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I’ve been using the new M4 iPad Pro for the past week exclusively, resisting any urge to use my MacBook Pro as a crutch. Needless to say, it was educational, interesting, and dare I say, a entertainment experience on many fronts. My biggest takeaway? The iPad has its flaws, but iPadOS doesn’t need to be macOS to be a good computer.

There is a large contingent of iPad users who use computers today only because of iPadOS and how accessible it is to them. The iPad can make computers more accessible to users who were once afraid of computers. For that reason alone, it should give the iPad name some respect.

Before the latest batch of iPad Pro reviews came out, I predicted what the current story would be, and I’m not even very good at making predictions. We’ve seen the same story over and over over the years. Yes, the hardware is great…but the software falls short. Oh, and by the way, I’m guilty of this too.

For years now, the iPad Pro has had hardware under the hood that’s more than capable of getting things done. For some users, it’s the flaws and quirks of iPadOS that have made it a challenge to get the most out of its power.

However, that doesn’t mean the iPad needs to run macOS to reach its full potential. It just has to be the best version of iPadOS.

What does the best version of iPadOS look like?

I don’t think it looks like Apple copied and pasted macOS onto the iPad. I think it still looks very similar to the iPadOS that comes out today, just with the kind of refinements and conveniences that more advanced users expect. Also, there is a need for app developers to treat the platform as a first-class citizen.

There are many areas where I think iPadOS could improve, but there are three main areas that I think are among the most important.

1. iPadOS apps and the need for a common thread

iPadOS apps almost feel like their own little mini operating systems running on the iPad. This is because each application has its own unique method of interacting with it, accessing the necessary tools, etc. It’s missing the common thread that ties all the apps together to make them a cohesive experience.

On the Mac, that common thread is the menu bar. It’s where, regardless of the app, you can go there to do something… whatever that thing is.

Arguably, the current methodology for viewing keyboard shortcuts—holding down the Command (⌘) key—is basically the iPadOS version of the menu bar. The problem with the hotkey menu is that it relies on a connected keyboard, is slow to call up and takes up too much space, I think a more thoughtful redesign is needed to serve both touch and keyboard users.

2. Keyboard shortcuts, but taken seriously

This is both an iPadOS issue and a separate app issue. As fun and convenient as touch interfaces are, they are not always suitable for certain tasks. Power users rely on keyboard shortcuts to get things done more efficiently.

Of course, iPadOS there is keyboard shortcuts, but they should be taken more seriously by app developers, including Apple. If it exists as a function, in most cases there should be a corresponding keyboard shortcut.

I encountered one of the most glaring examples of this problem while editing the entire video embedded above on my iPad using Final Cut Pro. Apple’s professional NLE is an amazing experience in many ways, especially for its touch-first interface. I think this app has tone with potential, and I’m excited about Final Cut Pro for iPad 2, which should be shipping next month.

That being said, there are missing features that video editors need but aren’t there yet, and that’s understandable given the app’s short existence. What is not so understandable is the lack of keyboard shortcuts for certain commands that do currently exist, such as copy and paste effects between clips. Since there were no keyboard shortcuts for these commands, I had to go through the time-consuming process of manually copying and pasting effects between the hundred or so clips in my timeline so that they all matched.

Apple should also implement a way to allow users to create their own keyboard shortcuts. Such a feature already somewhat exists as an accessibility setting in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Full Keyboard Access, but it’s only for customizing the keyboard shortcuts used to navigate iPadOS, not for individual apps.

3. File management for toddlers

The Files app is a huge improvement over its first iteration, when it was called iCloud Drive. I appreciate the fact that we now have more detailed information about files, how we can compress and decompress files, etc., but there should be more flexibility for users to manage files.

One of the many frustrations I encountered was the inability to preview video shot with my Sony FX30 via Quick Look. Opening the file with Quick Look resulted in a blank screen prompting me to open the file in another application.

There are lots of little issues like this that aren’t a big deal by themselves. But when you start adding up all the smaller flaws of file management in iPadOS, it stands out.

iPadOS doesn’t need a ‘fix’

I compared the difference between using macOS and iPadOS to accomplish the same task to the difference between running on land and running while submerged in water. Eventually you will both reach the destination, but who will finish first? Better yet, who will feel better after running? Apple has drained a lot of the water that got bogged down with the iPad, but more needs to be done.

iPadOS is an extremely capable platform with its own unique paradigms. Some of its flaws can be seen as strengths depending on how the light hits the prism, so to speak. Disadvantages can also drive innovation when engineers are forced to approach a problem differently.

iPadOS should not be patched because that means iPadOS is broken. iPadOS needs to be improved and optimized. Improving the platform isn’t just copying and pasting macOS onto the iPad. Improving iPadOS involves Apple paying close attention to the most basic user experience and interface flaws, while continuing to upgrade it with new and unique features year after year. Apple hasn’t been perfect at this so far, but we have to admit how far the iPad has come in a relatively short time.

9to5Mac’s Take

While Apple probably should have read the room before publishing the controversial ad that crushed all of the beloved physical relics of creativity into a thin and light iPad Pro, I get where it’s going with it. This machine can wear an infinite number of hats and is perhaps the most versatile piece of consumer electronics ever created.

The software that powers it, iPadOS, is fine. A large number of users will support this thought. We just have to be patient, let iPadOS be iPadOS, and let the platform continue to evolve.