16GB if need be. Having more RAM is always a good thing, since it makes the machine feel and run faster, and it can handle even more resource-intensive tasks like video editing.
Portable computing
MacBook Air
Lightweight power for everyone
MacBook Air is Apple's most portable computer and can do pretty much anything you need it to on macOS without limitations aside from the camera and graphics card.
Pro tablet
iPad Pro
Get the most out of iPadOS
The iPad Pro gives you the power of iPadOS in two convenient sizes for all of your computing-on-the-go needs. But keep in mind that you're still dealing with iPadOS, which is still not quite the same as macOS.
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A Better ScreenDefend your new 11-inch iPad Pro with one of these screen protectors
The 11-inch iPad Pro (2020) would be even better when paired with one of these screen protectors, available at various price points. Here are our favorite so far, but more will surely be on the way.
Best4K Monitors for MaciMore2020
Are you upgrading that high-tech home office of yours? Your Mac or MacBook's display is already gorgeous, but if you're in the market for a second display or even something larger than what you have, a 4K monitor is a massive step in the right direction. If you want to try and maintain the same level of definition as your current display, here are the best 4K monitors for your Mac.
HDR10 support: LG 27UD68-W
Staff FavoriteOne of LG's latest monitors, the 4K 27UD68-W sports USB-C, HDR support via 2 HDMI ports and a DisplayPort, a headphone jack, and two down-stream USB-A ports. It also has excellent viewing angles, thanks to its IPS panel, and its gray-to-gray response time is a blazing-fast five milliseconds.
Best for an entertaining experience: BenQ EW3280U Entertainment Monitor
For high-quality visuals and next-level sound, you can't beat the BenQ EW3280U. This bad boy is equipped with 4K UHD resolution and 95% DCI-P3 wide color gamut for a crystal clear picture and vibrant colors. It also comes with True Tone treVolo Audio that includes multiple speakers and built-in 5W subwoofer so that you can expect an exceptional sound experience, as well. This makes it an excellent monitor for streaming video, gaming, and even video editing work.
USB-C connection: HP Z27
HP's new Z27 4K monitor may just take over the top spot after more testing since it features USB-C, as well as DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, and HDMI. Its colors are immaculately accurate, and with a gray-to-gray response time of 8 milliseconds, you won't see any hiccups while you're working or gaming.
Upgrade pick: BenQ PD3200U
BenQ's 32-inch monitor is somewhat expensive. Still, it offers excellent features for the creative pro, like several different modes (including Darkroom) for photo and video editing, a built-in SD card reader, as well as a 5-port USB hub, HDMI ports, and mini and regular DisplayPorts.
Budget option: LG 27UD58-B
This inexpensive monitor from LG has the company's excellent IPS panel, as well as a swift 5-millisecond response time. With a refresh rate of 60Hz, excellent viewing angles, and a designated gaming mode, this is a solid all-around monitor for most people. It doesn't offer much in terms of inputs (HDMI and DisplayPort only), but it'll do in a pinch.
If you need Thunderbolt 3: BenQ PD3220U
BenQ's big 32-inch PD3220U is not only a Thunderbolt 3 monitor, meaning you can daisy chain monitors together but also has quite a few ports. With one Thunderbolt 3 port, one USB-C, two USB-A, an HDMI, DisplayPort port, and a headphone jack, this monitor has tons of connectivity to attach all your favorite devices. Plus, it's 60hz screen refresh rate, 600 nits brightness, and beautiful P3 wide color gamut makes this screen look amazing right out of the box.
A couple of suggestions
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Of course, when it comes to using a newer MacBook, you're not only going to want USB-C (since it's the only port the MacBook lineup has anymore), but you're likely going to want some extra ports. That's where the LG 27UD68-W comes in. Since it can charge your MacBook, MacBook Air, or 13-inch MacBook Pro, and it also features two USB-A ports, two HDMI ports, a display port, and a headphone jack, making it not only a fantastic monitor but a whole hub for connectivity.
When it comes to excellent 4K monitors, the BenQ EW3280U is hard to beat, with excellent bang for your buck. Its combined features and price make it a great consideration for anyone looking for a 4K display to use with their Mac, but the lack of USB-C can be concerning for some.
Mac Gaming Blog
Lastly, if the price is your only concern, the LG 27UD58-B is probably the monitor you should pick up. Since it was released a couple of years ago, it received a massive price cut recently, and that's no laughing matter.
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Cq5504f Vs Mac Gaming Pc
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