Before we deep dive into this topic, I want to mention that I love iPadOS 26.Yes, it’s the first beta, so plenty of tweaking and optimization still needs to get done.But overall, it’s been what I have wanted on iPadOS for years.
That being said, a few things still hold it back from being a true MacBook replacement for some people.So if you’re debating between an iPad Pro or a MacBook, here are five essential things iPadOS still can’t do.Be sure to catch our video below to see a first-hand comparison between the new iPadOS 26 versus macOS 26 No Terminal or true coding tools I wanted to mention this one first because it seems to be the most common issue about the iPad that has come up, and I get why.
For a specific user, like a developer or software engineer, I can see how this would deter them from going all in on iPadOS.iPadOS 26 still doesn’t give you Terminal access, and there’s no native way to run Xcode or build apps directly on the iPad.You can use apps like Textastic or Swift Playground for basic coding, but it’s not the same as having fundamental developer tools baked in.
There is also a set of users who like to use the terminal and command line to tweak and navigate their OS, which cannot be done on an iPad, and there is not even a real workaround for it either.So if you absolutely need Terminal access, then iPadOS just isn’t for you.Still no multi-user support This is another baffling one for me.
I would argue that most iPads in consumers’ hands are iPads that are shared.So it’s crazy that there is still no multi-user functionality (outside of education use cases).Macs have almost always allowed for this.
You can log off of your account and either have a guest mode or have someone else have their own private account on the same hardware.The accounts are completely separate with their own apps, information, Apple ID, and more.The two accounts live on one macOS computer but are totally silo’d.
iPads were made with the same sentiment as iPhones: to be a personal device.So there is no way to create an account for yourself and your significant other (for example).There are some workarounds like custom focus modes or guided access but at the end of the day, it is signed into one Apple ID and has all the person’s information.
If my $499 Mac Mini can create multiple user accounts, then my $1300 iPad Pro should also be able to.External display functionality Some iPads in the lineup support an actual extended monitor experience, and iPadOS 26 makes it even better.I love using my M4 iPad Pro with my BenQ 5k monitor.
It feels natural, it scales amazingly, and it just 10x’s my productivity.But again, my iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard was over $2000.For that price, I should be able to get a secondary monitor.
The extended monitor support ends with just one.So if you are someone who has a multi-monitor setup, then unfortunately, the iPad cannot handle that.Another issue with the iPad is the lack of a clamshell mode.
So if you close or lock your iPad, the external monitor will also shut off.This is unfortunate for those who like having a clean and minimal setup.Limited peripheral customization This one has always bothered me.
There is a big lack of customization when it comes to traditional peripherals like a mouse, a trackpad, a keyboard, external webcams, or pretty much anything else.For example, I use a Logitech Anywhere 2S mouse and it’s fantastic.It connects and usually works on the iPad Pro as a mouse.
For instance, Logitech has custom software you can download to customize each hot key on the mouse.The app does not work on an iPad.You can do some customizations with peripherals through the iPadOS accessibility settings, but it’s not nearly as robust as the custom 1st-party software.
The same thing goes for keyboards and webcams.Most brands have their dedicated app or software to help with peripheral management; the iPad just does not support that.I do hope that more companies begin to take this into account and create an app store app to help with this! Audio management This one isn’t as huge of an issue but it does come up occasionally.
There are some instances where I like to have two audio sources going at once.For example, I like to edit videos with some quiet ambient noise going on in the background.You still cannot do this on iPadOS.
Since iPadOS is still rooted from iOS, if you are playing audio from the YouTube app and then start to listen to Apple Music, the YouTube video will completely pause, and play the Apple Music audio.MacOS lets you play audio from as many sources as your RAM can handle.I will say that iPadOS 26 has brought much better audio in management tools like changing the default mic settings with peripherals at the system level.
But I think this audio output situation can be easily fixed.Final thoughts As I stated in my intro, my iPad Pro is my main computer, and I love using it daily.I also think that iPadOS 26 has blurred the line in the whole “what’s a computer” debate even more.
An iPad can now be a full-on computer for even more people.However, some limitations and use cases still hold it back from being a computer replacement for everyone.I just wanted to shed some light on some of the things you should consider if you want to go full-on iPad.
I haven’t even taken into consideration price differences either, like the M4 Macbook Air being under $900 on amazon or the M4 Mac Mini being under $500! What do you think? Is there something else holding the iPad back for you? Drop your thoughts below—I’m always curious what people run into with iPadOS.Favorite iPad Accessories iPad 11th Gen (Under $300!) Logitech Combo Touch Apple Pencil Pro EIP Pencil Pro (Under $30) Paperlike Pencil grips $10 folio case You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop.
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