IPad Pro VS.MacBook: which one should you buy?

“Should I buy a iPad Pro or an MacBook?”” For Apple fans, it was a tough decision, since the initial announcement of iPad Pro. The new iPad, Pro, and a series of MacBook updates make this tricky decision even more difficult, especially the powerful iOS 11 road.

The new iPad Pro models get a boost in size and processing power, with a 10.5-inch tablet replacing the 9.7-inch base model, and a step up to the new A10X Fusion chip. On the other hand, the MacBook line gets Intel’s latest, 7th Generation Kaby Lake processors and will receive a new operating system: macOS High Sierra. This OS brings expanded capability and performance to the laptops.

From portability to pricing, several key distinctions between the laptop and tablet will affect your ability to work on either device, but Apple has pushed hard to narrow the gaps between these very different devices.

iPad Pro Macbook 12-inch Macbook Pro 13-inch
Starting Price 10.5-inch – $64912.9-inch – $799 1299 $1,299 $1,799 with Touch Bar
Operating System iOS 10 macOS Sierra macOS Sierra
Processor A10X Fusion up to 1.4 GHz Intel Core i7 processor up to 3.5 GHz Intel Core i7processor
Memory 4GB 8GB 16GB 8GB 16GB
Graphics Integrated 12 core GPU Intel HD Graphics 615 Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Storage 64GB 256GB 512GB 256GB SSD 512GB SSD 128GB SSD 256 512 1TB SSD
Ports Lightning Port USB-C 2x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
Display Size 10.5 inches 12.9 inches 12 13.3
Display Resolution 10.5-inch – 2224 x 1668 12.9-inch – 2732 x 2048 2304 x 1440 2560 x 1600
Touch Touch Screen Touch IDApple Pencil ($99) Force Touch trackpad Force Touch trackpadTouchBar(available without)
Keyboard Smart Keyboard – 10.5-inch ($159) Smart Keyboard – 12.9 inch ($169) Full-size backlit keyboard Full-size backlit keyboard
Cameras 7-megapixel FaceTime camera 12-megapixel rear-facing camera 480p FaceTime camera 720p FaceTime HD camera
Dimensions 10.5 inch – 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.2412.9-inch – 12 x 8.68 x 0.27 11.04 x 7.74 x 0.52 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.59
Weight 10.5-inch – 1.03 (Wi-Fi) / 1.05 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)12.9-inch – 1.49 (Wi-Fi) / 1.53 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) 2.03 3.02

Which Is Right for You?

While the two styles of device have gotten more and more alike over the years, the central questions have stayed the same: Do you need productivity, performance or portability? Flexibility with inputs or more ports and storage? Budget-friendly pricing or the best tool for the money? Where you land on these questions will come down to your needs and preferences, but for getting things done, the MacBook Pro is our recommendation.

 

iPad Pro MacBook (12-inch)

MacBook Pro (13-inch)

Size and Portability
OS and Office Capability
Input and Interaction Draw Draw
Cameras
Storage and Ports
Price

The MacBook Pro wins the productivity battle thanks to its broad compatibility, capable OS, Powerful Apple a1278 laptop battery,full feature set and range of configuration options. When you need a no-nonsense machine for even demanding office work, the MacBook Pro is the go-to choice.

Still, the iPad Pro offers several distinct features that the MacBook simply can’t match, like touch and pen input and excellent portability. While we might recommend using the iPad Pro as a secondary device, there’s a strong argument that it’s the better choice for professionals who work outside of the office or creatives who need drawing and handwriting input.

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