1 Desktop-Grade Apps, Accessories and Final Thoughts
Perhaps the most formidable argument against iPad Pro’s potential as a laptop replacement is, quite simply, that it’s not a laptop at all.. It is, by definition, a touchscreen tablet — albeit boasting PC-grade components.
And the fact of the matter is, no matter how well they’re eventually made to work together in future updates, macOS and iOS will always be distinct and independent operating systems, serving distinct purposes on their respective hardware products.
Apple has already assured us it has no plans of developing a fully-fledged Mac with a touchscreen display, or an iPad running macOS.. But the good news, for those who may have been hopefully anticipating such a product, is that the 2018 iPad Pro will come close for some users.
No, it’s certainly not going to be right for everyone, and we acknowledge that — but with the inclusion of key new features like USB-C (for connecting peripherals such as a keyboard, mouse or multi-port hub) — and a powerful, class-leading desktop-grade CPU — Apple’s clearly built its latest tablets to meet and exceed to the expectations of Pro users.
And the company’s new Pro accessories, including the all-new iPad Pro Smart Keyboard Folio and re-engineered Apple Pencil with magnetic charging and gesture-based input, lend even further proof that the tablets can be configured more akin to a laptop than ever before. Click here to see additional laptop-style keyboard cases arriving soon!
Moreover, several Mac titles have already been ported to the iOS platform (including Microsoft’s Office suite), while many others are on the way (including Adobe’s upcoming Photoshop app for iPad.)
And now that developers have access to the latest hardware and software, we can reasonably expect even more high-end macOS and PC apps to continue making their way over to the iOS App Store, especially as the company inches closer to unveiling its secret weapon — the most legit macOS/iOS cross-platform experience we will ever get, Project Marzipan — at next year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).