In 2020, Apple has updated its hardware to now include LiDAR scanner and Ultra-Wide lens for AR purposes. In addition, the iPad now has near-studio quality microphones adapted from the 16" Macbook Pro.

But one thing is catching everyone’s eye: The Magic Keyboard Case. Not only it has a physical backlit keyboard, but there is also a trackpad, which has notably been adapted on iOS 13.4. This allows users to use a mouse cursor (or circle) to interact with the iPad, allowing new potential towards the vision of replacing a computer.

And now we have come to this point, and we would be asking: Is the iPad ready to be a computer replacement? We will discuss this in a case by case basis, with an overall takeaway from myself, who has been using the iPad Pro as a daily driver since 2017.

The Use Case Study

I’ll give the overall key takeaway from myself first. iPad has become a very capable device, no brainer there, and has been able to do 95% of everyone’s tasks (up from 90% in 2017). However, an iPad should still be complemented with at least 1 PC or Mac. Anything, it could be a laptop or a desktop, Windows or Mac, slow or lightning powerhouse. Because the remaining 5% tasks are usually reserved for productivity that might still be fatal without it.

That’s the broad answer. But let’s get to the case by case basis. Leave a comment or message to me if you like to leave a tip regarding your experience with the iPad.

Can you Edit Media on the iPad?

This includes photos, audio, and video editing. The iPad has become very capable of replacing tasks done on PC or Mac in regards to this, but there are also slight limiters to it as well. We have Affinity Photos and Photoshop (or Photos) for photos, LumaFusion (or iMovie) for videos, and Ferrite (or Garageband) for Audio. (Disclaimer: I may not be aware of what a good Audio editor apps on the iPad yet) Importing files from camera and external storage devices has been fully supported, and the ability to plug in Sound Interface has been great for audio production. I could say it may be able to replace Photo and Video editing, but Audio is still slightly limited. I may also think that the lack of open-source plug-ins might be another hindrance for photo and video editors alike.

Oh, and get the iPad Pro for the USB-C feature.

Can you Produce Content on the iPad?

This includes articles, animation, sketches, graphic design, and podcasting. Most of these tasks has had an iPad alternative for creation on the iPad. Importing raw files and exporting it to the internet or files are as seamless as ever. Content production is the best use case for the iPad, as it is fully supported with capable 3rd party apps. Aside from the Apple Pencil and the keyboard support, the 2020 iPad Pro also features a 6-array microphone for studio-quality sound.

Can you do Office Work on the iPad?

Now, this is where I excel at. My work as a VC has always been an office work. Meaning in Google Apps, I used mostly on Google Drive and its office trinity, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. I would say office work has been done wonderfully, with other office suite from Microsoft (OneDrive, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) and Apple (iCloud Drive, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote). However, what is lacking is that the apps are a limited version of what a desktop can do. For example, in Microsoft Excel, creating a basis for a system with codes and plug-ins, or creating themes and importing elements in PowerPoint hasn’t reached the same potential with the computer counterparts, and therefore some foundational work may still need to be done on the computer.

Also, get the iPad Pro if you need to project your screen often, as the USB-C is more commonly used standard for screen projecting. The iPad can essentially become a desktop workstation for many.