The iPad desperately needs its MacBook Neo moment

Since its price drop in 2023, the entry-level iPad has been one of the easiest Apple products to recommend. It was affordable, powerful enough for most tasks, and most importantly, positioned itself as an alternative to budget laptops for students and casual users.

But now, with the recent introduction of the MacBook Neo, Apple has quietly created a problem for the base model iPad. This no longer seems like the best deal and many consumers are starting to wonder if it’s really worth it. At this point, it seems like the iPad really needs its own “MacBook Neo” moment.

When numbers no longer make sense

On paper, the iPad A16 still starts at an attractive $349. That’s quite affordable for an Apple tablet that lets you run just about every app you can run on a more expensive iPad. For most people who are just looking for a good tablet for browsing the web, editing documents, or watching movies, this is the iPad for you.

For $349, you get an 11-inch iPad with 128GB of storage, but without a keyboard, trackpad, or Apple Pencil. For many people, this configuration is suitable. Again, this iPad is aimed at people who just want to use it like a regular tablet. But when you start adding things like more storage and accessories, the picture completely changes.

Britta O’Boyle

Let’s say you want your iPad to double as a laptop. The 256GB model costs $449. Then you buy a Magic Keyboard Folio, which costs $249. This brings the total price of the iPad to just under $700. At this point, you’re essentially paying the same price as a higher-tier MacBook Neo configuration ($699), but getting less storage.

And you get even less bang for your buck. The base iPad still runs on the A16 chip introduced in 2022, while the MacBook Neo is powered by the significantly more advanced A18 Pro chip. This difference is reflected in performance, longevity and support for the latest features, including Apple Intelligence.

And let’s not forget that a $599 MacBook Neo can run full-fledged desktop software. But if you spend the same amount on an iPad with a keyboard and trackpad, you’ll be limited to using iPad apps available in the App Store.

The Magic Keyboard Folio is excellent, arguably one of the best keyboard cases on the market for the iPad. But at $249, it radically changes the value proposition of the base iPad. This iPad wants to be affordable, but at the same time, Apple is trying to sell you a keyboard that practically doubles the price of the device.

Stéphane Wiesend

Many people who buy the entry-level iPad end up opting for third-party accessories because they are cheaper. But again, this only highlights how Apple’s pricing strategy for the entry-level iPad no longer makes sense. And in this comparison, the MacBook simply makes more sense for most people.

Of course, there’s no denying that the iPad still has some advantages over the Mac. It’s the only Apple device to offer a touchscreen, Apple Pencil support, and a flexible form factor for taking notes and drawing. If this is what you need, there is no doubt about it. The iPad remains the best choice.

But Apple has blurred these lines by setting up the iPad as an alternative to laptops. This strategy worked when the iPad was significantly cheaper. Today, this advantage has disappeared.

If you want an iPad for browsing the web, writing, or using pro-level apps, the MacBook Neo outperforms the entry-level iPad in almost every way. Yes, you can do these things on an iPad, but you’ll end up spending more and facing more limitations than if you bought a Mac.

An iPad Neo could be the answer

The MacBook Neo isn’t just the latest laptop in Apple’s lineup. It redefines what an entry-level product is. At $599, with a modern chip, 13-inch screen, and 256GB of storage, Apple has finally aligned price and value in an easy-to-understand way.

Now the iPad needs the same treatment. Yes, the entry-level iPad is already cheap, but it could use significant upgrades.

First, this iPad needs more frequent updates with the latest chips. The A16 isn’t bad, but it’s already quite outdated by today’s standards. Fortunately, as Macworld reports, Apple plans to launch a new base iPad with the A19 chip later this year.

Foundry

A storage upgrade from 128GB to 256GB on the base model would also be welcome. The company recently did this with the iPhone 17e, and it would be the right path to take with the iPad. After all, many people use their iPad to download photos, songs, videos and games.

A significant price drop on accessories, notably the Magic Keyboard Folio, is also long overdue. The iPad’s starting price of $349 isn’t the problem. But it has become difficult to justify the cost of upgrades and accessories.

Perhaps the Neo brand, or at least the spirit of it, could give the iPad the boost it needs? Maybe it could even have a slightly larger screen to better compete with the MacBook Neo. A larger screen would make the iPad feel like a real laptop alternative.

If there’s one thing the MacBook Neo showed us, it’s that Apple can deliver a decent entry-level product even in its base configuration with the right compromises. The Neo isn’t the most powerful or advanced Mac, but it’s extremely capable on its own.

Right now, the base iPad doesn’t have the same clarity. It’s still a great tablet, but as soon as you try to turn it into something more, its value starts to plummet. Apple doesn’t need to reinvent the iPad, but it does need a realignment – and the MacBook Neo is a great place to start.