This Genius Minimal iPad Setup Will Change How You Work!

Streamline your desk, boost productivity, and fall in love with simplicity—here’s how I designed a clean, distraction-free iPad setup you can replicate.

Author

Ark
August 07, 2025

The Ultimate Minimal iPad Setup Guide

The iPad often gets a bad rap, with critics calling it an overpriced Netflix machine or questioning why anyone would spend $800 on a device that can’t run “proper” software. Many users try to force desktop workflows onto a touch interface, resulting in cluttered home screens and frustration. But what if the problem isn’t the iPad itself but how it’s being used? By focusing on what the iPad does best, you can create a simple, intentional setup that makes it worth owning. This guide outlines a minimal iPad setup with essential apps, affordable accessories, and design tweaks to unlock its full potential.

Understanding the iPad’s Strengths

The iPad isn’t meant to replace your laptop or phone—it’s a unique middle ground that excels in three key areas:

  1. Knowledge Device: The iPad’s large screen makes it ideal for immersive tasks like researching, reading articles, watching educational content, and taking notes. It offers a creative vibe that’s more relaxed than a laptop but more engaging than a phone.

  2. Advanced Digital Notebook: With the Apple Pencil and touch interface, the iPad provides a natural, immediate writing experience. It’s perfect for sketching, annotating PDFs, scanning documents, and converting handwritten notes to digital formats.

  3. Creative Canvas: Apps like Procreate and Pixelmator Pro are designed for the iPad’s touch interface, leveraging its unique capabilities for digital art and creative work in ways desktops can’t match.

Trying to use the iPad for desktop tasks like email management, complex spreadsheets, or heavy coding fights against its strengths. Instead, declutter your device and focus on what it’s built for.

Optimizing Your iPad’s Interface

A calm, focused home screen is key to a great iPad experience. Here’s how to achieve it:

  • Declutter the Home Screen: Remove unused or non-essential apps to reduce visual clutter. Organize your home screen with a minimal layout that prioritizes essential tools.

  • Use Shortcuts for Efficiency: Create custom shortcuts to open frequently used apps or specific tasks, like jumping to a journal page in Notion. To add a custom icon:

    1. Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut.

    2. Select “Open App” and choose the desired app (e.g., Procreate).

    3. Rename the shortcut, then click “Add to Home Screen.”

    4. Remove the title for a minimal look, select a custom image, and add it to the home screen.

  • Leverage Focus Modes: Create a custom Focus Mode (e.g., “Deep Work” or “Planning Mode”) to block non-essential notifications and display only relevant apps on your home screen. This makes your iPad feel purpose-built for specific tasks, like planning your day or working on creative projects.

Essential Accessories

You don’t need expensive accessories to make your iPad shine. Here are the minimal, affordable options that enhance its functionality without turning it into a laptop clone:

  1. Apple Pencil Pro: A must-have for unlocking 80% of the iPad’s potential. Its precision, pressure sensitivity, and features like squeeze gestures and barrel roll make it ideal for note-taking and creative work.

  2. Most Dynamic Folio: A lightweight case that keeps the iPad feeling like a tablet. It offers a 30-degree “floating creation mode” for note-taking and a theater mode for watching content.

  3. Portable Keyboard: Instead of a bulky Magic Keyboard, opt for a compact keyboard like the NuPhy Air60. It’s lightweight, connects instantly, and pairs with a case for occasional typing needs.

  4. Microsoft Arc 2 Mouse: A foldable, compact mouse that provides cursor control without the need for a trackpad. It’s easy to carry and enhances navigation.

  5. AirPods Pro 2: Perfect for seamless audio integration within the Apple ecosystem, ideal for watching videos or listening to content.

These accessories maintain the iPad’s portability and tablet-like feel while adding functionality when needed.

The Essential iPad App Collection

If you could only install 11 apps, these are the ones that maximize the iPad’s touch interface and unique capabilities:

  1. Arc Browser: A clean, minimal web browser for seamless research.

  2. Readwise Reader or Instapaper: Great for managing and reading articles offline.

  3. Apple Books or Kindle: Perfect for reading, with the option to switch to black-and-white mode for a Kindle-like experience.

  4. Apple Notes: Free, built-in, and excellent for basic note-taking with Apple Intelligence features.

  5. GoodNotes 6: Advanced note-taking with audio recording and sketching capabilities.

  6. Procreate: The gold standard for digital art, designed specifically for the iPad’s touch interface.

  7. Minimalist: An intuitive task manager with a Pomodoro counter, optimized for touch.

  8. Notion: Ideal for referencing and updating tasks or ideas, though avoid complex builds on the iPad.

  9. Google Calendar: Perfect for time-blocking and planning your week with drag-and-drop functionality.

  10. Pixelmator Pro: A powerful app for photo editing, graphic work, and adjusting wallpapers or icons.

  11. Entertainment Folder: Includes YouTube, Apple TV, Netflix, and Spotify for downtime.

These apps are chosen for their simplicity, touch-friendly design, and alignment with the iPad’s strengths. Notably absent are complex project management tools or email apps that turn your iPad into a work-anxiety machine.

Final Thoughts

When you stop trying to make the iPad something it’s not, it becomes a calm, focused, and creative tool. By decluttering your home screen, using minimal accessories, and installing apps that leverage the iPad’s touch interface, you can create a setup that feels intentional and purpose-built. Whether you’re taking notes, sketching, or planning your day, this minimal approach ensures your iPad is a joy to use.