iPad Pro 11" iPad to 12.9" iPad = A significant and (unexpectedly) great upgrade!

[Amazon Rainforest]

I just upgraded my 2017 iPad to the latest 11" iPad Pro. I use it mostly for reading books and editing what I write. I have a simple question for all of you who state how much you love your 12.9" iPad:

How much time do you actually spend holding your 12.9" iPad in your hand?

 

[0423MAC]

All depends on the use case. Those posting discouraging comments are weird.

Similar situation with iPhones in my case. I understand most didn't appreciate the iPhone mini, but I consider it the perfect combination of power and size for how I intend to use a phone. Would have been great to see the dynamic island make an appearance for use who prefer the smaller devices, but not meant to be.

 

[TorbenIbsen]

The size of any iPad is both it's advantage and disadvantage depending on the situation. Only one way really: Have all three sizes or be happy with the one you have.

 

[MandiMac]

Interesting! I had the same experience about a year ago. Yesterday I exchanged my 12.9 for a 11. Turned out that my main way of using it was as a tablet and I find the 11“ does a better job here.

That's the answer, right here. If you want a tablet, 11" is the way to go. If you want a sort-of laptop replacement/work devide, 12.9" it is.

 

[miamialley]

Always the competition between 12.9 and 11 inch...How fruitless. I am not looking forward to the "16 inch iPad is too big" threads...

I mean, there's literal competition because most people can't buy both. They have to choose. So, people debate and have to decide which is best for them. It's natural and normal.

 

[iPadified]

I mean, there's literal competition because most people can't buy both. They have to choose. So, people debate and have to decide which is best for them. It's natural and normal.

Sure but it is like discussing the best size of a car, a house or a frying pan. It is too dependent on the situation and individual to make any sense.

 

[GuruZac]

Congrats and that’s a great setup. I used the 10.5 iPad Pro for a 2 years then went to the Gen 3 12.9 iPad Pro and have never looked back. Now using the Gen 5 12.9 and I love the miniLED display. I’ve had some outspoken frustrations with iPadOS recently, but I always enjoy using my 12.9 iPad Pro, especially with the Magic Keyboard and Pencil. I’ll probably always own one.

And for the record, I particularly enjoy using mine at coffee shops. It’s productive, and I enjoy the multiple ways of using the interface. Tweak a few more things with Stage Manager to make more macOS like windowing, and we’re almost there.

 

[Username-already-in-use]

You'll get tired of it, I promise. Then you'll wish you had your 11" back. The 12.9" is really cool at first, then it gets old because it's big and cumbersome and so goofy looking at coffee shops. Good luck with your purchase.

I didn’t realise we had to please the judgemental coffee shop-goer demographic - my 12.9 in the bin right now.

 

[rui no onna]

I didn’t realise we had to please the judgemental coffee shop-goer demographic - my 12.9 in the bin right now.

I honestly don’t see an issue using the 12.9” at coffee shops. The tables are big enough and could even accommodate 15-17” laptops.

Now those tiny folding trays on coach in airplanes are a different story.

 

[sparksd]

I didn’t realise we had to please the judgemental coffee shop-goer demographic - my 12.9 in the bin right now.

Yeah, it also explains why our cats look at me disdainfully when I'm using mine.

 

[Digitalguy]

This is so subjective and dependent on use cases. But it's a well know thing, psycologically, that people have a hard time understanding others when they don't do things the same way they do.
For my, subjective, use case I need both sizes, and while sure technically I could give up the advantages of each for the other, I wouldn't want to.
For me it's simple.
At home I only use the 12.9 as it's better for everything. I don't hold it for long other than sometimes for reading Word or PDF documents and for that I use my 2018 one (lighter) instead of my M1 (heavier), so yes I have more than one 12.9... Other than that I have Magic keyboards in my home office and a stand in every other room. The only time the 12.9 goes out of my home is to go to my holiday home....
For on the go I use the 11in and the 10.5in, mainly because they are more compact and easily fit everywhere (and they are always in keyboard cases on the go to protect them, while the 12.9 are mainly used naked at home, which offsets the additional weight).

 

[twolf2919]

Good thing I don’t go to coffee shops I guess. As if there aren’t people there constantly on laptops just as big and bigger than the iPad, lol. Whatever dude.

The difference is they're not holding up the laptops to their faces. I don't pay that much attention at the coffee shop, but I have noticed (an snickered to myself) one or two folks using a 12.9" on a plane. They looked uncomfortable trying to hold that thing up to watch a movie (unless they had a stand and used the tray).

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Good thing I don’t go to coffee shops I guess. As if there aren’t people there constantly on laptops just as big and bigger than the iPad, lol. Whatever dude.

It would be smaller than this.

 

[usmaak]

I'm still on a second gen iPad Pro 12.9". It is perfect for couch surfing and my MBP generally just sits unless there's a specific need for it. I have seen the rumors of a 16" pro in the future. My second gen iPad is showing its age and the battery totally sucks in it now. I was going to trade it for a new 12.9" but am waiting to see what the 16" has to offer.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I have only ever had the 11" iPad. I have always loved it for traveling, which is the only time I ever really use it, because I always found it a bit small otherwise. Everytime I used it, I always thought it was a little tiny to be an actual work device. So, it has always been relegated as a travel companion and served that purpose well.

Congrats on finding and buying a device that has the feature set you want, that does what you want it to do, and is enjoyable for you to use! You wouldn’t think that’s a rare feat but, around here…

 

[anthony13]

yea I never loved my iPads until the 12.9”. 100% agree. It’s just so much more useful.

 

[MisterSavage]

The 2000-vote poll on here is split right down the middle. They’re both incredible devices

I was going to say the same thing. With over 2000 votes the preference is split down the middle.

OP glad you're happy with your 12.9". I returned mine for an 11" with zero regrets.

 

[haydn!]

I’m in the same camp. I’m loving my decision to go big! I upgraded from the original 9.7 iPad Pro to a M2 12.9 and I love it.

It’s early days, but I do a lot of creative art working, both digital assets and also some print. So the combination of the new iPad plus the new Affinity suite is perfect, and whilst I’m still getting used to the touch controls verses trackpad, the extra real estate is really helping.

I understand why some people think it’s too big, because it is big! But I don’t think it’s fair for those folks to assume just because it doesn’t work for them, it doesn’t work for others. Just pick the iPad that works for you, everything and everyone else doesn’t matter.

 

[profH]

This doesn't come up much, but I find the objectively small weight difference between the 2018 12.9 and the M-series 12.9 to be significant in practice; with just a smart folio cover it tips the scales from "barely comfortable in one hand as a tablet for long periods" to "just not comfortable in one hand as a tablet for long periods." However, I still find the 11 iPP too cramped to be useful. Hoping the next iteration will provide something in between with a tolerable one-handed weight.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

I just upgraded my 2017 iPad to the latest 11" iPad Pro. I use it mostly for reading books and editing what I write. I have a simple question for all of you who state how much you love your 12.9" iPad:

How much time do you actually spend holding your 12.9" iPad in your hand?

I don’t have a MKB, so I mainly hold it (with folio cover) in landscape, but sometimes I rest against my legs in bed. Holding in portrait orientation is unwieldy for me, but landscape feels just right. I would always hold the 11” in portrait.

 

[jcshas]

I made the leap from the 11" to the 12.9 back in 2020 and it completely changed how I use my iPad. The only time I've really missed the 11" is when I'm streaming movies/TV shows from the sofa. However, I think if Apple had included and XDR display in the 2022 11" I might have reverted back, but I ended up sticking with the 12.9 when I recently upgrade again to the M2 12.9. Once you use the display on the 12.9 it's really hard to go back.

 

[Falhófnir]

Had the 12.9" from the start and it's the ideal size for a tablet to me. Big enough to be really immersive for content and browsing, but still too small to really make use of full desktop OS multitasking features. I get the appeal of having a smaller travel device but for general tablet use around home it's perfectly wieldy.

 

[miamialley]

How much time do you actually spend holding your 12.9" iPad in your hand?

As I’m thinking about it, never. It’s usually in my lap, against a pillow, or on the Magic Keyboard.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I just bought a iPad Pro 12.9" M2 1TB, and was delivered yesterday.
Already have the iPad Pro 11" M1 128GB and plan on keeping it.

I didn't purchase any accessories with the 11" Pro. But I got the magic keyboard, pencil, and smart folio for the 12.9" Pro, I went all out. The 12.9" Pro is totally doable for taking just about everywhere like the 11". But I do wish those 14" to 16" rumors were true, cause this is going to be mostly my indoors iPad.

For me personally, I'm comparing the 12.9" Pro to the Tab S8 Ultra. They're both so different, for better and worst. But if I had to choose one, I doubt I could decide.

 

[macacam]

You'll get tired of it, I promise. Then you'll wish you had your 11" back. The 12.9" is really cool at first, then it gets old because it's big and cumbersome and so goofy looking at coffee shops. Good luck with your purchase.

Oh John, not everybody is as small as you are!