Updated September 2026: in 2021 I used a new iPad alongside my ageing 2012 MacBook Pro and found two limits: no way to clear app cache files, and multitasking that closed apps when switching. I have rewritten it with how the iPad has changed and where it still falls short of a laptop.
I added a current iPad as a second device to take pressure off my old MacBook Pro. After a few weeks, two frustrations stood out. Apps built up large cache files, and the only built-in remedy was offloading the whole app. And multitasking, although available, often reloaded apps when I switched back, losing my place.
Can you clear app cache on an iPad?
Not system-wide. iPadOS manages cache files itself and removes them when storage runs low. You can see how much space each app uses in Settings, General, iPad Storage, and either offload the app, keeping its documents, or delete and reinstall it to clear everything. Some apps, such as browsers and streaming apps, have their own option to clear cache or downloads inside their settings.
Has iPad multitasking improved?
Considerably. iPadOS 26, released in 2025, introduced a windowing system with freely resizable windows, a menu bar and a closer resemblance to how a Mac works. Apps staying in memory still depends on how much memory the iPad has, so models with more memory handle heavy multitasking better.
Where does an iPad still fall short of a laptop?
- Some professional software is available only on Mac or Windows, or in reduced versions on iPad.
- File management through the Files app is better than before but less flexible than a desktop.
- Company tools: some corporate VPNs, browser extensions and internal apps do not support iPad.
- Cost: an iPad with a keyboard case and enough storage can cost as much as a laptop.
Who can replace a laptop with an iPad?
People whose work is mostly email, documents, browsing, video calls and media, and whose company tools support iPad. Students and people who draw or annotate often find an iPad better than a laptop. Anyone who needs specific desktop software, or spends long hours in spreadsheets and multiple windows, is usually better served by a laptop.
Is it better as a second device?
For most people, yes, which is how I used it. An iPad handles reading, calls, notes and entertainment well, while the laptop remains the tool for heavy work. As the iPad has become more capable, the list of tasks that need the laptop has shrunk, but it has not disappeared.