I have an M2 iPad Air 11". It sits on my desk throughout the workday and usually acts as my little jukebox, streaming music to my headphones.
I bought the latest Apple Pencil with it, hoping to increase my hand written notes. I can’t really use it for work, but I’ve dabbled in handwritten journal entries and morning pages, and as a notepad here and there.
It never really stuck though. I’m left handed so while Goodnotes/Notability have good palm detection, they’re not always perfect. Even with the setting for where my palm rests toggled accurately. Plus, the thickness of the iPad meant starting a new line would involve hovering my left palm off the writing surface and kind of floating in mid air. I have it in one of those canvas folio/keyboard cases.
I was watching a Youtube video last week and the guy in the video took his iPad out of the case/folio before writing in it. I thought to myself “that can’t make that much difference, can it?”.
My iPad is roughly the same thickness as a paper note pad while sporting no case. MUCH more manageable and comfortable. I still write like a hook-wristed lefty who death grips the pencil like a primary student, but it works SO much better in this set up.
So yeah, if you’ve never used the Apple Pencil/No Case setup, I highly recommend.
Can’t believe it took me so long to figure this out.
My iPad Pro lives in an Apple Magic Keyboard. (The keyboard is my most regretted Apple purchase ever.) I always remove the keyboard when I write, and enjoy the experience a lot.
I have the same M2 iPad and I don’t use a case ever
In my opinion cases on tablets make them twice as heavy and less useable. As soon as you take the case off it’s use increases exponentially as does the enjoyment of the device. We buy wonderfully crafted devices that are a joy to hold and attach keyboards and crappy cases that make us leave the device on the shelf.
I have always used keyboards with my iPads. They have never been attached. Using a Bluetooth keyboard and pointing device has provided great flexibility.
It’s pretty heavily advertised these days, and the YouTube influencers love it. So, you may have seen it already. But it adds almost no thickness and you can leave your ipad in it for writing if you want.
This is one of the key benefits of the Hardware of the iPad v a MacBook.
With the magnetic back you can attach and detach things in seconds. I have a keyboard and a folio for my iPad and I can use either or neither at any time based on what I want to use it for.
The iPad is the thinnest device Apple Makes, use it as you wish.
As someone who is prone to drop tech, I much prefer a case when carrying.
I still prefer the iPad form factor, but my return to macOS as my daily driver has been brilliant since Apple (IMO) ruined iPadOS
So do I, for many of the same reasons you listed. And even after Apple poured iPadOS 26 ugly all over my iPad Air I’m still able to use it. Mainly, IMO, because I rely on non-Apple software and service.
I never bothered to get a keyboard case for my 11” iPad Pro, for this exact reason. The normal folio with apple pencil, with a small apple keyboard in my bag is all I really need for most days on the road. (that said I do love my Magic Keyboard with my 13” Pro).
I do find that larger iPads are a bit large for this use case, it’s a bit odd to sit in a meeting trying to hold your ipad whilst taking notes (either on the table or on your lap).
I started out taking notes on an iPad with a stylus, then later with an Apple Pencil on an iPad Pro. Today I mainly take notes with a pen and legal pad, then scan the pages with Simple Scan. My university days were a decade behind me before I used my first PC. Guess I’ve come full circle.
I’m also left handed, and have a magic keyboard case. When I want to do some serious writing I take the case off and lay it on the desk alongside the iPad. Now they’re flush!
Free the tablet! 