Apple’s latest iPadOS (26) has turned the tablet into something much like a laptop. After years as a “big iPhone,” the iPad offers resizable, movable app windows and other computer-like features. In fact, Wired declares that “with the release of iPadOS 26, Apple gives these tablets the ability to use conventional windowing—and iPads will never be the same.” These upgrades mean that tasks once deemed “only comfortable doing on a Mac” can now be done “almost identically on an iPad,” giving users “a real computer in your hands.”
Desktop-Style Productivity And Multitasking
These upgrades add up to real productivity gains. iPadOS 26 now handles multiple apps on-screen with flexible layouts. You can drag app windows freely, arrange them side by side or stacked, and switch apps easily—much like on a Mac. For example, if you start a video export in iMovie or Final Cut Pro on the iPad Pro, the job can now continue in the background while you check email or edit spreadsheets. Wired enthuses that after this update, “a lot of those tasks you only felt comfortable doing on a Mac are now accomplished almost identically on an iPad.”
The result is that the iPad can now rival a MacBook Air for many workflows. With Stage Manager on, you could have a calculator, email, spreadsheet, and browser all open together, resizing as needed. You can even connect an external display and drag windows between screens, just as you would with a laptop and monitor. In short, the iPad’s multitasking has caught up to basic laptop levels, making it a more credible tool for finance pros who juggle data, charts, and reports simultaneously.
Apps And Ecosystem Integration
Today’s iPad can run most of the “pro” apps a finance user needs. Microsoft’s Office suite is fully available on iPadOS, as are many popular business apps (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Dropbox). Adobe offers iPad versions of Photoshop and Illustrator (though with some feature differences). There are even finance-specific apps—for example, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, and TD Ameritrade all have iPad apps, and web-based trading platforms can run in Safari. Apple’s own apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) handle spreadsheets and presentations natively.
The iPad also benefits from tight integration in Apple’s ecosystem. Your data syncs automatically via iCloud between iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Features like Handoff and AirDrop let you start a document or email on one device and pick it up on another. With iPadOS 18, Apple is adding on-device intelligence features (like smart completion in Notes and advanced dictation) to both iPads and MacBooks, further blurring the line. As Apple puts it, the new iPad Air “brings Apple’s advanced graphics architecture… taking \[performance] to a new level” while supporting accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. In short, if you’re already using Apple devices, an iPad slots right in.
Portability And On-The-Go Use
One of the iPad’s strongest advantages is portability. The newest iPad Pro is the thinnest Apple device ever (only 5.1 mm on the 13-inch model) and extremely light. The 11-inch iPad Pro weighs under one pound, and even the 13-inch iPad is lighter than most laptops. With a cellular model (5G) available, you can be online anywhere. For road warriors and business travellers, that combination of high performance and light weight is attractive.
Moreover, the iPad’s form factor adds flexibility that MacBooks lack. Detach the keyboard, and you have a tablet for presentations or sketching on a diagram with a Pencil. Use the iPad on your lap or even in a tight aeroplane seat more comfortably than a clamshell laptop. iPadOS now even supports connecting to external displays: you can drag apps to a monitor at the office to create a multi-screen setup. In practice, many finance professionals could carry an iPad Air (11”) with a keyboard into a meeting, then detach it to show charts on the device itself or annotate reports by hand.
Potential Drawbacks
Of course, the iPad is not identical to a MacBook Air, and some limitations remain. Because iPadOS is still fundamentally a mobile operating system, there are quirks: it lacks a traditional desktop and can’t run macOS-only apps or terminal commands. File management is more abstract (no user-accessible “home” folder or command-line), and multitasking was, until recently, less flexible. Even the largest iPad has at most a 13-inch screen, which is smaller than a 15-inch MacBook. As one reviewer found, splitting a 13-inch iPad display in two can make text feel “too small to read comfortably.” And of course, you must buy the keyboard and pencil separately, whereas a MacBook includes its keyboard built in.
However, many of these pain points are now much less severe. iPadOS 26’s windowing and Stage Manager go a long way toward the desktop experience, and major file functionality has been improved with the new Files and Preview apps. For most financial and business software, either iPad versions exist or there are cloud/web alternatives. In practice, tech-savvy users often find that the iPad’s added mobility outweighs the remaining cons. For example, if you rely on a remote desktop app or cloud service for truly specialised software, the iPad can serve as a portable portal to your usual work environment. Many longtime Apple users point out that the seamless ecosystem integration and convenience of a touchscreen tablet often offset the iPad’s limitations.
The bottom line is that the modern iPad—especially the M3/M4-powered iPad Air and Pro—is now capable enough for many tasks traditionally done on a MacBook Air. It has the performance, the software features, and the accessories to handle productivity, creative, and even some pro workloads.
For finance professionals and entrepreneurs who value flexibility, battery life, and true portability, an iPad can be a strategic choice. With its lower entry price and rich ecosystem, the iPad may well “replace” a MacBook Air for users who prioritise mobility and integration above having every legacy feature of macOS. In short, for many tech-savvy consumers, choosing an iPad instead of a MacBook Air is no longer a radical compromise but a viable option.