Can the iPad Pro M6 replace your laptop? We tried for a month
With Stage Manager, an external display and pro apps arriving monthly, the iPad Pro M6 is closer than ever. Here is the honest truth.
Each year Apple pushes the iPad Pro further into laptop territory, and the M6 makes the boldest case yet. I spent a month using the 13-inch iPad Pro as my only computer: writing, video calls, light design and even some coding. Here is what worked, and what still does not.
What works
The M6 is astonishingly fast and the Liquid Retina XDR display is the best I have used on any device under $2,000 in Africa-friendly conditions. Stage Manager plus an external monitor turns it into a surprisingly capable workstation.
Where it still stumbles
iPadOS is still not macOS. Multitasking feels powerful but occasionally fiddly, and some heavier desktop apps remain absent. If your work lives in the browser, iPadOS Office or design apps, you will barely notice.
iPad Pro 13″ M6
A computer. A canvas. Totally magic.
Our verdict
A brilliant second computer
If your work lives in the browser or mobile apps, the iPad Pro M6 can genuinely replace a laptop. Heavy desktop workflows should still dual-carry.
Community rating
9.0/10
How would you rate this verdict?
Community score 9.0/10 from 24 votes
Kamau Odhiambo
Mac & iPad EditorA productivity-first reviewer, Kamau tests MacBooks, iPads and the apps that make them sing — with a focus on creators and students.
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