YouTuber builds “iPadBook” hybrid that turns an M4 iPad Pro into a MacBook touchscreen display
YouTuber and hardware modder Shu Chan has created a working prototype of what they call the “iPadBook.” A DIY hybrid that turns an M4 iPad Pro into both a detachable tablet and the primary display for a MacBook Air.
The idea was straightforward: take out the MacBook Air’s screen and put in an M4 iPad Pro instead. The YouTuber explains that when the iPad Pro is docked, it connects to the MacBook Air via a wired Sidecar setup. Sidecar normally extends or mirrors the Mac’s display to the iPad, but in this case, because there’s no built-in screen left in the MacBook Air, the iPad effectively becomes the only active display for macOS.
So, when macOS boots, it treats the iPad as its sole monitor. Letting the user run apps, interact with the desktop, and even use touch and Apple Pencil directly.
This means it can run full desktop apps like Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office, and you can also use the Apple Pencil for drawing or editing.
In this build, macOS runs on the M1 MacBook Air base, while the display half is an M4 iPad Pro that runs on its own M4 chip when detached.
When detached from the base, the iPad works as a standalone tablet for media or gaming. Shu Chan also created a custom macOS Shortcut that lets the MacBook’s keyboard and trackpad work with the iPad, keeping typing and navigation seamless.
Shu Chan calls the magnetic alignment system “MagBaka” (pronounced “Mag-bah-kah”), a playful name for the embedded magnets and locking design that keep the iPad aligned with the MacBook base. The system uses 12 hidden magnets to automatically position the tablet and hold it firmly in place.
To make it work, Shu Chan salvaged the hinge from a broken MacBook Air, designed a custom docking base, and 3D-printed multiple iterations of the housing using a Bambu Lab H2D printer. The design has 12 built-in magnets to keep the iPad in place, a raised typing angle for comfort, and a slight lift to the MacBook Air’s base when opened to help it stay cool without a fan.
Shu Chan says the build took over a dozen print attempts. The H2D’s large 350 × 320 × 325 mm build area made it possible to print the 13-inch iPad Pro housing in one piece. The printer can also laser engrave and precision-cut, and Shu Chan used these features to add custom graphics to the iPadBook’s back cover and make personalised stickers.
The YouTuber’s future plans include adding internal cable storage for a cleaner wired Sidecar connection and experimenting with retro cases, such as repurposing an iBook G3 shell, to combine modern hardware with vintage styling.
Shu Chan notes that the M4 iPad Pro’s chip outperforms the M1 in the MacBook Air base, and hints that a future rebuild with an M4 Max MacBook Pro board could make the iPadBook a far more powerful machine. They credit both the capabilities of the Bambu Lab H2D and the MakerWorld community for helping bring the concept to life.
The build video from Shu Chan on YouTube is in Mandarin Chinese, with no English translation available at the time of writing. However, even if you don’t understand the language, it’s always fun to watch a passionate modder create something cool. Give the video a try, it’s linked below.
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