Why the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold convinced me to abandon my iPad for good

My iPad has been a constant companion for almost half a decade.

The laptop-lite has earned its spot in my backpack, nightstand, and even right next to my laptop for filling the gap between full-fledged computing and light on-the-go needs.

It’s perfectly designed to read, catch up on ideas and articles, and handle light work.

Much as I’ve tried, I used to believe that nothing can replace the mix of convenience and capabilities offered by the iPad. Turns out, I was wrong. And the answer is the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Google’s foldable isn’t just a bigger phone. Instead, it works like a true hybrid device fully capable of handling real productivity tasks while fitting into a pocket.

Ever since I started using it, my iPad has stayed untouched.

Here’s why the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has convinced me to retire my iPad for good.

It can do nearly everything the iPad can do, but in a better form factor

Your phone and your tablet in one device

The iPad is a great content consumption device.

Between the big screen for video, magazines and books, power for editing content, and a well-polished app ecosystem, it’s understandable why it’s such a popular form factor.

However, when you stop and think about it, almost everything we call tablet tasks doesn’t necessarily need a tablet. They need a good screen, good multitasking, long battery life, and apps that make effective use of that screen real estate.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold covers all that ground without the overhead of carrying a second screen.

On the productivity front, the Pixel Fold gets closer to a real computer than any previous attempt from Google.

The inner display is bright, wide, and built for portable use. The Tensor G5 holds up great in day-to-day workloads.

Between Google Docs, Sheets, and Keep, the first-party apps scale beautifully across large and small displays.

But it’s not just first-party apps. The same can be said for third-party apps. Be it Slack, Notion, or Lightroom, all the apps can run just fine across both screens.

This means that you can accomplish many of the same tasks as the iPad without having to carry dedicated devices.

The Fold also shines in ways that the iPad falls short. True windowed multitasking gives apps much more flexibility than what iPadOS allows.

You can float a chat window while working on a document, or browse YouTube while communicating over Slack. It’s imperceptibly quick to switch between layouts.

And since the Pixel Fold is also your phone, it is always with you. You no longer need to remember to carry an extra device, charge another battery, or connect additional accessories.

I expected the iPad to stand out as far as media consumption is concerned. But that’s not the case at all.

Pretty much all my media consumption happens via Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube, and all these apps scale perfectly across the Pixel Fold’s multiple screens.

Truth be told, the only aspect where the iPad has an advantage is with productivity apps like Final Cut Pro or Procreate. But these are niche apps that most people don’t need on a daily basis.

Better portability and cameras make the Pixel 10 Pro Fold a better, more complete option

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the device you actually carry

For me, tablets have always been a bit problematic. Even the smallest iPad is still an additional device that takes up precious space in my bag.

It’s definitely not going to fit in my pocket. Nor can it always be used while standing up.

The Pixel 10 Pro solves that problem with ease. Fold it, and it’s a phone that slips into your pocket. Unfold it, and it’s a reasonably sized tablet. At no point does it feel like you are carrying more than you need, or a device that’s needlessly large.

This portability is a huge selling point because the best device is the one you have with you. I realized how rarely I was carrying my iPad outside the house because of its size.

The Fold, on the other hand, removes that choice. It just comes along with me. That dramatically changes how I use it.

Portability aside, the Pixel’s camera loadout has also been a pleasant surprise. Yes, the iPad has a camera, but it’s anything but good. No tablet can truly compete against a modern smartphone.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, on the other hand, has a proper flagship-grade camera setup that lets you shoot images across a variety of focal lengths, and then immediately switch back to editing them on a large display. None of this is feasible on an iPad.

Tablets are great, but the Pixel 10 Pro Fold fits how I actually live

I can’t take away from the iPad’s abilities. It is an astonishingly powerful tool as far as tablets go. However, it just doesn’t fit how I work and travel anymore.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold covers nearly every use case I have for a tablet, but with better portability, cameras, and flexibility. It’s a natural extension of both phones and computers.

After a month or two of switching over, I’ve effectively boxed up my iPad and haven’t missed it once. Give it a shot, you might end up doing the same.