# iPad Pro Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-pro/ 66 people recommended iPad Pro in Hacker News comments, 24 had mixed feelings and 72 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. Owners report keeping it a median of 8 years, among 26 owners. It was recommended in 12 of 12 months, in 44 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Criticized more than recommended: critics say iPadOS restrictions keep it from truly replacing a laptop; those who recommend it cite its fast chip, excellent display, long lifespan and keyboard-plus-pencil versatility. Summary written by Claude from the comments below. Claude agents reviewed it against the quotes on 2 Nov 2026. ## What people warn about - iPadOS is too limiting (5 comments in the sample): "such an amazing device especially with the 5G. only downside is obv the iPadOS, it's still very limiting" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49443514)) "After a couple years of use of trying to use the iPad exactly as you stated here (it's lived 24/7 on my kitchen island…" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50078863)) "They've taken so many swings at the iPad Pro (both hardware and software), and it has never been as good as the MacBook." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49966633)) - Apple locks out macOS, VMs, browsers (5 comments in the sample): "Of course Apple prevents this even though it's entirely possible to do it, because Apple is going to do Apple things." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45817324)) "It's frustating knowing that the ipad _could_ run mac os but won't due to intentional market segmentation by Apple." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47874014)) "There is no excuse for making people pay a premium price for an iPad Pro that can't run a third party web browser" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46245650)) - Pricey with too little RAM (4 comments in the sample): "My much more RAM efficient M2 iPad Pro with the non-desktop OS and 8GB of RAM frequently has to page out apps I had open…" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47345970)) "wildly overpriced for its specs -- m4 pro has half!! the ram that the cheaper m4 macbook air has" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47219617)) "even with 16G shared memory on a iPadPro, I can only run local models in a chat-style app" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45964365)) - Power goes unused by software (2 comments in the sample): "why release an M4 iPad Pro when essentially no software can make use of the processor power improvements since 2018?" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47221813)) "My old M1 iPad Pro remains severely underused eating dust because I'm never carrying that thing around with me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50287116)) ## Why people recommend it - Keyboard, pencil and touch versatility (5 comments in the sample): "an iPad Pro with keyboard and trackpad would generally be preferable to a Macbook Pro or Air or Neo" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47372698)) "If you do any drawing then it’s a no brainer, and that’s why I got it in the first place." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47221777)) "my iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard case has fully replaced my Mac for everything" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49635996)) - Lasts for many years (4 comments in the sample): "I still have the 2017 pro and i can't imagine a good enough reason to buy almost 10 years later a new gen." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47222000)) "It's been my regular gym buddy for years, and is showing no signs of needing to be replaced." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47218865)) "It still works perfectly fine, and having invested in the nice keyboard case for it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47223797)) - Laptop-class processor speed (4 comments in the sample): "My iPad Pro has a plenty big screen, a touch screen, and a processor that's faster than my M1 Air… by a lot." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50281182)) "That’s quite impressive for a tablet and faster than most laptops available today." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46156859)) "Everything's so fast and fluid I doubt I'd notice if the CPU were twice as fast." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47221853)) - Best-in-class display (4 comments in the sample): "fingerprints have never once bothered me. The cleaning cloth works great. I love the nano screen as reflections are just not a problem any more." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46684534)) "everyone considers the iPad Pro to have probably the best display available at any price point" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46570168)) "the big difference why I would go for a pro if I ever replace my mini is ProMotion" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47221914)) ## Other tablets people recommend - [Apple iPad](https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-ipad/): 176 recommend, 71 mixed, 277 criticize - [Apple iPad Air](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-air/): 48 recommend, 13 mixed, 58 criticize - [iPad mini](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-mini/): 39 recommend, 13 mixed, 74 criticize - [Apple iPad with Magic Keyboard](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-with-magic-keyboard/): 8 recommend, 5 mixed, 5 criticize ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "iPad Pro", https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-pro/ (66 recommend, 24 mixed, 72 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.