Okay, so I’ve been messing around with a new MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, and I also happen to have an older iPad Pro with the A14 Bionic. I got curious about how they really stack up in my day-to-day, you know, beyond just the spec sheets.
Getting Started
First thing I did was charge them both up to 100%. I wanted to see how they’d handle a typical “me” day. My usual workflow is a mix of writing, browsing, some light photo editing (mostly cropping and resizing for my blog), and a unhealthy amount of video streaming.
The Daily Grind
I started with the M2 MacBook Pro. I fired up my usual writing app, opened up like, 15 browser tabs (I have a problem, I know), and started working on a draft. The M2 didn’t even flinch. Everything was super smooth, no lag whatsoever. Even when I switched over to do some batch photo editing, it was a breeze.
Then, I jumped over to the iPad Pro with the A14. Now, I’ve always loved this thing for its portability. I did pretty much the same stuff – writing, browsing (fewer tabs, admittedly), and some photo editing. It held up surprisingly well! I mean, it wasn’t as snappy as the M2, especially with a ton of tabs open, but it was definitely usable. I wouldn’t say I liked it.
Video Playback
- M2 MacBook Pro: Played 4K videos without breaking a sweat. The screen is just gorgeous, too.
- A14 iPad Pro: Also handled 4K video like a champ. Obviously, the screen is smaller, but the quality is still fantastic.
My Takeaway?
Look, the M2 is clearly the more powerful chip. For heavy lifting, like if I was doing serious video editing or running tons of demanding apps, the MacBook Pro is the winner. It’s just faster and more capable.
But the A14 is no slouch. For on-the-go stuff, reading, basic editing, and media consumption, the iPad Pro is still great. It’s lighter, the battery lasts a bit longer (in my casual testing, anyway), and it’s just more convenient to toss in a bag. The M2, at least for my simple test, drains battery significantly faster.
Ultimately, it came down to what I needed to do. If I were to pick something according my tests, I’d prefer M2 for heavy jobs while A14 is good for lightweight entertainment. But if budget is a concern, then it is a different story.