I’ve been using the new M4 iPad Pro exclusively for the past week and am resisting any urge to use my MacBook Pro as a crutch. Needless to say, it’s an insightful, interesting and dare I say: a pleasure experience on many fronts. My biggest takeaway? The iPad has flaws, but iPadOS doesn’t have to be macOS to make it a good computer.
There is a large contingent of iPad users using computers today only because of iPadOS and how accessible it is to them. The iPad has arguably made computers more accessible to users who were once downright afraid of computers. For that reason alone we should put some respect on the iPad’s name.
Before the last batch of iPad Pro reviews came out, I predicted what the ongoing story would be, and I’m not even that good at making predictions. We’ve seen the same story over and over again over the years. Yes, the hardware is great… but the software falls short. Oh, and by the way, I’m guilty of it too.
Open > iPad Pro (2018) review.docx … Copy > Paste > iPad Pro (2018) review copy.docx …. Rename > iPad Pro (2024) review.docx
— Jeff Benjamin (@JeffBenjam) May 13, 2024
For years, the iPad Pro has had hardware under the hood that is more than capable of getting things done. For some users, it’s the shortcomings and quirks of iPadOS that make it challenging to get the most out of its capabilities.
However, that doesn’t mean the iPad needs to run macOS to reach its full potential. It simply has to be the very best version iPadOS.
What does the best version of iPadOS look like?
I don’t think it looks like Apple copied and pasted macOS onto the iPad. I think it still looks very much like iPadOS appears today, just with the kind of refinements and comfort that more advanced users expect. It also needs app developers who treat the platform like a first-class citizen.
There are many areas where I think iPadOS can be improved, but there are three main areas that I think are among the most important.
1. iPadOS apps and the need for a common thread
iPadOS apps almost feel like their own little mini operating systems running on the iPad. That’s because each app has its own unique method of interacting with it, accessing the necessary tools, etc. It lacks the common thread that ties all the apps together to make it a cohesive experience.
On the Mac, the common thread is the menu bar. It’s the place where, regardless of the app, you can go to do the thing… whatever that thing is.
You could argue that the current method for viewing keyboard shortcuts – holding down the Command key (⌘) – is essentially the iPadOS version of the menu bar. The problem with the keyboard shortcut menu is that it relies on a connected keyboard, is slow to invoke, and takes up too much space. I think it needs a more thoughtful redesign that serves both touch and keyboard users.
2. Shortcuts, but taken seriously
This is both an iPadOS problem and an individual app problem. As fun and useful as touch interfaces can be, they are not always suitable for certain tasks. Power users rely on keyboard shortcuts to get things done more efficiently.
Of course, iPadOS has keyboard shortcuts, but they should be taken more seriously by app developers, including Apple. If it exists as a function, it should have a corresponding keyboard shortcut in most cases.
I encountered one of the most egregious examples of this problem when I edited the entire video embedded above on my iPad using Final Cut Pro. Apple’s pro NLE is a great experience in many ways, especially because of its touch-first interface. I think this app is a tons of potential, and I’m excited about Final Cut Pro for iPad 2, which should be released within the next month.
That said, it’s missing features that video editors need that just aren’t there yet, and that’s understandable considering the short time the app has been around. What is not so understandable is the lack of keyboard shortcuts for certain commands Doing currently exist, such as copying and pasting effects between clips. Since there were no keyboard shortcuts for these commands, I had to go through the time-consuming process of manually copying and pasting effects between the hundred or so clips in my timeline so that they would all match each other.
Apple should also implement a way for users to create their own keyboard shortcuts. Such a feature already exists somewhat as an accessibility setting in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Full Keyboard Access, but it’s only for customizing the keyboard shortcuts used to navigate iPadOS, not individual apps.
3. File manager for toddlers
The Files app is a huge improvement over the first iteration when it was called iCloud Drive. I appreciate that we now have more detailed file information, how to compress and decompress files, etc., but there needs to be more flexibility for users to manage files.
One of the many frustrating things I encountered was the inability to preview a video shot with my Sony FX30 via Quick Look. Opening the file with Quick Look produced a blank screen asking me to open the file in another app.
There are many small issues like this that aren’t a big problem in themselves. But when you add up all the smaller shortcomings of file management in iPadOS, it stands out.
iPadOS Doesn’t Need to be “Fixed”
I compared the difference between using macOS and iPadOS to get the same task done, like the difference between running on land and running underwater. Eventually you both reach the destination, but who will finish first? Better yet, who will feel better after the run? Apple has drained much of the water that bogged down the iPad experience, but more needs to be done.
iPadOS is a very capable platform, with its own unique paradigms. Some of the shortcomings can be considered strengths, depending on how the light hits the prism, so to speak. Shortcomings can also drive innovation when engineers are forced to approach a problem in a different way.
iPadOS does not need to be repaired because that implies that iPadOS is broken. iPadOS needs to be improved and optimized. Improving the platform isn’t just about copying and pasting macOS onto the iPad. Improving iPadOS means Apple paying close attention to the most basic user experience and interface shortcomings, while continuing to expand it with new and unique features year after year. Apple hasn’t been perfect at this so far, but we have to recognize how far the iPad has come in a relatively short time.
9to5Mac’s take
While Apple probably should have read the audience before publishing the controversial ad that brought all the beloved physical vestiges of creativity into a thin and light iPad Pro, I understood where it was going. This machine can wear an infinite number of hats, and it may be the most versatile piece of consumer electronics ever created.
The software that powers it, iPadOS, is fine. A large number of users will agree with this idea. We just have to be patient, let iPadOS be iPadOS and let the platform mature.
FTC: We use monetized auto-affiliate links. More.