I am giving preliminary and cautious thought to my future hardware purchases in view of the significant price increases for hardware. I use my iPad every day, but I am thinking through the prospect of ditching my iPad and purchasing an M6 MBP or MBA when it is time to upgrade my M4 MBP, along with a foldable iPhone. Depending on size and price, I may be able to use the foldable phone as my “tablet” for reading and quick note-taking with dictation. I’m assuming a foldable will have more screen real estate than my iPhone 17 Max. My iPad includes the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, so the combo is expensive.
Until we see the rumored foldable in the wild and have a price, it is impossible to assess whether my idea is financially prudent or workable, but it is an interesting idea to ponder.
I don’t remember seeing anything in the rumors suggesting the folding phone will support the pencil. If that’s something you regularly use, it may not be the right fit for you.
I wouldn’t get a foldable phone until at least the second generation. Partially because V1 is likely to have at least some issues due to being a whole new form factor. Partially because I wouldn’t upend my workflow until I was reasonably sure they’d keep making them.
I would miss the size (11") + form factor (portrait mode) combination of the iPad for reading. I would miss the ability to take notes using the Apple Pencil. Neither of these advantages are (apt to be) replaceable with the combination that you propose.
Otherwise, as someone still holding on to an i9 MBP while debating on an M6 MBP or mini / studio (or punting to an M5), I have to wonder whether we have a few more years until we hear your final verdict on ditching the M4 MBP. Shall we put this thread in sleep mode until then.
Yes, I suspect I’ll be making significant hardware decisions in a couple of years. I’m not sure I’ll need to make any decisions sooner than that, but I tend to be a long-range planner, so I think way ahead.
I’ll give you an absolutely true but silly example. I started drinking coffee when I was fourteen. I thought way ahead and realized that when I was in my forties, I probably would want to be careful not to add cream and sugar to my coffee to avoid weight gain, so I decided to learn to drink my coffee black. I have drunk it black ever since. I drink tea with no sugar too. In fact, I don’t drink anything that contains sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Of course, I should add that when I was fourteen a marine told me that “real men drink their coffee black.”
I am still waiting for the MB with iPad Screen LOL
But I too as in the same boat as @Bmosbacker , still supporting the last 12.9 iPad Pro before the jump to M chips. It takes a good while for things to load up before giving a lecture. My iPad Mini is a faster (latest gen) but not enough screen real estate.
Still supporting the iPhone 15 Pro Max, haven’t had a reason to upgrade. Before we had the Apple Tax, now the RAM tax, HD tax, the AI tax… what else is left?
I recall bringing in a container of Folger’s Crystals with me to the diner for breakfast while on vacation in the US. Had to add a few teaspoons to whatever they served from those jars with dark’ish liquid on the counter
