What I Use My Ipad For

[Karriem Drewery]

NoteA previous version of this article stated that the iPad Air used the M4 chip; it uses the M2. It also stated it's compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil and the new Magic Keyboard; it supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the first-generation Magic Keyboard. The text below has been corrected to reflect this.

Supported accessories can get a little confusing. It's compatible with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the new Apple Pencil Pro. It won't work with the second-generation Apple Pencil though. It also works with the first-generation Magic Keyboard case and not the latest redesigned version. If you don't need a keyboard and trackpad, Apple also offers the Smart Folio case.

With the A15 Bionic processor (released in 2021 with the iPhone 13), it can handle pretty much any intensive app or game. It has improved cameras on the front and back (plus Center Stage on the selfie cam) and second-generation Apple Pencil support, so the stylus magnetically attaches to the edge and charges simultaneously. It won't roll off the desk! The iPad Mini has frequently dropped to $400, so try to catch it on sale.

Apple's latest iPad Pro tablets (6/10, WIRED Review) pack the largest amount of notable upgrades we've seen in years. You'll now have the choice between an 11-inch and a slightly larger 13-inch size. I tested the 13-inch and recommend the bigger size if you plan on working off the iPad Pro full-time. Apple also upgraded the display from mini-LED to OLED (on both sizes). Known as Ultra Retina XDR, it's made of a new display technology called Tandem OLED which consists of two fused OLED layers, resulting in a brighter screen. Apple says both sizes can hit 1,600 nits of peak brightness in HDR and 1,000 nits with SDR content. I didn't notice a difference coming from mini-LED, but you'll certainly notice it if you're coming from an older iPad Pro with a Liquid Retina display. For an extra $100, you can also opt for nano-textured glass on the 1-TB or 2-TB configurations. The matte finish reduces glare but still feels the same as standard glass. This is also the thinnest Apple product yet. The 13-inch model is 5.1 mm thick (1.3 mm thinner than the previous version), while the 11-inch measures 5.3 mm (0.8 mm thinner than the 2022 model). They're also lighter, coming in at 1.28 pounds and 0.98 pounds, respectively.

The Apple Pencil is a must-have for any iPad owner who takes a lot of notes or likes to draw. (You can even use it to sign documents.) iPadOS also has handwriting support within certain search fields and apps (like Notes), so you don't need to switch to the keyboard every time you want to type. Apple recently debuted a new Pencil, so now there are four to choose from. Here are the differences:

Apple Pencil (1st-gen) for $99: The first-gen Pencil is quite old at this point but still functions well and includes pressure sensitivity (the lines get thicker as you press down harder on the screen) and tilt sensitivity (for shading). Unlike the other two Apple Pencils, this one has a glossy finish instead of matte (if that matters), and it also is completely rounded, so it will roll off surfaces. There are no magnets, so you can't stick it to the tablet for safekeeping. It has a Lightning connector, so to charge it, you'll have to remove the cap and plug it into the iPad's charging port. (If your iPad still has a Lightning port, you can buy a USB-C adapter.) It's compatible with the iPad (6th gen and later), iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad Mini (5th gen), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd gen), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and iPad Pro 9.7-inch.

There are tons of iPads out in the world, and it can be tough to figure out exactly what model you own if you're thinking of selling it or you're just looking for accessories and want to make sure they'll work with your iPad. Apple also doesn't name its slates sequentially as it does with the iPhone, only adding to the confusion. No matter. Finding your model is simple.

If you're purchasing a new iPad, there are a variety of accessories you can buy to help you get the most out of your tablet. Below, we've highlighted some of our favorites, all of which you can find in our Best iPad Accessories guide. We're currently testing accessories for the new iPad Pro (M4) and iPad Air (M2) and will share our thoughts soon.

Zugu Case for $50: This is our favorite folio case for the iPad for multiple reasons. It's not only durable (complete with a rigid bumper), but it has a magnetized cover that stays shut and a flap that allows you to position the screen at eight different angles. The case is magnetic too, allowing you to stick it on the fridge securely. It's also reasonably priced, comes in an array of colors, and has a spot for your Apple Pencil.

Logitech Combo Touch (10th-gen) for $160: The Combo Touch comes with a built-in keyboard, trackpad, and kickstand, making it ideal for getting work done on your iPad. It's also detachable, so you can easily remove the keyboard when you don't need it. It connects via Apple's Smart Connector, meaning you never need to tinker with Bluetooth or bother charging it.

Paperlike Charcoal Folio Case for $70: Paperlike is known for its screen protector, but the company also offers a great case. It's designed to feel like a sketchbook, complete with a polyester fabric cover that feels lightweight and high-quality. You can also prop your iPad up at two different levels. It doesn't come with an Apple Pencil slot, but there is a large flap closure that keeps it from falling out. We tested it with the iPad Air, but it's also available for the iPad Pro (both sizes).

Apple Magic Trackpad 2 for $110: For a spacious trackpad, the Magic Trackpad 2 is a great choice. Instead of physical buttons, it has Force Touch sensors where you can feel different levels of pressure on the pad. With support for various iPadOS gestures, you won't have to touch the screen as much. It automatically pairs with your iPad via Bluetooth and recharges with the Lightning port.

Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard for $40: If you prefer an external keyboard, it's hard to go wrong with the Logitech K380. It's lightweight and portable and can be connected to up to three devices via Bluetooth (with dedicated buttons to switch between them). The keyboard is powered by AAA batteries, which lasted us around four months, so you don't have to worry about carrying a charger around.

Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $59: Regardless of the iPad model, ports are limited. This hub from Twelve South has an 85-watt USB-C port with passthrough charging, a USB-A port, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. If you have trouble fitting it on an iPad with a case, the included socket-USB-C-to-plug-USB-C cable will fix this.

Apple no longer sells these iPads, but these slightly older models are still good options, as long as you can find them for the right discount. We recommend checking third-party retailers (like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H). We also suggest cross-checking the price with the latest models to make sure you're spending a fair amount less on the older tablet.

The older models mentioned below are growing increasingly hard to find. Don't expect any of them to be your forever iPad, but they should last for a couple of years. Just don't forget to cross-check prices to make sure you can find them at lower prices than the more recent models.

Apple has always packed a little extra into its iPad Pro tablets. It's still totally fine to buy new (not refurbished) versions of the 2021 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but try not to spend more than $600 and $850, respectively. The same goes for the 2020 11-inch iPad Pro and the 2020 12.9 incher, but avoid spending more than $500 and $700. Anything more and you may as well buy the latest. These models are all powerful and match the current Pro slates in many ways; they also work with the first-generation Magic Keyboard with Trackpad. But again, cross-check prices with more recent models.

It depends on what you're in the market for. Apple released a new iPad Air and iPad Pro in May. But Apple hasn't released a new base iPad and iPad Mini since 2022 and 2021, respectively. Both are still solid choices if you don't want the least and greatest. But we suggest holding off if you'd prefer those specific iPads with more recent processors.

I use a 3rd gen (pre lightning port) ipad. It is very slow for day-to-day use, i pretty much only use it with the QU now, but it does the job for that just fine. As an engineer with the qu, you are going to want an ipad vs an iphone. The iphone app is mainly geared towards musicians tweaking levels on individual monitor feeds. For ringing out monitors, checking your mix in different spots of the room, etc you are going to want/need an ipad.

For me personally, it would be a no brainer. I would opt for the MacBook Air. I'm a Mac only guy and have always been a Mac only guy. My limited experience with PC's was when my daughter attended Cyberschool and the laptop that they issued their students were Dell computers. She used this laptop for two years and while it served its purpose, I was never wild about the Windows OS. To be fair about it, I had never used a PC before and haven't used one since, so my experience is very limited with Windows.

For me, the big drawback with all of the newest Mac computers is the lack of an optical drive. I know that the computing world is going to the cloud, but not every person that uses a computer has constant Internet access and even those that do may not have the fastest download speed around and that makes having to rely on downloading software for your computer a real pain. On top of that, if you have a collection of movies or videos on DVD, that excludes the MBA - unless you want to buy an external optical drive to lug around with it - and that sort of defeats the purpose of having the light, portable computer in the first place.

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