The iPad has always been an enigma to me. I remember when Steve Jobs first introduced it, and in his keynote he said that the world was getting used to computers and smartphones (which, in his mind, were Macs and iPhones, of course).
Jobs then asked if there was room for a third device — one that wasn't a computer or a phone, but something in between. That's when Jobs unveiled the iPad, Apple's take on a tablet.
Now, it's been almost 14 years since the iPad first came out, and after more than a decade of using various iPads, I think I've realized, at least for me, that there's room for a third device — just that it won't be an iPad.
There are good and bad things about the iPad.
I've owned a lot of iPads over the years. In fact, I've owned every model of iPad. At one point I've owned the base iPad, an iPad Air, an iPad Pro, an iPad mini. I've owned them all. And even though I've tried them all, I've never found a use case that was solid enough for me to keep an iPad.
I've tried using the iPad in a variety of ways. With the base iPad, I've tried using it as a consumption device to watch movies and TV shows and play games. But I've always found myself using my iPhone or Apple TV more often. I've also found that despite Apple's eagerness to get into the gaming industry, the iPad is no replacement for the Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch.
I played the “What's a Computer” game thoroughly with an iPad Air and an iPad Pro, pairing both with a Magic Keyboard to see if I could fully replace my Mac with the iPad. I tried it twice and it didn't work. It could work, but it wasn't as good as using a MacBook Air for writing, which is what I use my Mac for most.
(Image source: iMore / Future)
The last iPad I tried was the iPad mini. Having ruled out the iPad as an entertainment or productivity device, I thought Apple's little iPad might do me something different: get me back into the reading habit. And guess what? It worked. I started reading articles and magazines on Apple News+, and more importantly, I started reading more books using Apple Books and Libby (an app that lets you borrow e-books from your local library).
However, as I continued to read, I found the iPad mini still felt quite thick to last me any time soon, too bright for nighttime reading before bed, and completely dead when I tried to use it outdoors in sunlight.
Just as I was experiencing those exact issues, the Kindle Paperwhite came out and overtook the iPad to become my third device.
The Kindle Paperwhite is my third device.
Just as Steve Jobs wanted the iPad to be a third device for Mac and iPhone owners, the Kindle Paperwhite became my third device. After using it side-by-side with my iPad mini for a few months, my iPad mini sat unused in a drawer.
The first reason is weight. The iPad mini is Apple's lightest iPad, but it's still heavy, especially with Apple's Smart Folio. In comparison, the Kindle Paperwhite is at least a third lighter, and even lighter without Amazon's (also lightweight) case. For extended reading, the Kindle is much more comfortable to hold for extended periods of time than the iPad.
The second reason is the difference in the screen at night. The iPad mini screen is indeed more powerful (color LED instead of black and white E-Ink). But a color LED screen is not very conducive to a good night's sleep. But a black and white E-Ink display is very conducive to reading at night. Not only is it easier on the eyes, but it doesn't wake me up like the iPad mini screen does. I read a few pages on the Kindle and I fall asleep right away. Which is exactly what I wanted.
(Image courtesy of Amazon)
The third reason also has to do with the screen, but instead of nighttime performance, we're talking about daytime performance. The iPad mini looks great indoors, but its LED screen is no match for the sun. I took it to the beach once and could barely see the screen because of the glare. The Kindle's E-Ink display, on the other hand, looks as clear as day, regardless of the sun beating down on it. I've used it at the pool, camping, and at the beach, and it performed great everywhere.
The final reason I chose the Kindle over the iPad is because it's a single-purpose device. On an iPad, it's easy to get distracted by a message or jump to the YouTube app, but the Kindle's sole role is to give you books to read. I've come to appreciate having a device that does just one thing, especially if the goal is to inspire me to read more.
Apple may make an E-Ink iPad
After experiencing the Kindle, the only thing that would tempt me to go back to the iPad as my third device would be if the company made a waterproof iPad mini with an E-Ink display. Imagine the insanity it would take to see the company make such a product, but that would be the thing that would get me back to the iPad.
But since I doubt the company will ever build such a device (there's a reason why I say “crazy”), I'll stick with my Kindle Paperwhite for now.
Unless, that is, Kobo transitions me from Amazon to an E-Ink tablet. It's worth considering, but for now I'll stick with the Paperwhite.
