Best iPad vs Laptop for ASU Notes: What Students Actually Use
The iPad vs laptop debate for ASU class notes — what students in Fulton, W.P. Carey, and Barrett actually use and why.
The Question Every Incoming ASU Student Asks
iPad or laptop? Apple Pencil or keyboard? OneNote or Notability? This debate shows up in every ASU subreddit thread around August, and the answers are almost always "it depends" — which is true but not that useful.
Here's a more specific answer based on what actually works for different ASU majors and course types.
Canvas Works on Both (Mostly)
ASU's Canvas LMS is fully functional on both iPad and laptop. The Canvas Student app on iPad handles assignment submission, reading, and viewing lecture materials well. The browser version on a laptop handles everything including more complex submission types.
One iPad caveat: Some proctored exams through Honorlock or LockDown Browser have specific compatibility requirements. Check whether your courses use these tools — some versions require a traditional laptop with a webcam. An iPad-only setup can create problems for these exams. This is a dealbreaker consideration for many students.
The Case for Laptop-First
Fulton Schools of Engineering: If you're in any engineering program, a laptop is non-negotiable. Software like MATLAB, AutoCAD, ANSYS, and various simulation tools either don't run on iPad or have severely limited mobile versions. You need a real computer with a real OS.
W.P. Carey (Business): Heavy use of Excel, PowerPoint, and Word — all available on iPad via Microsoft 365, but the full desktop versions on a laptop are significantly more capable. Excel especially becomes limiting on a touchscreen when you're dealing with complex spreadsheets and formulas.
Proctored exams: Many W.P. Carey and other courses use online proctoring that requires a webcam-equipped laptop. iPad compatibility varies by proctoring tool.
Typing-heavy coursework: If your note-taking is primarily typing (most non-STEM lecture courses), a laptop keyboard is faster and more comfortable than an iPad keyboard case.
The Case for iPad (With Caveats)
Herberger Institute (Arts and Design): Drawing, music, and visual arts students often prefer iPad for annotation, sketching, and creative work. The Apple Pencil + iPad is a genuinely excellent tool for this use case.
Barrett Honors College: Lots of reading and annotation. iPad with Apple Pencil for PDF annotation is legitimately great — better than printing and annotating, and better than laptop trackpad annotation. GoodNotes and Notability both handle academic PDFs well.
Liberal arts and humanities: If your courses are mostly reading, discussion, and essay writing, an iPad with a keyboard case handles this reasonably well. Writing long essays in Google Docs or Word on iPad is workable but not ideal.
What ASU Students Actually Report Using
Based on patterns visible in ASU Discord servers, the sub-Reddit, and campus observations:
- Most students use a laptop as their primary device
- A significant subset of STEM students add an iPad for PDF annotation and handwritten equation notes
- Relatively few students go iPad-only, and those who do usually own or have access to a laptop for proctored exams
- The MacBook Air (M-series) is by far the most common laptop on campus
- iPad + Apple Pencil is common among art and design students
The Financial Reality
A new MacBook Air M3 runs $1,099. A new iPad Air with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard is roughly $900–$1,100 depending on configuration. Price-wise they're comparable.
But a laptop does more for most coursework. If you're choosing one device on a budget, the laptop wins for versatility.
The real budget move: Both these devices are available secondhand from ASU students at significantly lower prices. An M2 MacBook Air with light use from a graduating senior frequently sells for $700–$850 on the ASU List or Facebook Marketplace. An iPad Pro (previous generation) with Apple Pencil goes for $400–$600 used.
If you can wait until May (graduation season) or August (students arriving with new devices and selling old ones), the secondhand market is at its best.
Specific App Recommendations for ASU Students
For iPad note-taking: GoodNotes 5 is the most widely used. Notability is a close second. Both sync via iCloud and export to PDF for sharing or submission through Canvas.
For laptop note-taking: Notion works well for organized students who want structure. OneNote (free with ASU's Microsoft 365) integrates well if you're in the Microsoft ecosystem. Apple Notes is underrated for quick capture.
For PDF annotation on either: Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) handles most course PDFs. The full Adobe suite is free for ASU students through the ASU software portal — a significant benefit that many students don't know about.
The Honest Bottom Line
If you're an engineering, business, or science student: get a laptop, consider adding an iPad later if you want it for annotation.
If you're in arts, design, or honors with heavy reading: iPad + keyboard case is genuinely viable as a primary device, but have a plan for proctored exams.
For most students: a used MacBook Air (M1 or M2) bought from a graduating ASU student is the best value decision you can make.
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