iPad Air Travelling Across Canada and Around Newfoundland

*I recently spent 10 Days on an island in the Northern Atlantic with an iPad Air.*

In July, I finally had the chance to travel to Newfoundland, Canada, to visit relatives that I hadn't seen in nearly two years because of COVID-19 shutdowns and travel restrictions. And for that 10-day trip, I waffled between taking my MacBook Air, iPad Air, or both. Ultimately the decision settled on only taking the 2020 iPad Air in Sky Blue. The iPad, along with my iPhone, were the two devices I used during the entire trip.

The Device

Apple introduced the iPad Air in September 2020 during their 'Time Flies' virtual event. The 2020 iPad Air was the first product Apple introduced to feature their new 5nm chip architecture. Featuring a redesign modelled after the current generation iPad Pros, the iPad Air features a 10.9" Liquid Retina display, USB-C, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil 2 and Apple's Magic Keyboard.

The iPad I brought along was the 256GB WiFi+Cellular Sky Blue iPad Air. Accessories that came along for the trip included the Apple's iPad Magic Keyboard, a TPU keyboard cover from Uppercase Designs, the Apple Pencil 2, & a SleeveCase from WaterField Designs.

Why the iPad?

When it was announced, the spirit of the iPad was to be a device that was better than a Mac or an iPhone for the tasks you chose to perform with it. And when I looked at what my priorities were for selecting a device for this trip, the iPad Air became the device de jour.

Priority 1: Portability

*Imagine my delight when the flight to Newfoundland included a USB-C port for charging!*

First, I wanted a device that would be very compact. I'd be walking a lot, travelling in coach, and squeezed into small bedrooms, so a device that took up a minimal amount of space/weight was ideal. The smaller charging block to carry around was also a bonus.

Priority 2: Versatility

Having a device whose form adapts to each function is a banner feature of the iPad. Going from holding just a tablet for reading/browsing to attaching a keyboard and having an excellent keyboard and trackpad, then going straight into tablet mode for editing with the Apple Pencil feels easy, smooth, and super futuristic. And during none of these modes of interaction did I ever think I am getting a second-rate experience. It's an excellent device for reading/browsing, the typing experience is superb, and the pencil input is first-class!

Priority 3: Durability

Slipped inside a sleeve or even inside the Magic Keyboard, the iPad feels a lot less fragile or as something to be babied compared with the MacBook Air. I felt comfortable taking the iPad to places like the beach, on an ATV ride, or having it propped on a table while the hustle and bustle of family whizzed around it.

Priority 4: Connectivity

The iPad remains Apple's only 'computer' that offers a built-in cellular modem. And while hot-spotting from an iPhone to a Mac exists, the option of having internet access without being tethered to an unpredictable WiFi network or without burning through my iPhone's battery remains an attractive selling point. With long layovers and Wifi-less cabin's featuring prominently during my trip, cellular connectivity was a massive plus for bringing the iPad Air.

Priority 5: The Right Apps

I wanted the device I brought along to have a collection of movies & TV shows for flying & layovers, writing apps for journalling & messaging, photo editing apps, access to News+ & Apple Books, a few games, and Apple Fitness+. For many of these use cases, the iPad is already my go-to device over the MacBook Air. The screen size was adequate for watching a few movies on the flights as the iPad rested on the cramped and flimsy Airline tray. Reading on a device you can hold is superior to reading on a laptop, and Fitness+ remains unavailable on the Mac for some forsaken reason. About the only thing I would've wanted my MacBook for was to access apps like Sketch or Pixelmator Pro, but knowing that I wouldn't have the time to do any design work, these weren't missed.

How'd it Go?

*02:05 in the morning & we finally arrived at our hotel.*

The TL;DR summary: The iPad Air was the ideal device to compliment every mile of my travel.

The iPad fit the tight quarters I was in during our 12 hours of flying and layovers to and from the island. I had a chance to watch a few shows, open up Day One mid-flight & journal some thoughts, and read through articles I’d saved prior to takeoff. It was easy to prop the iPad up on whatever surface (lap, airport table, aircraft tray) I had available, and small enough to move around without worrying about nicking the iPad on the aircraft's cramped interior.

The iPad's speakers & cellular connectivity helped me connect to Apple Music and Poolsuite FM for music out on the patio or around the fire at the cabin. At the same time, the Magic Keyboard could be closed up to protect the screen and was durable enough to shield the device from the elements. And in the evenings, when others were asleep, I'd put in my AirPods, turn on Airplay Audio Sharing, and the missus & I would watch a show before heading to sleep ourselves.

During other parts of the trip, the iPad Air was a staple for daily journalling inside of Day One, editing photos on a larger canvas inside Darkroom, and even doing a few pre-downloaded Fitness+ workouts.

In Sum

I know that what I was asking of a device for this trip was far from groundbreaking or unique to the iPad: play music, show photos, be small. But what I think sets the iPad apart was how well it performed each of the tasks I assigned it to do and how polished & uncluttered the experience of using an iPad has always been. The iPad enhanced every part of my journey, providing the right tools to capture each memory, enhance each moment, and wind down after long days.

iPad Air: Travel Computer Du Jour