Does the 128GB iPad 4 Spell Death for the 64GB MacBook Air?


iPad 128GB

iPad 128GB

Yesterday, gadget enthusiasts were treated to the news that there is a new iPad 4, one boasting a whopping 128GB of storage. I don’t know about you, but the first thing that came to mind was, “Why?”

Oh, I am sure there are plenty of justified reasons for wanting – and actually using – a tablet that has the same storage capacity as my MacBook Air. It’s just that, based on personal experience, I haven’t found the iPad to be a perfect replacement for the laptop. Yes, I can do a lot of my writing work on the iPad, but at the end of the day, I am more efficient on the laptop, and I want my files stored on the device I use the most. But that could just be me!

In any case, the question of the 128GB iPad being the signal of the 64GB MBA’s death was brought to my attention upon reading Scott’s Stein article suggesting just that. His argument is simple: “By increasing the storage capacity of the iPad, the distance between the iPad and the MacBook Air shrinks. It’s high time that the entry-level 11-inch Air started at 128GB.”

You know what? I  totally agree.

Let’s look at the key  specs of the MBA:

  • 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache
  • 11.6-inch (diagonal) high-resolution LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
  • 64GB storage
  • $999

How about the new iPad 4?

  • A6X chip
  • 9.7-inch with Retina display
  • 128GB storage
  • $799 for Wi-Fi only and $929 for Wi-Fi + Cellular

Taking a look at those details, it is pretty much a no brainer – the lower end 11-inch MBA is not an attractive a deal anymore. Sure, it still has the advantage of a very portable laptop, but 64GB really is not enough, especially since there is no way to add to that after purchase. If you’re willing to spend almost a thousand dollars on a computing device, the iPad 4 with 128GB makes more sense, doesn’t it? And that’s why the 11-inch MBA should start at 128GB instead.

The new iPad 4 will be available starting February 5, just in time for another Hallmark holiday when people with dispensable income fall prey to the machinations of marketers.

Image via CNET


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

5 Comments

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  1. I think this simply serves the needs of 2 different customers. The MacBook Air runs OS X, which runs full-fledged apps. You can’t run Photoshop, Quickbooks or Autocad on the iPad.

    1. You have a point, and actually, that is the main reason I am not using the iPad as my main device. The case to be made, though, is that the entry-level MBA with 64GB ought to be bumped up to 128GB.

  2. It’s really a personal decision. In my case, in the summer of 2011, I purchased an iPad2 to go with my 13″ MacBook Air (2011). After one month of use, I sold my iPad2 and purchased an 11″ MacBook Air because I was unable to do enough productivity work with my iPad. I’ve never looked back.

    I’ll probably buy an iPad MIni at some point to use for consuming media, web browsing and light email. But…at least for me, an iPad can’t replace a MacBook Air and it’s not even close.