College Student Problems: which is more useful, Ipad Pro or Macbook Pro ?

I have owned four iPads since Apple released the first model in 2010. I use my iPads every day for all sorts of things. I used my iPad Air 2 at work all day long before I recently retired. I love the iPad. However, I have a MBP late 2011 model that still has more functionality than my brand new iPad Air 3 running iOS 13.3.1. If I had to pick one or the other for school, I would pick the Mac any day.

The price of the larger sized iPad Pro models is absurd in my opinion for what you are getting. Not that the Mac is inexpensive, but they are light, portable and fully functional computers and the iPad Pro is not.

mcp98 wrote:

I don’t really need specific programs

Best to assume that sometime you might in fact want such things, even for just writing, and not limit yourself to what is available from Apple's App Store. A full computer is far better in the long run in my view.

I agree, full computer.

While you may be able to get the ipad to be functional in the ways you need, there is not need to figure out work arounds like you will need to with the ipad.

Use a real computer for school, use the ipad as a graduation present. :)

As a student, the Mac is likely the better choice for your immediate needs. The iPad, as a sole/primary device, is perhaps less useful - but as a tool to augment functionality of the Mac, the iPad is beyond question.

I would never give up my Mac Mini or MacBook Pro to be replaced by an iPad. My iPad makes a great companion to my computers, but it is definitely not a replacement for them.