Ipad For Medical Students

You’re probably wondering what it’s like and what are the benefits.

Laptop or iPad For Medical School? (Don’t Make This Key Mistake)

Choosing a laptop or iPad for medical school comes down to two things; workflow and budget. If you’re the type of student who loves taking handwritten notes and has some cash to spare? Go the iPad route. Want to keep your options open? Get a laptop.

Other things you’re going to want to consider are more comparable; battery life, processing power, disk space, etc. But all are important to think about.

Here we take a bigger look at the question. We’ll discuss:

• The pros and cons of both
• What most med students might want from either device
• The mistake I made choosing between the two

Let’s get started.

Laptop Or Tablet For Medical School?

The functionality of laptops and tablets, at least in 2022, is basically the same. Med students can pretty much do everything they need on either device.

Choosing one over the other comes down to personal preference. Laptops edge tablets in terms of versatility. Tablets are better for note-taking.

My Personal Opinion

If I had only one choice? I’d go for a laptop. But the truth is that I actually have both (so yeah, that’s an option too).

I bought a 2018 iPad and Apple Pencil in the summer of my second year in med school. And I upgraded from a 2012 Macbook Air (it died) to an ASUS Zenbook laptop earlier this year. Needless to say, the iPad doesn’t get used.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing device. The screen, the OS, the pencil; it all works seamlessly. The problem is it just doesn’t suit my workflow. A workflow that involves no notetaking whatsoever.

And almost 80% Anki…

Looking back, now $500 worse off, it does feel like a bit of a mistake. The iPad only really comes out when I’m traveling (not regularly) and want to read a book or watch a movie. Otherwise, all work and study get done on the laptop.

Why Tablets Aren’t Good For Med School

1. It’s hard to work with spreadsheets

Especially when trying to quickly copy and paste lines of text into cells and create something like this).

2. File transfer can get complicated

Especially when downloading PDFs and videos from around the web and wanting to move them across different devices (complicated when on different ecosystems).

3. Not efficient “work machines”

Spending a lot of time working online in med school, I need access to custom software and things like Chrome extensions. Tablet OS systems are limited here.

Basically, I share a lot of the same conclusions Ali Abdaal comes down to in this video comparing the Macbook (laptop) to the iPad (tablet)…

HP Spectre

Another tablet-laptop hybrid, the Spectre is a cheaper choice than both the Apple and Microsoft competitors. While it shares a lot of the same functionality, there are some questions asked about its durability.

Chromebook

Chromebooks act as something as a go-between on tablets and laptops. They have similar functionality (portable and lightweight) but are usually less powerful.

The one big factor they have going for them? Low cost.

But perhaps they lack the functionality of some of the other options.

Should I Get An iPad For Medical School?

Having already shared my personal opinion on tablets vs laptops in med school (the iPad in particular), it’s important to be as objective as possible.

Should you get an iPad for medical school? Here are some good reasons why:

Why you should get an iPad

• You’re already using the Apple ecosystem: (you’ve bought and use Apps on an iPhone and Macbook).
• You’re a massive fan of handwriting notes: the Pencil and iPad combo is the best tablet writing experience here no debate – perfect for annotating lecture slides, class notes, etc. Curiously, there’s also some scientific evidence that handwriting is better than laptop typing when it comes to studying too.
• You want a powerful appliance that can do almost everything: as long as you also buy the separate accessories; keyboard, pencil, tablet protector, etc.

And an iPad is also great in terms of portability too. Meaning you could carry it around on hospital rotations with you easily enough.

That’s something that’s a little more tricky with a laptop – especially if they’re heavy.

On top of these reasons for choosing a laptop over an iPad though, there are also other potential negatives.

Why you shouldn’t get an iPad

• Price: the iPad is a serious investment. Money is a big reason why medical school is so stressful. Is it worth it?
• Efficiency: it’s a little more difficult to switch between apps, run different software programs and produce work fast than it is on a laptop. Not much slower but marginally.
• External peripherals: wiring an iPad up to a USB monitor or printer, as it lacks ports, isn’t an option. Definitely, something to consider if you ever need a bigger screen to work with or the odd thing to print.
• Apps: having an iPad limit you to the apps that Apple approves. Windows laptops or Android tablets give you much more freedom here. The apps are often cheaper to purchase on these platforms too.

That last one is especially relevant in terms of Anki (one of my staple tools for studying medicine more effectively). The iOS app for Anki is the only paid version of it across any device (it’s free on Windows and Android).

It’s also, due to cumbersome functionality, much more difficult to edit and make flashcards on Anki using the mobile version.

In fact, it’s for this reason I told a good med school friend of mine to really think twice in terms of opting for an iPad over a laptop.

Such is the power of the flashcard…

Which iPad Is Best for Medical Students?

If you’re still thinking an iPad would fit your use-case best in med school then you’ll want to consider a few extra things.

Some key questions:

• How much hard disk space are you going to need? (Without a laptop you’re going to want to go as big as possible)
• What size screen is best? (Large screens are less portable but probably more practical to do work on)

The last one is more important still if you like to pull up different apps (like a book and a note-taking app) and use them side by side.

There’s also the issue of price. The 9.7-inch iPad is cheaper than the 10.5 iPad Pro but both are compatible with the Apple pencil. Is the added functionality of the Pro really going to make that much of a difference?

Having bought the iPad (and not the Pro) I didn’t think so at first. But then the frustrations of having more limited space really do annoy me when I think about it…

Most med students who’ve gone down the iPad-only route (if your budget permits), tend to say go big (space and size) and go Pro.

iPad or Macbook for Medical School?

I’ve already spent a lot of time arguing the case for laptops over tablets. Still believing that’s the case, I’d go for a Macbook over an iPad. They’re more powerful, not that much less portable and open up options for you to do more things than simply just study.

The other question I’d ask is; is digital note-taking (what most med students would choose to use an iPad for) really that necessary?

Pen and paper can get the job done. And you’d still have an amazing laptop to use.

In fact, the only reason I’d ever get a tablet over a Macbook is if I wanted to become an expert anatomist. Only then would it make sense, to be able to take it into a cadaver lab and use it as a study aid or as a quick reference tool for 3D anatomy apps.

That’s when a powerful high-res portable touch screen (like that of the iPad) could really make a difference.

Final Thoughts

As the owner of both an iPad and a laptop in med school, it’s the latter that gets the most love. My workflow, method of study and the things I do outside med school make it more valuable to me than a tablet.

But of course no one med student is the same…

Just because a laptop works better for me doesn’t mean it’s right for you!

Best iPad For Medical Students in India [2023 Buying Guide]

Medical students don’t really “need” an iPad to start their MBBS journey in a medical college.

However, it can be a great tool for digital note-taking and studying. Being slim, lightweight, and powerful, it’s the perfect gadget to carry around in your backpack.

From the convenience of not having to carry massive textbooks around, to being able to utilise the full potential of a large touch screen, an iPad should essentially be considered as a good investment for medical students.

Here, I’ll be listing down a few solid reasons why you should get an iPad if you’ve just started as a medical student. And then, I will be comparing the current iPad models and helping you decide what’s best for you!

I’ve also listed a few of my favourite apps so stay tuned till the end.

You can also bookmark this page for a quicker revisit.

How do medical students use an iPad?

Note Taking

I was very skeptical about converting to a digital method of note-taking and honestly, I felt I wouldn’t get used to it. But, things changed when I bought my first iPad a few years ago.

Note-taking is the most important reason why a medical student chooses to purchase an iPad and an Apple Pencil.

You’re probably wondering what it’s like and what are the benefits.

With an Apple Pencil, writing definitely feels very different but once you get used to it, there’s no going back.

You will get used to it pretty quickly as the Apple Pencil works brilliantly, it feels like you’re actually writing things down on paper and you get the benefit of having the same information retention as of handwriting.

You’re also saving paper!

Also, the Split Screen feature allows me to watch videos and make notes at the same time.

Another great feature of the Apple Pencil is Searchable Handwriting – which allows you to search what you’ve handwritten.

How does it even identity my scribbles?!

This has allowed me to keep a track of all my notes.

With amazing note-taking apps on the Apple Store, there’s plenty of built-in functionalities to try out and the possibilities are endless.

Reading Textbooks (eBooks)

With an iPad, one can now access all the downloaded PDFs on the go. Convenient and user-oriented features like highlighting and text search are just a cherry on the top.

I love the fact that I no longer have to carry those huge and hefty textbooks around.

No more worrying about whether I brought the right notebook with me or not – it’s all right here.

Also, lots of textbooks are available to download for free on the internet, so you will also be saving a lot of money by not having to purchase a hard copy.

Moreover, you no longer have to worry about losing your textbook or notes, as they can be stored on the cloud.

This handy device gives me access to everything I need.

Watching Videos

YouTube is a life-saver. There are videos on literally anything and everything you ask for!

Be it YouTube or any other platform like Marrow or PrepLadder (for NEET PG preparation), watching videos has always helped one understand and correlate with the topics better.

It’s true that one can watch videos on their phones as well. But, the thing is, a larger screen on a tablet helps you to appreciate finer details.

Also, phones can get really distracting by bombarding you with notifications every now and then.

Best iPad for Medical Students in India

Now, let’s discuss what’s best for you.

It doesn’t matter which version of iPad you’re going to purchase, there’s no compromise on quality in any one of them. If it fits your needs and budget, go for it!

I won’t be going into the technical specifications, you can check it out on the official Apple website.

1. Apple iPad Pro

Apple iPad Pro is the best and most powerful iPad available for Indian medical students in 2023. With its powerful M2 processor and plenty of storage, it offers a wide range of features and apps that can assist students in their studies. It’s the ultimate productivity machine!

If budget is not an issue for you, I’d definitely recommend the iPad Pro. It’s top of the line. In my opinion, a larger screen is better to have because you will have more room for note-taking. You can make the best use of the Split Screen feature as well.

It comes in two variants (depending on the display size), 11-inch version and 12.9-inch version. Prices vary depending on the screen size and storage capacity.

Variants available currently:

• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (6th generation) [2022]
• iPad Pro 11‑inch (4th generation) [2022]

It is compatible with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation).

PROS

• Best in terms of performance
• ProMotion technology (120 Hz screen refresh rate)
• Compatible with Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
• Bigger screen (convenient multi-tasking)
• 5G capable
• Ultra wide front and back camera
• Supports Thunderbolt/USB 4
• Up to 2TB
• Compatible with Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio

CONS

• Most expensive version of the iPad series (could’ve been slightly cheaper)
• Big in size (could be a bummer for some!)

Doesn’t fit into your budget? That’s okay! Two more are waiting in line!

2. Apple iPad Air

Apple iPad Air 5 is a mid-range and budget-friendly iPad. It’s the perfect iPad for an indian medical student, because it provides premium features at a affordable price. The 10.9-inch screen gives plenty of space for note-taking and media consumption, and the new M1 chip provides enough power for anything you need to do during your MBBS course. For medical students in India, it’s the most ideal pick as it packs in Pro-level features at a modest price.