Can I fully replace my Mac with an iPad, or what key features would I lose?
I’ve got grand kids who could use the Mac
Below are some bur nor all the thing I might give up moving totally to iPad:
- Time Machine backups. iPad can backup all or files and folders to iCloud and iCloud Drive, but no local entire device local backup. Also no pst file or folder retrieval as from Time Machine.
- Storage on iPad uses the Files app, getting pretty close Finder. But I’ve had trouble moving large folders from iPad to external drives. I’m a back up hawk.
- The single USB C port is somewhat limiting, but hubs such as the OWC Thunderbolt hub can allow multiple drives and a monitor to attach as well as supply power.
- I can’t make local backups of the iPhone or iPad on iPad. On Mac I’ve found these better for restoring than iCloud or QuickStart.
- The Photos app on iPad and Mac are getting close, but on iPad there seems to be no way to copy an entire Photos Library or create new ones as on Mac.
- no Disk Utility on iPad, but the features seem to be available in iPadOS 18.
- the Midnight Black is just … very cool.
So my plan is to send the Mac away and see if I can live Mac-less.
Thoughts? Advice? What am I missing
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Mac to only an ipad
iPad Air (M3, 2025)