The iPad Pro is amazing for so many use cases, but using it for making notes or other purposes may be appealing due to the iPad Pro’s portability or other features. But the question remains, is iPad Pro for writers?
The iPad Pro is a good option for writers, but you’ll need to get an additional keyboard as typing on an iPad screen is not an option for any long term writing. Apps like Notes, Files, Voice Memo and Grammarly are also key apps to use.
Let’s dive into why an iPad can be used for writing, what things you have to be aware of and why it is good for writing.
Is the iPad Pro Good for Writing a Book?
Every author has their own style, but for many, an iPad Pro will be a great device to write a book on.
The iPad Pro comes in several sizes, such as the 11-inch and the 12.9-inch.
Both of these screens are big enough to easily view text without straining.
You’ll also get the Liquid Retina display, the signature LED backlit Multi‑Touch screen, either 2388 by 1668 pixel resolution for the 11-inch, or a 2732 by 2048 pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi) for the 12.9-inch.
The iPad Pro also supports the Apple Pencil.
However, one of the most important additions you’ll need to write a book on an iPad Pro is to get a physical keyboard. The official Apple Magic Keyboard is the perfect complement and you’ll know it will be perfectly suitable to connect easily to the iPad.
The Apple Magic Keyboard comes with a trackpad as well as a floating cantilever design to prop the iPad screen up at an adjustable viewing angle, with the iPad Pro connecting magnetically.
It also features a USB-C for pass-through charging, and flips closed to protect the iPad.
Which App on iPad Pro Is Good for Writing?
Apple Pages is the default word processor for Apple products, and in terms of backing up and saving your work is one of the best choices.
Microsoft Word is an option, but if you’re already on an iPad this may not be the choice you want to go with. But it is a top word processor for a reason, and if you’re used to it it’s definitely a solid choice, especially for compatibility reasons.
There are also more writer-aimed apps like Scrivener or Ulysses which come with iPad apps.
It’s worth having a look at other writing apps in the Apple App store and trying out a few, as you may find some of their productivity features work for your type of writing.
You’ll also want to make sure your work is being automatically saved and backed up, because losing chapters of work is a feeling you never want to have.
Google Docs is a no-frills alternative, and allows for easy sharing and formatting of books, and many people have written eBooks on Google Docs and pushed them to Kindle format without much fuss.
For Apple products, the most logical is the Apple iCloud system, which you’ll be signed into by default. With the Files app, you can save your work locally (not recommended) or to other common cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive.
Writing is normally about getting your ideas down on paper, so you’ll want a way to easily jot down things before you forget them.
This is where the iPad can fall down without a keyboard, as tapping away at a soft keyboard can be very difficult, even if you’re well practiced.
The default iPad app, Notes, is perfect for this, and it’s worthwhile keeping your iPad near your bed as you’ll often have great ideas in your dreams, so you’ll want something you can just grab and put it down before it fades.
Voice Memos is another great app to use for quickly getting your thoughts down, and doesn’t require having your keyboard in or trying to type with the soft keyboard. This is particularly hard after you’ve just woken up.
You’ll also want to have a way to check your writing as you go, and Grammarly is one of the best out there although it is a premium app. If you’ve never used it, I would definitely recommend it as one of the best out there and it has helped my writing tremendously.
You can also look at ProWritingAid as an alternative if you don’t want to use Grammarly.
Which iPad Is the Best for Writers?
Since you asked “is iPad Pro for writers,” you may ask which one is the best option. For writing, you’ll want the biggest screen that your budget can afford, as well as a relatively new iPad so that it will run quickly and smoothly.
The newer displays on the iPad are much better than the older ones, so it’s worth heading down to a big box retail store or an Apple store to physically look at the screen to find which one best suits your eyes.
If you’ve got the budget for it, then go for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, where you can select from anywhere from a 256GB model up to a 2TB model.
It boasts ProMotion technology, a wide color display and the vibrant True Tone display giving you the best colors.
With a fully laminated display and an antireflective coating, with a stunning 1.8% reflectivity you’ll also get 600 nits max of SDR brightness and XDR brightness at either 1000 nits max for full screen, or 1600 nits for HDR content. You’ll also get a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
Most writers are going to need to research while working, so you’ll need the ability to have two windows up on your iPad, meaning the more space the better. An iPad mini just won’t cut it if you will need to be referencing something while you type.
This may even be to bring up emails or other screenshots, which you can easily do via quickly switching between apps if that’s your thing.
