The iPad is the device most people *think* should be good at PDFs. Big screen, Pencil, full keyboard if you've got the Magic Keyboard. And then they open a PDF in Files, try to edit a word, and get nothing.
The hardware's ready. iOS just doesn't ship the tool.
Why the iPad is genuinely great for PDF work
An 11-inch screen at full document width is the closest thing to working on paper. Add a Pencil and you've got hand-precise control for signatures, annotations, and marking up. Add Magic Keyboard and you've got a laptop-class typing experience for actual text edits.
The missing piece is software that does proper editing. Flint opens in Safari and uses all that hardware — Pencil for signing, keyboard for typing, big screen for seeing what you're doing.
The iPad-specific flow
Open Safari, drop the PDF in Flint. If you're using Split View, drag the PDF in from Files — Safari accepts the file directly. Tap any text to edit it; use the Pencil to mark up, sign, or draw. The keyboard handles every text input with native iPad shortcuts (⌘C, ⌘V, ⌘Z).
Download back to Files, AirDrop to Mac, or send via Mail. Same browser flow as iPhone, much more comfortable.
Pencil signatures and annotations
For signing, Pencil produces a far more natural signature than a finger. The signature pad accepts Pencil input automatically — no setting to change. For annotating — highlights, comments, notes in margins — the Pencil acts like a marker, with pressure sensitivity if your model supports it.
Multi-tasking with Split View
iPad's killer trick for PDFs: keep the source email in Mail on one side, Flint in Safari on the other. Drag attachments straight into Flint without leaving the app. When you're done, drag the result back to Mail, or drop into Files in a Slide Over. The friction that exists on iPhone basically disappears here.
FAQ
Do I need an Apple Pencil to edit PDFs on iPad?
No. Text edits, page changes, and even signatures work fine with a finger or trackpad. The Pencil makes signatures and annotations more precise, but it's not required for any of Flint's tools.
Does this work on older iPads?
iPads running iPadOS 15 or later (iPad Air 2 onward, iPad mini 4 onward, iPad Pro all models) handle Flint without issue. Anything that runs current Safari runs the editor.
Can I edit PDFs in the Files app directly?
Files lets you annotate with Markup (drawings, highlights, finger signatures) but doesn't edit underlying text. For real edits, send the file to Flint via Safari. Use Markup for quick scribbles, Flint for actual changes.
The iPad deserves a proper PDF editor. Open Flint in Safari, no Pencil required, no App Store detour.