The iPad Pro is a beautiful iPad with a practically productive name, but after a week of trying to incorporate the new iPad Pro into my workflow, I’m returning it to the Apple Store.
There is no doubting the power that iPad Pro provides to users. It might very well change the way you work and play, but it’s not for me.
At first I thought all I needed was a keyboard and Apple Pencil to make the iPad Pro fit my work. Split view mode allows me to work in two apps at the same time, which is crucial for productivity. But even with a nice keyboard, the iPad Pro’s limitations prevent it from being a permanent part of the work equipment I use to manage a remote team and type 2,000 to 4,000 words a day.
Where does the iPad Pro fit in my workflow?
Note that my workflow and day-to-day work may differ significantly from yours. I spend many days out of a home office with two large monitors. On my mobile days I usually carry a laptop with a 12 to 13 inch screen. Some days it’s a MacBook Pro or MacBook, other days it’s the new Lenovo Yoga 900.
The iPad Pro initially felt like a gadget that would allow me to carry around a slightly thinner and lighter device and still stay productive, but it just doesn’t fit my needs.
For other users, the iPad Pro might be the perfect device, offering the perfect place to sketch, draw, and take notes in an easier-to-carry package than a laptop and drawing accessories. All in all, the usefulness of this very large tablet depends on your needs and workflow – and there’s no room for that in my bag.
Here’s what I learned, why I returned the iPad Pro and why I want the iPad Air 3 more than ever.
Productivity Bottlenecks
Using two apps side-by-side is great, but I rely on more apps than that.
There are too many bottlenecks in my workflow to be productive with the iPad Pro. Using the two apps side-by-side with the Magic Keyboard allows me to refer to a web page and type in another app, but I’ve found that I spend a lot of time between these two core apps and a messaging app like Slack or Hangouts.
If you only need to use two apps at once for most of your day and both apps support Split Screen mode in iOS 9, this might be perfect for you. As a result, I need easier access to a third or fourth app, even if I’m focused on one task.
Applications and Accessories
If I want to use the iPad Pro professionally, I need great apps that work great on the big screen and a keyboard that lets me type faster.
There are too many apps that are not optimized for the bigger screen. It’s still early, but this isn’t just a case of the iPad Pro blowing up an iPad Air app to fit the bigger screen. Non-updated apps use a bloated keyboard without the smart layout and shortcuts that iPad Pro-optimized apps offer.
To combat this and make it easier to type thousands of words a day, an iPad Pro keyboard is required. After that Spending $1,000 on an iPad Pro I’m hesitant to spend more than $100 on a keyboard case that increases the size and weight of the device so I can use it.
he is so big
For some users, the huge 12.9-inch display is just what they need, but the iPad Pro is too big to be useful.
While the iPad Pro is thinner and lighter than the MacBook I routinely rely on for work, it’s not so different that it sets itself apart from the MacBook.
A good iPad Pro keyboard cover adds weight and size compared to a traditional laptop.
Considering adding a keyboard sleeve that provides the features I need like the Logitech Create, the combination weighs in at 3.17 pounds – heavier than the MacBook or MacBook Air and almost as heavy as the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Big, Beautiful Display
From an entertainment standpoint, the iPad Pro offers a big, beautiful screen and great sound, but its size is still a challenge.
Where does the iPad Pro meet my entertainment needs?
When I use an iPad to watch Netflix, it’s more of a commitment to find a place to move and adjust it than the iPad Air 2, and the extra screen size doesn’t add enough to the entertainment experience.
Some games like Guitar Hero Live make use of a larger screen, but I haven’t found enough games that matter to me or feel significantly different on a 12.9-inch screen. If I could stream Xbox One games to iPad Pro that would be a different story, but that’s not possible.
Where is the iPad Air 3 with Apple Pencil Support?
Eventually I find myself hitting the limits of iOS software more than any hardware limitation on the iPad Pro. The compromises and changes I have to make to my workflow to use the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement are too important to top the beautiful screen, 10-hour battery life, and improved audio.
After using the iPad Pro for a week, I want an iPad Air 3 that supports Apple Pencil.
Yes, I can use the iPad Pro to edit the 4K video I shot on the iPhone and it has more than enough power to run two apps side by side. There’s a lot of potential for efficiency, but in its current state the apps aren’t quite ready and the accessories I need to make it useful keep the weight and price too high.
I don’t need to sketch and I take most of my notes with the keyboard. after reading in depth Apple Pencil reviewI want an iPad Air 3 with a 9.7-inch display and Apple Pencil that truly supports 3D touch, instead of this huge tablet that imposes too many restrictions for its price.
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