MJPerini

With the latest iPad Pro , Apple has made them powerful enough to to do photo editing, so it is petty much a personal choice based on software/ style of interface you prefer and cost. When you max out an iPad Pro they cost more than some laptop options.
If it works for you is really the determining factor

dwermske

Laptop over a tablet any day. A laptop is much more versatile while the tablet has to many limitations. The "try it and see" option can be very expensive. Stick with a good high-end laptop with a decent size screen and as much memory as possible plus a large SSD, Bluetooth, and of course WIFI. You are already familiar with the laptop so there will be no learning curve to deal with. Even though there are some Photo editing programs around that will work on a tablet/smartphone, the best ones still require a good size notebook or desktop to really perform well. Stick with the laptop and you won't be disapointed. Good Luck.

billmck Loc: Central KY

You can attach a wireless keyboard to an iPad if you prefer that option.

Bill

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

In that case I'd just use a laptop, one package, no pieces parts.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The version of Lightroom that works on the MacBook Air is the MOBILE, Adobe Cloud-connected version that talks to all your devices. It was designed for folks who collaborate, or want to move from device to device to device and access the same working files. The version that works on desktops is Lightroom CLASSIC, the desktop database version with a local catalog and local files that CAN be networked to Lightroom on other devices using Adobe Cloud, but don't have to be. The desktop version is the hub of a professional workflow. The mobile version is less capable in some respects.

My recommendation is to consider a MacBook Air. The size and weight difference between that and an iPad Pro is only a minor annoyance. But you get a full computer with the MacBook Air, and can do a lot more with it.

13" M2 MacBook Air Size and Weight:

Thickness: 0.44 inch (1.13 cm)
Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
Height: 8.46 inches (21.5 cm)
Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg)

iPad Pro 11‑inch

Thickness 0.23 inch (5.9 mm)
Width 7.02 inches (178.5 mm)
Height 9.74 inches (247.6 mm)
Weight Wi-Fi + Cellular models 1.04 pounds (470 grams)
Adding a keyboard case adds to thickness and weight.

15" M2 MacBook Air Size and Weight:

Thickness: 0.45 inch (1.15 cm)
Width: 13.40 inches (34.04 cm)
Height: 9.35 inches (23.76 cm)
Weight: 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg)4

iPad Pro 12.9‑inch

Thickness 0.25 inch (6.4 mm)
Height 11.04 inches (280.6 mm)
Width 8.46 inches (214.9 mm)
Weight Wi-Fi + Cellular models 1.51 pounds (685 grams)
Adding a keyboard case adds to thickness and weight.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

A tablet is what one uses when they do not have a laptop handy.😁 There are many programs that a tablet simply will not operate that one may like to take with them.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Not I, I wait until I can get to one of my computers.
We do have a tablet, but I didn't put any editing software on it.
I don't need to do so.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

I use iPad Pro few times for some basic edits. While it's certainly more convenient to travel with, it has its limitations in addition to having a smaller screen. I have used it with Adobe products, Snapseed and Affinity. It lacks ability to use PlugIns like Topaz, Luminar, NIK, and On1 as well as luminosity add ons like Tony Kuyper's. I commonly use one of these plugins as the final part of my post processing workflow. Also, the last time that I've used iPad version of Lightroom, I didn't see the Object as a selective Masking option. I have about 80K images in my LrC catalog on my iMac and I find it confusing and cumbersome syncing images from iPad LR to LrC. I haven't tried printing images directly from iPad to my Epson SureColor P800 and am not sure if it's even possible.

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

I prefer to use my ipad pro compared to my laptop because of the excellent screen resolution.

doclrb

Lightroom and Photoshop are both available for Mac tablets. Unless you are an accomplished high-end editor, you will find all the features that you would want, including masking.

Feel free to ignore the curmudgeon Mac and tablet haters that unfortunately frequent this site.

Happy Holidays!

Les

wleebrown Loc: Short Gap, WV

I have both a laptop and an iPad Pro (bigger one). If as you say you just want to view images on the go the iPad will definitely do the trick. I use an external SSD drive with my iPad to view images when I don’t feel like taking my laptop along. I usually just view those without using Lightroom. If I catch something great I want to post I’ll do a quick Lightroom mobile edit but generally save my editing for home with my laptop and external monitor. I’ve tried switching back and forth between LrClassic and mobile but it’s too clunky for my taste so I just import from the external drive to LRC on my laptop when I’m home and then backup to my network drive when I’m done editing. I would not consider trying to replace the LrClassic workflow because I have in excess of 100K photos in my library and it’s just too painful.

If however I’m working on the road I take a laptop as I’m usually working with 1000s of photos. I haven’t figured out how to do that with PhotoMechanic on an iPad (but I’ll be looking thanks to the earlier post). Good luck!

Laramie Loc: Tempe

Have you considered a MS surface tablet w/keyboard? Familiar environment, SD slot for added storage, not 'too' big.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I use my IPad Pro (it's an old one but still works great) when traveling. Like at least one other described, I download daily into Lightroom Mobile from camera card using the dongle device. The mobile ap is usually all I need on the road, but I have Photoshop mobile and various plugins if I have some downtime to allow more editing. When I get home I can either move the edited photos from Adobe cloud or simply download straight from the camera cards to my desktop where I do more serious editing on the big screen with all my tools available. Eventually I delete them from the ipad to make room for more, as I seldom need them there after I get them into my primary desktop system. The IPad is a temporary holding/working system. I did the same when I used a laptop for travel.

With a keyboard case, I get similar performance to a laptop with a lighter, smaller device that I can stuff into my camera bag or even my purse. I use an Apple Pencil for more precise editing.

You do have to spend a bit of time sorting out how you want to make the ipad work with Adobe cloud, and with the built in Apple programs.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

An iPad is a laptop, just no keyboard.