Can You Use an iPad Pro for Professional Editing?

Introduction

As a photographer and videographer based in Ontario, Canada, I've spent the past nine months using my 11-inch iPad Pro with the M2 chip for photo and video editing. Today, I'll share my experience with the primary apps I rely on, various accessories I've found helpful, and my overall impressions of this setup. I'll also discuss whether I think an iPad Pro would be a good choice for someone like you.

The Apps

Adobe Lightroom

Overall, my experience editing on Lightroom for iPad has been mostly positive. The Magic Pencil makes the editing process feel more hands-on compared to using a mouse. The app is responsive and quick; however, I do experience some lag compared to desktop use.

Unfortunately, Lightroom lacks some essential features I'd expect, such as the calibration tool and advanced masking options like AI features which aren't present here. The app also struggles to communicate seamlessly with Photoshop; often, exported files simply don’t transfer, and this inconsistency is frustrating.

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop on the iPad is suitable for basic edits, such as creating thumbnails for YouTube. However, it lacks many functionalities available in the desktop version, which limits its usability for professional editing tasks.

DaVinci Resolve

For video editing, I primarily use DaVinci Resolve. While it's a powerful app, I often encounter bugs and crashes, especially with certain codecs. Ideally, I would avoid ProRes formats for storage issues, but they provide better performance with DaVinci. The color grading tools are impressive but hindered by the small screen size.

LumaFusion

LumaFusion is a solid option for simple video edits and audio tasks. The interface is intuitive, and it feels tailored for the iPad experience. However, the color grading capabilities are quite limited, feeling blunt compared to what I can achieve in DaVinci Resolve, which is designed specifically for that purpose. Furthermore, the default graphics and transitions tend to be lackluster.

Final Cut Pro

This app is developed by Apple, so I expected it to integrate well, but it has a major drawback: it doesn't allow you to edit off an external hard drive, which is essential for my workflow. Saving everything locally isn’t feasible, especially with the base model's limited storage.

Accessories

To maximize the iPad's functionality, I found I needed quite a few accessories, including a case, screen protector, keyboard, mouse, Magic Pencil, USB-C Hub, card readers, and a stand. The cost of these accessories can easily add up to a significant amount, which raises the question of whether you should simply purchase a laptop instead.

One major pain point is the USB-C hub situation. Transferring files from an SD card to an external hard drive requires multiple ports, and many hubs sacrifice other functionalities like headphone jacks and additional card readers.

Another notable drawback is the lack of proper media ejection options. Unlike laptops, simply removing media can lead to corruption issues, and the inability to format drives on the iPad is problematic.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Portability: The iPad Pro is compact and easy to carry, making it convenient for editing on the go.
Cost-Effective: It offers substantial power for a relatively low price compared to a full laptop setup.
Intuitive User Interface: The design is user-friendly, especially for those familiar with Apple's ecosystem.
Fun to Use: Editing on an iPad can be an enjoyable experience.

Cons

Limited Functionality: Many apps don't have full capabilities found in their desktop versions, which can be a frustrating experience.
Small Screen: The 11-inch display can be restricting and makes tasks like video editing tedious.
Overheating Issues: Working on intensive tasks often leads to overheating, causing performance drops and interruptions.
Accessory Dependency: The whole system requires numerous add-ons to function effectively, making it cumbersome and potentially more expensive than a laptop.

Conclusion

Would I recommend an iPad as your primary device for photo and video editing? It depends. If your needs are basic—such as simple edits and portability—then the iPad Pro could be a great fit. It's also excellent as a secondary device. However, if you require advanced features or routinely work with complex tasks in Photoshop, you might find the iPad lacking.

Ultimately, if you can afford to invest in a capable laptop, I would recommend going that route. The frustrations that come with the iPad's limitations might not be worth the initial savings.

Let me know if you have any experience editing on an iPad, or if you have tips and insights to share in the comments!

Keywords

iPad Pro, professional editing, Lightroom, Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve, LumaFusion, Final Cut Pro, accessories, video editing, photo editing, portability, functionality, overheating.

FAQ

Q: Is the iPad Pro suitable for professional editing?
A: The iPad Pro can work well for basic editing but lacks many features found in desktop applications, making it less ideal for heavy editing tasks.

Q: What apps are recommended for photo editing on the iPad?
A: Lightroom is popular, but it has limitations. Photoshop and LumaFusion are also options for simple edits.

Q: What accessories do I need for an iPad Pro?
A: For effective editing, consider a case, screen protector, USB-C hub, card readers, a keyboard, mouse, and a Magic Pencil.

Q: Does the iPad Pro overheat during editing?
A: Yes, it can overheat, especially when connected to external devices while performing intensive tasks.

Q: Should I get an iPad Pro or a laptop for editing?
A: If you're looking for portability and basic editing, the iPad could work. However, for full functionality, a laptop may be the better option.