Three years ago today, Apple introduced the iPad Pro with the M1 chip, featuring a Liquid Retina XDR display, marking the first time professional content creation capabilities were brought to the iPad. At the time, Apple's slogan for the iPad Pro M1 was: "Your next computer, why not be a computer."
Although "Your next computer, why not be a computer" has often been mocked over these three years, Apple has persisted in bringing the latest M-series chips to the iPad every year. By leveraging its ecosystem advantages and appeal, Apple has gradually ported desktop-level productivity software such as Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve to iPadOS.
Using a tablet for serious creative work no longer seems like a joke, and finally, it's possible to feel that our next computer might not have to be a traditional computer.
Of course, over these three years, the Android camp's tablets have also been making continuous efforts. Currently, you can find Android tablets from various brands across different price ranges, offering a wide range of products.
At the same time, thanks to the wider range of price options for Android tablets, they have filled the product gap in the mid-to-low price range, thereby achieving a dynamic balance with Apple in the tablet market. There is no longer the notion that "you can only choose Apple for tablets."
If you're looking for a device primarily geared towards entertainment activities like online courses, video calls, or binge-watching shows, then an entry-level Android tablet is your best bet. Thanks to the efforts of domestic manufacturers in recent years, tablets in the thousand-yuan range typically come with a configuration of four speakers and a screen size of 11 inches or more, making them sufficient for various video-related entertainment needs.
When the price reaches 2,000 yuan, the cost-effectiveness of Android tablets begins to stand out. In the mid-range price segment, most domestic Android tablets come equipped with high refresh rate screens and improved performance, sufficient to meet all the needs of paperless learning and office work. They also offer a better audiovisual entertainment experience, making them very user-friendly for budget-conscious students or those just entering the workforce.
For Android tablets, the $300 price range has already reached the point of diminishing returns. On one hand, there's still a noticeable gap in software ecosystem between Android tablets and iPadOS, especially lacking professional productivity software, which blocks the path of specialization for Android tablets.
Although manufacturers can position their tablets at higher prices through better materials and marketing, as consumers, we don't necessarily get more functionality for the extra money spent. What we get are higher screen resolutions and more speakers. Therefore, if you heavily prioritize multimedia performance on tablets, Android tablets in the $300 range are a good choice.
When the budget reaches 4000 or even 5000 yuan, the iPad becomes the main player. The iPad Air 5 is the most affordable choice with the M1 chip, offering full-fledged foreground scheduling capabilities and the ability to run full desktop productivity software like Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. As long as you can accept the file management logic of iPad OS, you can indeed replace a traditional computer with an iPad.
Of course, compared to similarly priced Android tablets, the iPad Air series still has disadvantages in terms of speaker quantity and screen, leading to some shortcomings in pure audiovisual experience.
In the high-end price range of over 6000 yuan, the iPad Pro reigns supreme. With the latest M-series chips, 8 speakers, MiniLED screens, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and other powerful configurations, it makes Android tablets sweat. Not to mention the robust productivity performance with M-series chips and desktop-level software like Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. These are the aspects that make Android tablets pale in comparison.
So, to sum up, for most users, domestically produced entry-level and mid-range tablets priced at around one to two thousand yuan are affordable and sufficient choices. They can meet the needs for audio-visual entertainment, paperless office work, and learning.
If you're looking for productivity enhancement, then iPad Pro or iPad Air 5 and above models would be better choices. However, to maximize the value of your iPad, it's essential to relearn the file management logic of iPadOS and equip yourself with a set of peripherals compatible with the Apple ecosystem.
Therefore, it's indeed possible to replace your next traditional computer with a tablet for now, but it comes with a certain learning curve.
