Whether or not the iPad can replace a MacBook often depends on what you do . For students and professionals , the iPad Pro ’s superior showing , Apple Pencil input signal , and portability have made it the ideal productivity twist . It worked for me ; I gain my college degree and make for as a television receiver script translator while relying solely on an iPad . However , anyone with a more complicated workflow beyond reading , researching , writing , and illustrating like I did wo n’t find the iPad a suitable platform for piece of work .
Today , flagship iPads pack Apple ’s M - serial publication chipsets , similar to those power the late Macs – iPads are hefty . It ’s iPadOS that prevent the pad of paper from unfeignedly being a viable option to a MacBook . iPadOS 19 is bruit to address some of these shortcomings by improving multitasking , productiveness , and window direction . That sounds neat , particularly if Apple brings over these nine macOS feature to truly unlock the iPad ’s full potency .
Break the App Store shackle
In the Apple ecosystem , macOS is the only Apple operating organisation that formally permits users to install apps from sources other than Apple ’s App Store . If an app fail the App Store ’s unforgiving screening process , developers can still spread it independently . This enables Mac substance abuser to install third - political party apps that do n’t necessarily follow with Apple ’s guidelines .
In contrast , iPadOS users outside the European Union are presently restrict to the app selection usable on Apple ’s storefront . If your workflow depends on a noncompliant or niche app , there ’s no straightforward way to obtain it on your iPad – a dealbreaker for many . To truly twin desktop flexibility , iPadOS 19 should patronize unmediated app installation .
Enhanced window management
macOS ’s enduringness is its windowpane management , which goes beyond what iPadOS offers with organization .
Mahmoud Itani
While iPadOS currently endure resizable app instances via Stage Manager , the feature film is too limited liken to the Mac ’s window management . The slaying feels wonky and pushes me to use the traditional Split View and slideway Over multitasking feature . iPadOS 19 should make multitasking more practical by take up a macOS - same glide path that ’s fully optimized for the companionship ’s tablet .
macOS’s strength is its window management, which goes beyond what iPadOS offers with organization.
Multiple user profiles
Another essential feature is support for multiple drug user profile on iPadOS . Apple has already built and ship this feature , but it ’s limited to iPads managed by educational insane asylum . The caller could effortlessly make it useable for all users , but it choose not to . This produce it challenging for family appendage to share a exclusive iPad , as you ca n’t easy split up individual apps , data , and circumstance .
Improved cursor
Another iPad vexation is the bloated pointer when using a mouse or trackpad . For those unfamiliar , iPadOS ’ pointer is significantly large than that of macOS and features a magnetic effect that pulls it toward UI element . This is totally expected , as iPadOS is a sense of touch - first OS with large target to admit human finger . Though with iPadOS 19 and macOS 16 rumour to adopt standardised looks , now is Apple ’s luck to at last develop a more intuitive pointer .
Upgraded built-in apps
Ever since Io and iPadOS split , Apple has tell its own iPad apps with unexampled UIs exclusive to the larger display . But functionally , these apps continue to mimic the iPhone and its limitation . So , macOS - only lineament , like Smart Playlists in Apple Music and system file browse in Finder , are absent from the iPad . To tempt superpower substance abuser , iPadOS 19 should upgrade arrangement apps by porting some of the Mac ’s unique offerings .
Extended work environments
An iPad that could support multiple monitors and workspaces like a Mac would make it a more viable workstation .
talk of major power users , the insurance premium iPad Pro M4 still limits you to a individual external admonisher . Meanwhile , Macs support multiple screens and screen background . This lets users derail between different set of spread apps by create several environments with distinct layout based on the tasks they ’re focusing on . Without these procedure , iPadOS remain a dreadful platform for get serious work done .
Compatibility with Mac software
The in high spirits - terminal iPads now use the same processors as Macs . Yet , while macOS can run many iPad apps ( it ’s up to the app developer to reserve it ) , iPadOS ca n’t scarper Mac software . Consequently , those relying on screen background - exclusive apps , like Xcode , ca n’t altogether ditch their Macs .
Similarly , those who already bought lifetime licenses for Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on macOS ca n’t get at these tools on their tablets without paying recur subscription fee for the fluid editions . Apple could realistically deal this limitation and expand the iPad ’s app library by support Mac software on iPadOS 19 .
Continuity features
The Mac offer extra persistence features that process seamlessly with iOS . With macOS Monterey 12 , Apple added support for AirPlay incur , letting you puke media from your iPhone to the computer ’s larger display . And with macOS Sequoia 15 , the company introduced the iPhone Mirroring app , enabling exploiter to fully verify their iPhones , view iOS notifications , and more . Both of these features are missing from iPadOS , further chain its potency .
iPhone OS tools
Other macOS exclusives that give up many users from switching to iPadOS are the iOS direction tools . Macs let you back up , restore , or update an iPhone using a wired connection . While new iPads can amend your bricked iPhone wirelessly , they ’re incapable of make local , full - machine patronage . Similarly , they ca n’t revise your iPhone ’s OS when it does n’t have sufficient repositing to download the package over the air .
Tempering expectations
I ’ve made peace of mind with the fact that most of these features likely wo n’t make it to the iPad anytime soon , if ever . Apple knows that adding them could cannibalise Mac sales , since fewer client would finger inclined to pay more for arealcomputer .
The iPad seems to be stick in oblivion , and I struggle to figure out where it ’s heading . There ’s no deny that every annual OS update produce the twist slightly more powerful . disregardless , its software feature stay on to underachieve when compared to Windows tablet . I had high hope when Stage Manager was first announced , only to be disappointed by the same main circle of limitations soon after trying it . For this cause , I ’m skeptical about iPadOS 19 meaningfully elevating the experience . I cogitate the iPad is doom to remain a stretched - out iPhone with fancy branding just to pad quarterly wage reputation .
macOS’s strength is its window management, which goes beyond what iPadOS offers with organization.
An iPad that could support multiple monitors and workspaces like a Mac would make it a more viable workstation.
Apple should expand the Continuity features between macOS and iPadOS.
