Will you purchase an iPad Pro in 2022? How about an unmodified iPad in 2022?
This week, the standard iPad—the final Apple tablet to use Lightning—moved to USB-C. Other usability improvements were made by the slate, such as positioning the front-facing camera on the long side because no one will conduct video conferences in portrait mode.
Additionally, Apple introduced new iPad Pro models that have the M2 processor, putting them up to pace with the 2022 MacBook Air, one of the most potent passively cooled computers available today. Blackmagic Design also disclosed this week that the DaVinci Resolve video editor will be available for the iPad in Q4. With the powerful M2 chip, the new Pros could be the ideal tool for on-the-go video editing.
Unless they are? Let's compare prices. The starting price for a 128GB Apple iPad Pro 11 (2022) is $800. Here are the costs in case you need extra storage: 1TB costs $1,500, 256GB costs $900, 512GB costs $1,100, and 2TB costs $1,900. Although the USB-C connector is quick, it definitely isn't feasible to edit video using a card reader. Additionally, you might wish to add $200 for 5G connectivity (or not – tethering is simple enough). And a keyboard is something you most likely need (touchscreen commands are no substitute for keyboard shortcuts when doing serious work). It will cost an additional $300.
You may spend $1,100 editing brief videos that fit into 128GB of storage. If you choose the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022), which has a bigger screen and a battery (albeit the larger keyboard costs $50 extra), the price will be $1,450. A M2 MacBook Air (13.6" display, 256GB SSD) costs $1,200, but that price includes an 8-core GPU. You must get the $1,500 512GB model if you want to match the iPad Pros' 10 cores.
You already know that macOS is far superior than iPadOS in multitasking and juggling files. Additionally, the MacBook Air offers a separate MagSafe 3 connector for charging, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 connections, and a 3.5mm jack so you may listen to recorded music without Bluetooth compression.
Excel on the iPad is infamously glitchy, even outside of video editing. Are the iPad Pros truly superior to a MacBook, even an Air, for professional tasks? Perhaps Apple Pencil-related employment, but we're having a hard time coming up with anything else.
So, whether it is the 11" or 12.9" model, will you be purchasing an iPad Pro in 2022? Or might a Mac be a better choice? Vote down below, or here if that doesn't work.
Let's return to the 10th generation of the Apple iPad from 2022. Going one level up from the A13 used in the 2021 model, it employs an older Apple A14 chipset (also used in the iPhone 12 generation in 2020). This tablet can best be compared to an iPad Air (2022) sans the M1 chip.
That's not quite true, though, as the superior front camera location was already specified. However, there is a drawback as well; the iPad's newfound love of USB-C clashes with the device's limited support for Apple Pencils other than the original. That device that requires a Lightning connector to charge. Apple does offer a USB-C converter, but we're getting a little tired of dongles.
However, for $450, it's not a terrible value, even though pricing outside of North America are less appealing ($580/£45,000). Additionally, the older iPad from 2021 is still available for $330/€430/34,000 as a less costly option (technically, the new iPad is more expensive because the 2021 model costs $330 when it first launched). The two tablets are sufficiently comparable, but you lose the USB-C connector, some speed, and some screen real estate. Finally, you can use a keyboard with this one as well, but it costs nearly as much ($250/€300/25,000) as the tablet alone.