Take Tech Reviews With a Grain of Salt
A grounded look at why tech reviewers keep getting the iPad wrong. When you actually buy and use your devices every day, the iPad—especially the 13-inch Air—proves itself as a practical, flexible, and reliable tool that fits real-world workflows far better than reviewers admit.
Every so often a tech show or YouTube channel announces that the iPad is “underwhelming,” “not a real computer,” or “just for kids and the elderly.” The pattern is predictable, and honestly, it misses the point.
The issue isn’t the iPad.
The issue is the viewpoint.
Most reviewers live in a world where devices show up for free, rotate weekly, and never have to be justified by real-life use. When your job is to bounce between five laptops, four tablets, and three phones, it’s easy to say something “isn’t enough.”
Regular people don’t live that way. Most of us buy one device, think carefully about the price, and use it every day until it pays us back in time saved and problems solved.
The iPad “Problem” Doesn’t Exist for Real Users
Critics love to claim the iPad is stuck between categories. But if you actually use one in your daily routine, the picture is different. The iPad can be:
- a main computer
- a writing and creative device
- a podcast editor
- a workstation when docked
- an easy reading and browsing device when undocked
- an accessibility-friendly tool that removes friction
The people calling it “useless” are usually not the ones trying to live with it.
Real-World Value Isn’t The Reviewer Metric
When you buy your own devices, the decision looks different:
- You care about longevity.
- You care about practicality.
- You care about what helps you get work done—not what fills a review segment.
When I say something works, it’s because I use it daily, not because I want views.
My iPad Workflow
I use my iPad Air 13" in two modes:
- Docked: acts like a laptop—writing, browsing, planning.
- Detached: pure tablet—reading, researching, relaxed workflows.
Touch input, a larger pointer, and accessibility features remove the small frustrations that traditional laptops introduce.
I choose tools based on what actually helps me—not hypothetical workflows reviewers imagine.
Why the iPad Still Makes Sense
Most people don’t need a full desktop OS. They need something stable, simple, and powerful enough for everyday work. iPadOS nails that middle ground. It’s easy to maintain, hard to break, and consistent in a way that matters more than reviewers admit.
Use What Works
I don’t care about hot takes. I care about tools that help me stay productive, stay creative, and stay focused.
For me, the 13-inch iPad Air fits.
It works.
And for most normal people, that’s all that matters.
