I Thought an iPad would make me read more; it didn’t.

I Thought an iPad Would Make Me Read More— It Didn’t

When I got my iPad, I sincerely felt it would alter one thing about my life.

I would read more.

Not emails.

Not messages.

Not short pieces.

Real reading.

Books.

Long-form writings.

Things that take time and care.

The screen was great.

The battery lasted all day.

Everyone online stated the same thing:

“An iPad makes reading enjoyable.”

So I purchased it with confidence.

A few months later, my reading habits looked precisely the same.

The Version of Ourselves We Shop For

Buying an iPad wasn’t about technology.

It was about intention.

I envisaged a calmer version of myself:

reading in the evening

emphasizing passages

completing books

This is how tech marketing works.

It doesn’t sell gadgets.

It sells identity.

The iPad wasn’t promising pixels or CPUs.

It was promising a better habit.

The First Week: Hope Feels Real

At first, it worked.

I installed reading applications.

Downloaded a couple books.

Adjusted brightness perfectly.

Reading was comfy.

No eye strain.

No hefty device.

For a few nights, I actually read more.

And that’s the dangerous part.

Because early success makes you assume the item caused it.

Then Life Returned.

After the adrenaline faded, something familiar occurred.

I opened the iPad to read.

But notifications were there.

The YouTube symbol was there.

The browser was one touch away.

Social applications waited quietly.

The same distractions that were on my phone now lived on a larger, better screen.

The iPad didn’t reduce distraction.

It updated it.

A Bigger Screen Doesn’t Create Focus

This is the unpleasant reality.

Reading isn’t restricted by screen size.

It’s limited by attention.

If attention isn’t safeguarded, no device can produce it.

The iPad makes reading pleasant—but comfort isn’t the same as commitment.

Without limits, behaviors don’t stay.

Why Reading Feels Harder Than It Used To

Reading requires:

stillness

patience

mental space

Modern tech teaches us the opposite.

Quick rewards.

Constant stimulation.

Endless scrolling.

So when you sit down to read, your brain resists.

Not because you don’t enjoy reading—but because you’re accustomed to quicker dopamine.

The iPad can’t reverse that training.

When the iPad Becomes “Just Another Screen”

At some time, I noticed something unusual.

I was spending more time on the iPad—but not more time reading.

Watching videos seemed easy.

Browsing felt lighter.

Reading felt tough.

The iPad didn’t fail.

It performed precisely what it was meant to do: give access.

What it didn’t do was restrict alternatives.

And limitations are crucial for habits.

Why Dedicated E-Readers Feel Different

This is when things become interesting.

People who read a lot frequently use e-readers, not iPads.

Why?

Because e-readers:

don’t have social applications

don’t push notifications

don’t tempt you continually

They remove choice.

And reducing choice makes habits easier.

The iPad provides you freedom.

Reading requires limitation.

The Emotional Guilt That Comes With “Unrealized Potential”

This section astonished me.

I didn’t simply stop reading more.

I felt guilty.

The iPad sat there—competent, underused for its “purpose.”

Every time I picked it up to view a video, a low voice said,

“You bought this to read.”

That guilt didn’t drive me.

It exhausted me.

Why Buying Tools Rarely Fixes Habits

We frequently believe, “If I buy the right tool, the habit will follow.”

It works occasionally.

But most behaviors arise from:

routines

environment

friction

The iPad reduced friction from reading—but didn’t provide structure.

Without structure, comfort alone isn’t enough.

When I Finally Stopped Blaming Myself

At first, I blamed myself.

“Why can’t I just read?”

“Why am I wasting this device?”

Then I discovered something important:

The issue wasn’t discipline.

It was design.

The iPad is intended for everything.

Reading requires a room built for one purpose.

What Actually Helped Me Read More

Not a new gadget.

But tiny changes:

fixed reading time

notifications off

fewer applications installed

Once reading had a safe place, it eventually returned.

The iPad didn’t create the habit.

The environment did.

Who the iPad Is Still Great For

This isn’t an assault on the iPad.

It’s a wonderful gadget if you:

already read regularly

require flexibility

appreciate digital notes

For some consumers, the iPad reinforces an established habit.

But if you’re expecting it to build the habit…

It probably won’t.

The Mistake Most Buyers Make

The error isn’t getting an iPad.

It’s expecting hardware to alter behavior.

Technology supports behaviors.

It doesn’t build them.

Once you accept it, disappointment evaporates.

Why This Story Resonates With So Many People

Because many individuals silently endure the same thing.

They purchased a tablet to read more.

They didn’t.

They wondered why.

When someone eventually says: “It wasn’t just me,”

People sense relief.

Concluding Remark

I didn’t purchase the incorrect gadget.

I got the proper equipment for the wrong expectation.

The iPad is great.

But reading isn’t about screens.

It’s about attention.

And attention is developed carefully—not bought.

Once I stopped expecting the iPad to alter me, it became what it always was:

An excellent tool.

Just not a habit maker.