Transforming a tablet into a laptop
Any iPad, even these new Pro models, require additional hardware to become a potential laptop replacement. At the very least, a separate keyboard is an obvious requirement for real-world productivity. This could mean Apple’s Magic Keyboard or one of a variety of third party keyboard/case combinations. Beyond support for the Apple Pencil, iPadOS also has mouse and trackpad support, further blurring the line between tablet and laptop.
Although not strictly necessary, a case (with or without built-in keyboard) is something that you’ll want to include for protection.
Each of these add-ons, of course, adds to the cost of the iPad Pro, which isn’t exactly cheap to begin with ($999 for the 11-in. model.) Apple’s Magic Keyboard clocks in at $299 or $349 depending on size, and an Apple Pencil is either $79 or $129 (for the Apple Pencil Pro). Go for the top-end 2TB model, add in cellular and the nano-textured glass and you’re looking at a sticker price north of $2,599. That’s higher than most laptops (including the popular MacBook Air).
