Summary
While Apple wants people to use iPads as computers, they’re not even remotely close to Apple’s actual computers, Macs. Someone has taken it upon themselves to change that up, though.
A Chinese modder by the name of Shu Chan has put together the “iPadBook,” a custom-built hybrid that integrates a MacBook Air and an iPad Pro into a single package. The foundation of the iPadBook is the chassis of an M1 MacBook Air. The original display was carefully removed, leaving the keyboard, trackpad, and internal components intact. From there, we have a custom-designed, 3D-printed magnetic hinge system that Chan has dubbed “MagBaka.” This is the key to the entire build. The MagBaka hinge utilizes an array of 12 powerful magnets that work in concert with a custom-fitted case on an M4-powered iPad Pro. This system allows the iPad to be securely docked to the MacBook Air base, effectively replacing the original screen.
The integration is surprisingly clean, and honestly, if I didn’t know otherwise, I could very well mistake this for something actually made by Apple, despite the iPad being slightly less wide than the laptop base. When the iPad Pro is magnetically attached to the MagBaka dock, it connects to the MacBook Air and functions as its primary external display. This setup runs the full version of macOS on the MacBook Air’s hardware, but using the actual iPad as the screen. Surprisingly, it also apparently has full touch and Apple Pencil support within the desktop environment, making this the touch-enabled MacBook Apple has so far avoided making.
If you detach the iPad from the dock, the device reverts to being a standard, high-performance M4 iPad Pro, running iPadOS with its full suite of apps and touch-first interface. Nothing has really been done to the actual iPad, so it can just continue working as an iPad. This dual-functionality provides a level of versatility that is currently unavailable in Apple’s official product lineup—while 2-in-1 laptops have been a thing for a while from other hardware makers, Apple has stuck to old-fashioned, non-touch laptops. For those looking for a touch-enabled computer, Apple actually wants them to use the iPad, and it’s not clear yet if we will ever actually see a MacBook that’s actually touch-enabled. This tries to give you the best of both worlds. If I were to nitpick at it, I would love to see it with a more modern MacBook chip.
This is, of course, a mod, and something you can’t buy. But I really wish I could!
