You’ve seen the commercials. An artist sits in a sun-drenched cafe, effortlessly sliding 4K clips around a glass screen with a pencil. It looks like magic. But if you’ve actually tried video editing with iPad Pro, you know the reality is a bit more chaotic. It’s powerful, yeah, but it’s also a specific kind of workflow that isn’t for everyone.
Honestly, the M4 chip inside the newest iPad Pro is a monster. It’s faster than the processors in many mid-range MacBooks. Yet, hardware isn't the whole story. Software is where things get "kinda" complicated.
The Real Tea on Video Editing with iPad Pro
Most people think the biggest hurdle is the lack of a mouse. It's not. It's the file system. iPadOS has improved, but moving 50GB of raw footage from an external SSD into your timeline still feels more clunky than it should. On a Mac or PC, you just drag and drop. On an iPad, you're often dancing between the Files app and your editor of choice.
But once the footage is in? Man, it flies.
Editing with your fingers—or the Apple Pencil—changes how you think about the cut. It's tactile. You aren't clicking a plastic mouse; you’re literally grabbing the film. This "direct manipulation" is why many creators, including big names like Ali Abdaal or the crew over at Verge, have experimented with mobile-first setups. It feels less like work and more like play.
LumaFusion vs. DaVinci Resolve: The Great Debate
For years, LumaFusion was the undisputed king. It was built for touch from the ground up. It doesn't crash. It handles multiple streams of 4K 60fps video without breaking a sweat. If you're doing YouTube videos or social media content, it’s arguably the most efficient tool ever made.
Then Blackmagic Design dropped DaVinci Resolve for iPad.
This changed everything. Now, you have a Hollywood-grade color grading suite in your backpack. It’s the same engine used to color Top Gun: Maverick. However, the interface is cramped. Using Resolve on an 11-inch screen is a nightmare for your eyes, though the 13-inch model makes it bearable. You basically need the Magic Keyboard to make it functional because the keyboard shortcuts are what make Resolve fast.
Why the Hardware Actually Matters Now
We need to talk about that Tandem OLED screen on the M4 iPad Pro. It’s stupidly bright. 1600 nits of peak HDR brightness means you can actually see what your highlights look like without needing a $30,000 reference monitor. If you’re a colorist, this is the iPad’s secret weapon.
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- The M4 Chip: It has dedicated hardware acceleration for ProRes. This means you can scrub through high-bitrate footage smoothly. No lag. No stuttering.
- Thunderbolt Port: Use a fast cable. Seriously. If you use a cheap USB-C charging cable to move files, you'll be waiting until 2029.
- Apple Pencil Pro: It’s not just for drawing. Using it to trim clips frame-by-frame is more precise than any trackpad I've ever used.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Thermal throttling is a real thing. Since the iPad doesn't have fans, it gets hot. If you're rendering a 30-minute 4K project in a warm room, the screen will dim to protect itself. It’s annoying. You’re sitting there waiting for it to cool down so you can see your work again.
The Final Cut Pro "Problem"
Apple finally brought Final Cut Pro to the iPad, but they did it with a subscription model. Many pros hated that. But the "Live Multicam" feature is actually insane. You can connect up to four iPhones to your iPad and switch between camera angles in real-time as they record. For small studios or podcasters, this replaces thousands of dollars of switching equipment.
Is it a replacement for the desktop version? Not quite. It lacks some of the deep plugin support and advanced media management that long-form editors need. It’s a specialized tool. Great for fast turnarounds, maybe not for a feature film.
Practical Steps for Your Mobile Edit
If you're serious about making this your primary rig, don't just buy the tablet and pray. You need a system.
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First, get a dedicated external SSD like the Samsung T7 or SanDisk Extreme. Don't clog up your internal storage; it’s too expensive to upgrade. Second, invest in a USB-C hub that has a headphone jack. You need to hear your audio without Bluetooth latency. Third, learn the gestures. If you aren't using two fingers to pinch-to-zoom on your timeline, you're wasting time.
Video editing with iPad Pro is about freedom. It’s about being able to edit on a plane, on a bus, or on your couch without a heavy laptop burning your thighs. It requires a mindset shift. You have to work within the constraints of iPadOS, but the rewards are a faster, more intuitive experience that makes the "work" part of editing disappear.
What to do next
- Audit your footage: If you shoot 8K RAW, the iPad will struggle with storage. Stick to 4K ProRes or H.265 for the best balance of quality and performance.
- Pick one app: Don't bounce between LumaFusion, Resolve, and Final Cut. Pick one and master the keyboard shortcuts.
- Manage your power: Rendering kills battery. Always have a 20W (or higher) power brick plugged into your Magic Keyboard or hub while exporting.
- Clean your screen: Seriously. Fingerprints on an OLED screen will mess with your color perception. Carry a microfiber cloth everywhere.