iPadOS has closed much of the productivity gap with external keyboard support, Stage Manager multitasking and a capable Files app, making everyday tasks like writing and browsing genuinely comfortable.
The friction shows up in specialized software — certain professional creative suites, developer tools and niche desktop apps simply have no full iPad equivalent.
For users whose work fits within mainstream apps and web-based tools, iPad can fully replace a laptop; for developers or specialists, it usually remains a companion device.