Back in 2018, Apple said it had no plans to merge iPadOS and macOS. So far, it’s kept that promise. Still, some Mac users keep wishing for a touchscreen MacBook, while some iPad fans want a more Mac-like experience. One YouTuber decided to build both, sort of.
Building the iPadBook
In his latest video, 舒灿 ShuCanTech shows off what he calls the world’s first iPadBook: an M4 iPad Pro docked onto the base of a headless M1 MacBook Air. The two connect through a 3D-printed magnetic dock (which he called MagBaka).
Once docked, he can run either iPadOS or macOS, with full support for touch, Apple Pencil, keyboard, and trackpad for either, thanks to a couple of clever shortcuts he can run from the iPadOS home screen.
Equally clever is the hardware that ties it all together. Besides the custom dock, he had to account for the size difference between the iPad and the MacBook Air base. And while he was at it, he designed the hinge to double as a kickstand, giving the MacBook base a slight lift for a more comfortable typing angle.
Of course, this isn’t something just anyone can pull off. It involves carefully disassembling the MacBook Air and disconnecting components, plus 3D-printing chops to make it all fit. And work.
And while the end result isn’t exactly the touchscreen MacBook some want, or the dual-boot iPad/Mac others dream of, it comes pretty close.
And if you’re thinking, “Wait, didn’t Federico Viticci do something like this last year?”, you’re certainly right. And his deep dive into the project is well worth checking out.
Would you use something like this as your daily driver? Let us know in the comments.
iPad deals on Amazon
- iPad 11-inch (A16), 128GB: $299 (was $349)
- iPad Air 11-inch (M3), 128GB: $449 (was $599)
- iPad Air 13-inch (M3), 128GB: $649 (was $799)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), 256GB: $895 (was $999)
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