Hi, I would like to know what to buy between these two devices, I currently have a MacBook Air (M1) which I use daily and don't know in deciding which one to get for my 11th grade. The iPad has a touchscreen for reading and drawing and the MacBook has a bigger screen. Will the M1 Air stick around for a couple of years? Thanks.
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.5
A Mac and iPad together make a great combination - offering the best of both worlds.
Apple doesn't pre-announce end-of-support for any of its devices - and as such contributors here have no idea precisely how long support will continue for your current Mac or potential iPad. However, history demonstrates that Apple generally provide hardware and update support for five to seven years from release of a particular device. As such, you might reasonably anticipate ongoing support for your existing Mac for several more years.
As for iPad, all iPad models have broadly the same core capabilities. Models essentially differ in their ultimate performance and physical attributes. iPad Pro models use FaceID for biometric user-authentication, while others use TouchID.
You can compare iPad models here:
The iPad 10 is the current entry-level iPad. The iPads Pro are the opposite end of the scale - top of the range, with cutting edge capabilities and hardware. Between these two extremes is the iPad Air M2, offering a mid-range high performance option. The iPad mini6 is perhaps an entirely different proposition - offering a smaller form factor and other differences in hardware and ultimate capability.
All current models of iPad support either the first or second generation Apple Pencil - or for the 2024 models of iPad Air and Pro, you have the new Apple Pencil Pro; all iPad models with a USB-C port also support the new USB-C Pencil. For handwritten notes and sketches, support for Apple Pencil may be relevant. Ensure that you choose the correct Apple Pencil for your chosen iPad - as they are not interchangeable. Here is the definitive compatibility list:
Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support
iPad models that support the second generation Apple Pencil and Pencil Pro are paired and charged using the magnetic charging dock on the edge of the corresponding iPad. This greatly simplifies charging of the Pencil - as the Pencil is kept optimally charged whenever it is not being actively used. Consider that the USB-C Pencil does not feature pressure sensitivity.
Also perhaps consider that the 2024 M4 models of iPad Pro are the only models with the new Ultra Retina XDR OLED display - while the 2024 M2 Air devices have a miniLED backlit XDR display. Also note that the current iPad Pro models with 1TB/2TB storage options have 16GB RAM, whereas the others have "only" 8GB RAM (this still being greater than other iPad models).
Whichever iPad model you choose, you would be well advised to purchase as much internal storage as your budget might reasonably allow - as internal storage (and other hardware) cannot be changed, upgraded or extended. The available internal storage is fixed for the entire life of the device. If you run out of internal storage for your documents, photos and other data, you will forever struggle and become a source of frustration. It is far better to have more storage than you need, than to need more storage than you have.
A good rule of thumb is to quantify how much data storage you will need - add a healthy margin - then double it. If you are unable to quantify your data storage needs, it becomes more difficult. Whilst I and others cannot make definitive recommendations for your personal needs, objectively I would council against purchase of any iPad with any less than 256GB storage, 512GB and higher having a greater margin for growth.
Within the Apple Support Communities we see regular tales of woe and disappointment when storage requirements are exceeded, necessitating replacement of the device; by contrast, we never see complaint of having too much available storage. It is relatively easy to fill limited internal storage space; perhaps consider higher tiers of storage as providing room for growth as your needs develop or mature - potentially extending the useful usable life of the device.
Also consider the functional differences between WiFi Only and WiFi+Cellular models of iPad. Aside from the obvious Cellular functionality, only WiFi+Cellular models include GNSS/GPS location capabilities - which may impact any Apps or features that require accurate and consistent location data, such as Mapping.
Purchase of a WiFi+Cellular model provides access to precise location services, but does not commit you to using Cellular connections. WiFi Only models of iPad have no Cellular or GNSS/GPS functions at all.
Buy iPad Pro 13 (M4) or MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Pro) in 2024?
