The iPad lineup stays certainly one of Apple’s most puzzling. The corporate will let you know it’s a pc, nevertheless it’s taken nicely over a decade to convey its suite of professional apps to the iPad. However, it’s additionally a unbelievable note-taking machine, an important moveable cinema display, and may be nice for gaming too.
Sure, the iPad nonetheless divides opinion among the many Apple trustworthy, however for this author, it stays a product open to so many potentialities. No matter you employ it for, there’s an excellent probability iPadOS 17 has one thing for you, too.
With this in thoughts, here is a glance again on the iPad in 2023.
{Hardware}
2023 noticed loads of updates to Apple’s {hardware} — the Apple Watch Sequence 9 and Extremely 2 introduced BackTap and a brand new chip, the Mac noticed each M2 and M3 merchandise debut, and the iPhone 15 sequence improved on the digicam and changed the Lightning port with USB-C. But there was no new iPad {hardware} this yr, exterior of the weird Apple Pencil revision.
Zilch, zip, nada on the pill entrance, and maybe that’s OK. The iPad’s lineup is complicated, with no fewer than seven choices out there proper now (for those who rely the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Execs individually).
There’s an excellent probability the ninth-generation iPad will likely be shuffled off the shop quickly, however the iPad Mini might do with some love, too. In the meantime, the iPad Professional has an M2 Apple silicon chip, however the Air has an M1 inside.
Apple must carry out a tender reboot on the iPad line, and experiences counsel that might occur as early as subsequent yr – with an OLED mannequin doubtlessly on the playing cards for iPad Professional followers.
Software program
iPadOS 17 carries on the theme of being “iOS 17 however for iPads” for probably the most half, however in some ways in which’s no unhealthy factor.
To that finish, Lock Display widgets lastly arrived after they got here to the iPhone final yr, they usually’re interactive, too.
The Notes app additionally gained the flexibility to point out PDFs inside notes, which feels excellent on the iPad due to its tactile, giant show, whereas the identical may be stated of Apple Information Plus’ new crosswords performance.
The arrival of the Well being app on the iPad additionally must be praised. Many older customers might not use an iPhone, however have an iPad as a result of it’s simpler to learn, and placing their physique’s metrics and knowledge of their fingers, simply shareable with their medical doctors, is rather more than only a fast port of an present app.
Talking of apps making the leap, Last Lower and Logic lastly arrived on iPad for the primary time, they usually’re each unbelievable. When you’ve been utilizing both for years, you’ll seemingly wish to follow the Mac, however the thought of getting a film manufacturing desk or a recording studio on a pill is an thrilling one.
Arguably the most important replace, nonetheless, is Stage Supervisor. Whereas it arrived final yr, it was beset by weird window limitations that meant it felt like a supercharged model of the prevailing multitasking system reasonably than anything. I’d nonetheless prefer to see extra flexibility to make the sidebar take up much less area, however by lifting the bounds, the iPad is a spot the place I can genuinely do loads of work – one thing that didn’t really feel doable after iPadOS 16’s first draft.
In conclusion
Whereas there was no new iPad {hardware} in 2023, I can’t assist however really feel extra excited for the platform than ever – notably with the arrival of USB-C on iPhone, doubtlessly which means a long-awaited revision of the Recordsdata app might be on the docket for subsequent yr.
The iPad might not know what it must be but, however that’s nearly turning into a part of the magic because it evolves earlier than our eyes.
