iPad Marketing VP: iPad and Mac are Complementary Devices, Not Competing Devices

For her review of the new M4 iPad Pro, The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern spoke with Tom Boger, Apple's vice president of iPad and Mac marketing. Stern focused on comparing the ‌iPad Pro‌ to a MacBook, and asked some targeted questions about the way Apple views the two devices.

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According to Boger, Apple sees the ‌iPad Pro‌ and Mac as devices that are meant to be used alongside one another. "We don't see them as competing devices," he said. "We see them as complementary devices." While the ‌iPad‌ is a "touch-first device," the Mac is designed for "indirect manipulation," with a mouse or keyboard, which is a point that Apple has reiterated several times over the years.

"macOS is for a very different paradigm of computing," he went on to explain after Stern asked about the possibility of running Mac apps on the ‌iPad‌ or a Mac with a touch screen. Boger said that many Apple customers have both devices, and use the ‌iPad‌ to "extend" Mac work with Continuity.

When asked if Apple would ever change its mind on a touch screen Mac, he didn't say no. "Oh, I can't say we never change our mind," he told Stern.

Stern traded her MacBook for an ‌iPad‌ for her review, and said that the ‌iPad‌ was better for portability, touch, and 5G connectivity, a feature not available on the Mac. The Mac offered superior port options (it has more than one), better software and multitasking, longer battery life, and better multi-display support.

Stern's full review and interview with Boger can be read over at The Wall Street Journal.

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Top Rated Comments

dannyyankou Avatar
9 months ago
That's fair enough, but a complimentary product to a $1000+ device shouldn't be another $1000+ device.

If you have a MacBook and want an iPad, the M1 iPad Air from Walmart is an excellent buy at $399

https://www.walmart.com/ip/612153150
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheLinkster Avatar
9 months ago
Someone's been reading all the complaints about iPadOS.
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sviato Avatar
9 months ago
Then iPad Pro shouldnt cost as much / more than baseline Macbooks
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jrpoll Avatar
9 months ago
Clearly not in touch with the people. Can’t wait for a new staff overhaul of Apple
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fs454 Avatar
9 months ago
Reads to me like they're digging their feet in on iPadOS being iPadOS.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cuiver Avatar
9 months ago
Obviously you should buy both, that's making money 101.

That and the lack of multiple user profiles on the iPad, one for each member of the family, it only makes sense!
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)