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The Future of Computing: Will iPad Pro Become the Mac We’ve Always Wanted?
What defines a computer in today’s tech landscape? For many, it’s simply the device that empowers them to accomplish their work. While innovative computing concepts continue to emerge, traditional tools like PCs and Macs remain indispensable. For professionals, a personal computer or a Mac often serves as the primary workstation. During travel, while an iPad offers portability, it doesn’t fully replicate the Mac experience, leading many to carry both.
Apple has long advocated for the “why not both” strategy with iPads and Macs. However, the tech giant has also maintained that these platforms will remain separate entities. But with the latest software, the line is starting to blur, and there’s a feeling that iPad Pro is about transform into the Mac that many users have desired in a tablet form factor.
Apple often plays the long game with its technology, and many are ready to see this convergence materialize. It appears this evolution is already underway. The latest iPad Pro, with its potential to evolve into a versatile Mac-like device, hints at exciting possibilities.
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iPadOS 26: A Step Towards Mac Integration?
The forthcoming iPadOS 26 symbolizes a significant step toward unifying the iPad and Mac experiences. The developer beta already offers a more Mac-like interface. A public beta is anticipated this summer ahead of the official release in the fall.
At this year’s WWDC, Apple repeatedly characterized iPadOS 26 as Mac-like. Features such as:
- Enhanced window management
- A traditional arrow-shaped mouse pointer
- Menu bars
- A Mac-style Preview app
- Mac-like folder organization
These additions hint at a more versatile iPad experience. Paired with a trackpad and keyboard, the iPad can potentially evolve into a capable multitasking device suited for demanding workloads.
The Uncanny Valley: Will the iPadOS 26 Fall Short?
Despite these advancements, the question remains: will it truly feel like a Mac? The closer the iPad gets to replicating the Mac experience without fully achieving it, the greater the risk of user disappointment. Will users encounter limitations in iPadOS 26 that disrupt their workflow, reminding them that it’s not a true Mac? Only time will tell whether this new, almost-Mac-like iPadOS will fully satisfy users.
Apple, It’s Time to Bridge the Gap Between iPad and Mac
Given that most iPads and Macs now share the same M-series hardware and offer similar keyboard and trackpad experiences, the rationale for maintaining distinct software experiences is diminishing. The primary obstacle preventing an iPad from functioning as a Mac appears to be Apple’s decision to keep the software functionally separate. While transforming a Mac into an iPad poses challenges due to the need for touchscreen and Pencil support, the path towards turning an iPad Pro into a fully functional Mac appears more straightforward.
Achieving seamless cross-compatibility between Mac and iPad apps on a unified operating system would undoubtedly be a complex undertaking. However, considering Apple’s track record of successfully transitioning Mac apps across different hardware architectures (Intel to ARM-based and PowerPC to Intel), this goal seems within reach. In this instance, the underlying hardware is already unified, but the intended use-cases of the applications remain distinct.
A Converging Ecosystem: iPads, Macs, and the Future of Apple Devices
Despite these differences, the functionalities of Macs, iPads, iPhones, and other Apple devices are converging, with increasingly similar visual designs incorporating Liquid Glass, unified notification systems, and widgets. While complete uniformity across the Apple ecosystem isn’t desirable, streamlining the iPad and MacBook lines—both designed for portability—would address significant overlaps.
While preserving the simplicity of the standard iPad experience is crucial — maintaining the existing workflow while providing the option to trigger a multi-windowed work mode through a simple action – this advanced mode shouldn’t merely approximate the Mac experience.
Instead, the experience should genuinely transform into a Mac. Allowing users to consolidate their devices and enabling the iPad Pro models and certain MacBook lines to merge. This hardware convergence paves the way for future innovations, particularly augmented reality applications.
Preparing for the Future: Vision Headsets and the Need for Device Consolidation
This product line consolidation becomes increasingly necessary for Apple’s future ambitions, notably the development of advanced Vision headsets or lightweight connected glasses. Streamlining the product lineup is essential to integrate these new devices seamlessly. Envisioning a scenario where carrying an iPad-slash-MacBook alongside a pair of lightweight Vision glasses is viable, instead of needing a Vision headset, an iPad, and a Mac, illustrates the necessity for compromise.
Long-awaited changes that push the boundaries of how the iPad Pro is used have finally arrived! The question still lingers: why can’t iPad Pros also be Macs? Continuing to wait for incremental improvements appears inevitable.