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- Dec 30, 2016 Here are Cult of Mac's picks for the best games of 2016 for Mac and iOS This was a great year for Apple users who like games. When it comes to games.
Lightweight power
MacBook Air
Powerful iOS computing
iPad Pro
The MacBook Air is a lightweight and super portable computer that has a gorgeous 13-inch Retina Display screen with two USB-C ports. It also has a powerful dual-core i3 processor, and you can configure it to have an SSD up to 2TB and 16GB of RAM. It also has the new scissor-switch keyboard mechanism. However, it only comes in the 13-inch size and starts north of $999.
Mar 18, 2020 Apple has new versions of its MacBook Air and iPad Pro. The iPad Pro is now a legitimate laptop alternative. How do the devices stack up? Here's what we know.
Pros
- 13-inch Retina Display
- Super lightweight and compact
- Two USB-C ports
- Dual-core Intel i5 processor with up to 1TB storage and 16GB RAM
- Runs macOS
- New and improved scissor-switch keyboard
The iPad Pro is a great computing device if you need to do things like writing, researching, simple coding, photo and video editing, and more tasks with iPadOS. You can choose the more portable 11-inch size, or go big with the 12.9-inch, and take great photos and video with the 12MP camera with Ultra Wide lens and LiDAR scanner. However, you're still limited by iPadOS and iPad hardware.
Pros
- Available in 11-inch or 12.9-inch sizes
- Liquid Retina Display
- Ultra Wide camera and 4K video recording
- Configurable up to 1TB of storage
- USB-C port
- New LiDAR scanner
Cons
- Still limited by iPadOS
- Only one USB-C port
- Keyboard accessories are pricey
While iOS and iPadOS have come quite a way since Apple first introduced the iPad, it still has some limitations when compared to a full desktop computing operating system like macOS. If you want a true computer without any limits, then the MacBook Air is the better buy. If you don't mind the limitations of iOS and just need a powerful tablet to do your entertainment and work on, then there's nothing wrong with the iPad Pro.
It comes down to what you're looking to do
Source: iMore
Both the MacBook Air and iPad Pro are similar in terms of size (especially the 12.9-inch), but that's about it, honestly. We think that the MacBook Air is the better buy of the two because you're getting a full-featured computer experience with macOS while having a lightweight and portable package that can go with you anywhere. Plus, it just feels more natural to use for productivity, and you get true multitasking without weird RAM hiccups like constant refreshing of suspending apps on iOS/PadOS 13.
| MacBook Air | iPad Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Starting at $999 | Starting at $799 |
| Size | 13-inch | 11-inch or 12.9-inch |
| Screen | Retina Display | Liquid Retina Display |
| Processor/Chip | Intel Dual-Core i3 | A12Z Bionic |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Ports | Two USB-C | One USB-C |
| Operating System | macOS | iPadOS |
| Starting storage | 256GB | 128GB |
| Configurable storage | Up to 2TB | Up to 1TB |
| RAM | 8GB, configurable up to 16GB | 6GB with 1TB model |
| Camera | 720p FaceTime HD | 12MP with Ultra Wide lens and 4K video and 7MP TrueDepth Camera |
While the MacBook Air has a higher starting price point than the iPad Pro, we think that it's comparable if you look at similar storage space and capabilities. For a 256GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro, it costs $1099 for Wi-Fi only (or $899 if you go the smaller route), but again, you only get about 4GB of RAM, one USB-C port, and are limited to iPadOS. For $999, you get a 256GB MacBook Air with a 13-inch Retina Display, Intel Dual-Core i3 processor, 8GB of starting RAM, two USB-C ports, and it runs macOS, which is much more capable than iPadOS.
With a MacBook Air, you're able to do pretty much anything you would need, such as social media, email, writing, programming, and testing out apps in XCode, photo and video editing, graphic design, project management, finance, and much more. And since it runs macOS, you have true multitasking, where you can have more than three apps on the screen at one time. Plus, the MacBook Air is the most portable laptop offering from Apple — it's so lightweight that you'll forget you even have it with you sometimes. Apple has also replaced the faulty butterfly keyboard with the new and improved scissor-switch keyboard mechansim that was first introduced with the 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2019.
Source: Apple
Meanwhile, even though the iPad Pro comes in a smaller 11-inch size, you get fewer ports, RAM, and must use iPadOS. There are also new Smart Keyboards with trackpad support coming too, in case you want even more of a laptop-like experience with just your iPad Pro.
Even though iPadOS has come quite a way since the iPad's debut in 2010, it's still held back by limitations, such as only having three active apps on screen at a time through Split View and Slide Over modes. iOS also likes to refresh suspended apps after a period of idleness, which means multitasking is slightly hampered.
If you do not mind having to use iPadOS to do everything (it's possible, but can take more time than using a Mac), then an iPad Pro could be your only computer. However, we require a bit more for our computing needs, which is why we think a MacBook Air is better.
We recommend a Mac for serious computing
Apple has made a lot of improvements in iPadOS, and while it's good for basic, short-term sessions, we can't recommend it if you need something for longer periods. With a MacBook Air running macOS, you can have pretty much an unlimited number of windows open, and they will truly continue to run in the background, and not be put into a suspended state as it would be on iOS/iPadOS. Plus, windows can be resized to however big or small you need them to be on macOS, instead of the 50/50 or 25/75 or 75/25 ratio in Split Screen or on-third screen size Slide Over window.
And keep in mind that the iPad Pro, despite the 'Pro' moniker, will always be limited in terms of RAM, regardless of the screen size and storage capacity you choose. The MacBook Air starts out with 8GB, which is already about double the RAM of the iPad Pro, and you can even configure it up to 16GB if need be. Having more RAM is always a good thing, since it makes the machine feel and run faster, and it can handle even more resource-intensive tasks like video editing.
Portable computing
MacBook Air
Lightweight power for everyone
MacBook Air is Apple's most portable computer and can do pretty much anything you need it to on macOS without limitations aside from the camera and graphics card.
Pro tablet
iPad Pro
Get the most out of iPadOS
The iPad Pro gives you the power of iPadOS in two convenient sizes for all of your computing-on-the-go needs. But keep in mind that you're still dealing with iPadOS, which is still not quite the same as macOS.
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A Better ScreenDefend your new 11-inch iPad Pro with one of these screen protectors
The 11-inch iPad Pro (2020) would be even better when paired with one of these screen protectors, available at various price points. Here are our favorite so far, but more will surely be on the way.
Gaming on your iPad couldn't be sweeter. It's small enough to take with you everywhere, but with a big enough screen to allow for more precision with your taps, and it's that deadly combination that makes me reach for my iPad to play my favorite mobile games over and over.
Whether you're new to iPad gaming or are just looking for your next game to download, here are my top picks for iPad games.
Alto's Odyssey
Alto's Odyssey trades in the bright, snowy, and colorful palette of the first game for a much warmer, darker environment. The desert — while stunningly gorgeous — feels harsher and less forgiving than the slopes Alto's used to and the new landscape provides a plethora of new challenges for players to discover.
The very core mechanics of the game haven't changed. You're still controlling a cast of offbeat characters who explore a terrain-heavy endless runner while attempting an array of board-based tricks across a beautiful, ever-changing landscape. Collecting coins, dodging obstacles, and completing goals will allow you to level up and purchase power-ups for the in-game store. As you may have guessed, it all flows extremely smoothly and is just as addictive as the first incarnation. Alto's Odyssey continues to build on that well-defined core and throws awesome new challenges at players in almost every run.
If you liked Alto's Adventure, then downloading Alto's Odyssey is a no-brainer. You're getting everything you loved about the first game in a more robust and polished package.
- $4.99 - Download Now
Ticket To Ride
One of my favorite things about mobile gaming is being able to bring my favorite board games everywhere I go. Leave the boxes, the game pieces, and the cards at home, and enjoy classic board games on your iPad! Ticket to Ride is a personal favorite of mine. I have the board game to play with my family and friends, and I love the iOS version to take on the road.
The object of the game is for players to build sprawling railways by gathering colored cars to connect cities across the map. Every turn, a player gets to either pick two cars, claim a line by spending cars, or take on a new ticket (this challenges players to connect two cities before the first player runs out of cars). The longer the railway between two cities is, the more victory points they're worth.
Ticket to Ride is a great balance between competition, strategy, and construction, making it a great party game.
- $8.99 - Download Now
Leo's Fortune
Leo's Fortune is a cute platforming game for the iPad that features finely crafted stages with beautiful graphics and clever puzzles. The story is whimsical, but the little-mustachioed fluff ball takes it in stride.
What stands out to me about Leo's Fortune is the gameplay physics. Making Leo float or sink to reach the precious gold coins is a nice break from the old side to side movement in a lot of platformers.
- $4.99 - Download Now
Invisible Inc.
Invisible Inc. was a game that took me by complete surprise. Considering this game relies on being sneaky, I suppose that means the jokes on me.
This turn-based stealth game randomly generates levels that you need to make your way through to complete objectives and avoid enemies. You can control ten unique characters through the perilous missions, and each of them have loads of customization options, making sure characters never get stale.
The gameplay is complex, and it does take awhile to get used to the in-and-outs, but once you do I promise you hours of fun await.
- $4.99 - Download Now
Minecraft: Pocket Edition
Minecraft is a force that just won't quit, the game's original release on PC back in 2011 has spawned versions on every single console and platform you can think of, and the iPad was no exception.
Endless exploring, mining, and crafting await you in the 3D pixelated world, which offers almost limitless possibilities for what you can create. It's this reason that makes Minecraft: Pocket Edition amazingly fun to play for hours and hours. Just don't forget to eat, drink water, or — y'know — breathe.
- $6.99 - Download Now
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery
Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery is an adventure game with a spooky story and a unique, rather intoxicating soundtrack.
It's hard to go into too much detail without spoiling the experience, but here's what I can tell you: Its 140-character story snippets are easy to toss on Twitter for co-op play. You can ask for help and lead your friends into the mystery of the Megatome and the Trigon Trifecta.
The pixel-art and stick figure sprites work well to add to the atmosphere the game creates, because everything is supposed to be unclear.
- $3.99 - Download Now
Stranger Things 3: The Game
As a huge fan of both the Netflix Original series and retro gaming, Stranger Things 3: The Game was like a match made in heaven.
Travel through Hawkins with your favorite characters from the series and use their unique weapons to battle enemies, complete quests, and solve the latest supernatural mystery in everyone's favorite 80s town.
The 8-bit graphics harken back to a time when arcades were the coolest place to be and since the show is set in the 80s, it's a perfect call back to an era of fun 8-bit dungeon crawlers. The gameplay is super smooth and with each character being unique, the gameplay doesn't ever get stale.
- $4.99 - Download Now
Mini Metro
Do you ever look at you city's public transportation and think you could design it better? Well, Mini Metro will let you try to create your own subway system.
Minimalist in design but complex in its mind-boggling puzzles, Mini Metro provides hours of fun — even if for some of those hours you will be scratching your head.
- $4.99 -Download Now
Red's Kingdom
Red's Kingdom is a perfectly crafted adventure puzzle game that has a lot of depth. The goofy but heartwarming story with its colorful characters is bound to grab your attention, and the incredibly fun gameplay never seems to go stale as the game layers in plenty of elements to surprise you at every turn.
Red's Kingdom opens the doors to its world and allows you to take non-linear paths giving you the opportunity to explore different areas and find alternate routes to hidden treasures. Although it's a puzzle game at its core, the game feels more like an action-adventure game than anything else. I can't recommend Red's Kingdom highly enough!
- $2.99 - Download Now
The Witness
If you're looking for a challenging and beautifully designed open-world game, The Witness is a solid choice for any gamer.
You wake up on a mysterious island with no idea where you are or even who you are. Your only option is to explore the island around you and uncover clues to the real reason you find yourself stranded.
With more than 500 puzzles to find and solve and a vast island to explore, The Witness will keep you enthralled for hours on end.
Garageband Ipad Vs Mac
- $9.99 - Download Now
Ticket to Earth
Ticket to Earth is an incredible game and is a must-download for gamers everywhere, and I can't recommend it highly enough!
The story is littered with surprising plot twists, impactful characters, and a well-written narrative that will keep you invested in the rich world of New Providence and the people who populate the planet.
Beautifully designed graphics that blend the manga/comic book style artwork with brightly colored backgrounds and landscape make Ticket to Earth pop off the screen in a delightful burst of colors, which never gets old.
An original battle system that breathes new life into the strategy RPG genre, the Movement system offers an incredibly deep and complex combat experience that never goes stale, as there is always new powers and abilities to acquire. It's refreshing to see a strategy RPG that heavily relies on the strategy part of its genre. Ticket to Earth will kill you if you're not careful, you must examine the map carefully and choose your action wisely, or you'll be doomed to repeat the same mission over and over again. It can be mildly frustrating as you're still learning the game, but it's wildly entertaining the whole time.
Plus, since the birth of ARKit, the developers have added a beautiful AR mode that lets you play all the story missions and a bunch of new original missions in AR.
$4.99 - Download Now
Plague Inc.
Plague Inc. is a fantastically fun strategy game where you play as a new virus infected the world. The goal of the game is to become so deadly and contagious that you infected and kill the entire population of earth.
Throughout the game, countries will respond to your efforts to infect more people by shutting down air travel, closing borders, setting up disease centers, and more. The good news is you can fight back by upgrading your virus to mutate into different modes of transferring from person-to-person, more severe symptoms, and more.
You have to react to what the world is trying to do to stop the spread of the disease and act accordingly, which makes this game really fun and engaging the entire way through. What's more? Each game is relatively short, but still offers great decisions to made and no two viruses ever spread the same, making the game highly replayable.
$0.99 - Download Now
What do you think are the best iPad games?
Mac Vs Ipad Games For Kids
Games are subjective and I tried to pick a selection of games from different genres, but I'm sure I missed some great games that you love. Leave a comment below or shoot me a Tweet and tell me what iPad games you think are the best of the best!
Updated September 2019: Did some fine-tuning of the list and added Plague Inc. to the list.
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(PRODUCT)REDApple is now redirecting (PRODUCT)RED purchases to COVID‑19 relief fund
Mac Vs Ipad Games For Pc
Now through September 30, Apple is redirecting 100% of a portion of (PRODUCT)RED purchases to the Global Fund’s COVID‑19 Response.