By Wes Davis
As we enter 2023, the iPad finds itself in an uncomfortable position as the third tier of Apple’s connected personal computing devices. Undoubtedly, the iPad is a highly capable product. Its power and responsiveness, coupled with its beautiful screens and user-friendly interface, make it a desirable device. However, it remains incomplete and stubbornly adheres to Apple’s prescribed way of doing things. Despite dominating the tablet landscape, sales of iPads have been dwindling since 2020, as highlighted by Mark Gurman in a recent Bloomberg article. The iPad is in dire need of more.
An Apple Recipe book?
To be fair, I am quite fond of my 2021 iPad Pro. It serves me well as a device for reading and watching TV in bed, and even proves invaluable when following recipes while cooking. However, when Steve Jobs first introduced the iPad in 2010, implying that it would outperform iPhones and laptops in specific tasks like email, web browsing, videos, and games, one cannot help but wonder if he envisioned it as a mere glorified recipe book.
There is an incessant feeling that the iPad falls short of its potential, even after 13 years. While it is an alluring device, I often find myself believing that there is something I am missing. Many times, I can accomplish my tasks more efficiently and swiftly on another device.
One of the core issues with the iPad, in my opinion, is that Apple portrays it as a fully mature product while simultaneously lacking a clear understanding of its true purpose. Jason Snell, in his recent blog post for Six Colors, admits to giving up on his dream of using the iPad alone for travel. He points out the device’s limited flexibility, the presence of peculiar, hampered versions of apps, and the absence of essential software. As an avid traveler who typically brings an iPad on trips, I can relate to Snell’s sentiments. On my recent journeys, I opted for my M2 MacBook Air instead and didn’t miss my iPad in the slightest.
Throughout the evolution of the iPad, Apple has made efforts to enhance its capabilities, but they have fallen short. Apple boasts about the iPad’s multitasking abilities, claiming that it can perform like a laptop. However, despite promised improvements in iPadOS 17, the Stage Manager feature is still plagued by restrictive limitations, such as the number of apps that can coexist in a “stage.” While Apple introduced the M-series laptop chips to some iPads, it is unclear whether these additions truly justify the enhanced power they bring. Over the years, other changes to the iPad have felt iterative at best.
Perhaps the tide will turn soon. According to Gurman’s Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple is set to release a slightly larger 13-inch iPad Pro equipped with OLED screens and M3 chips. Additionally, a revised Magic Keyboard with a larger trackpad is on the horizon. Could these upcoming releases signal a greater purpose for the iPad?
Drawing parallels with the iPhone Pro and the Apple Watch, both of which feature OLED screens and always-on displays, it is conceivable that the new iPad Pro models may possess similar traits. There are rumors of a potential iPad feature that would transform the tablet into a touchscreen control center for the Apple Home ecosystem, resembling the iPhone Pro’s StandBy feature, which turns it into a smart display or alarm clock.
However, Gurman’s article does not definitively outline whether these new iPad Pro models will represent the “first major overhaul” since the introduction of the 2018 iPad Pro. Hopefully, there is more to the upcoming releases, as it feels like the rest of Apple’s devices are surging ahead, potentially leaving the iPad trailing behind.
A Desperate Need for Reinvention
The iPad exists in a perplexing state in 2023. Despite its undeniable capabilities, it remains an enigma, unsure of its true identity. Apple must confront the limitations of its tablet and reimagine its purpose. Only by undergoing a comprehensive and groundbreaking reinvention can the iPad reclaim its position as a cutting-edge personal computing device. It is time for Apple to redefine the boundaries of the iPad and unleash its true potential.
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