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Which is the best iPad Pro ?


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subjonas

macrumors 603
Feb 10, 2014
6,253
6,736
Well another update from myself. I’ve done another flip and I now plan to get the MK for my current 12.9” 2018 instead of getting an 11” and getting the keyboard for that. I’ve flipped back and forth on this a number of times.

I guess that I’ve read more and more opinions from people trying the MK with the 11” and then deciding that they want to upgrade to the 12.9”. I already have the 12.9”, so getting the MK for that will save some money. Plus, I have my iPP 10.5” with ASK if I need extra portability or I decide to read a book, etc.
I’ve just heard so many glowing reviews of the MK for the 12.9” now that I think it’s the way that I should go now.
Makes sense. Were you going to keep the 10.5 if you got the 11?
 
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RecursiveLoop

macrumors newbie
Jul 4, 2019
1
0
I have the 12.9" in my cart and it's been there for a while. I have a 2017 iPad with a cracked screen, and feeling tempted to upgrade....but it's still a lot of money
 

millydog

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2007
564
516
Australia
Makes sense. Were you going to keep the 10.5 if you got the 11?

If I got the 11”, then my husband would take my 10.5” to replace his iPP 9.7”.

This has been quite a hard decision. It feels like every time I have made a decision and submitted an order to Apple that I then read posts and opinions that persuade me to think the other way and flip again. The saving money idea makes sense though, so that’s not getting the 11” and MK, but instead getting the MK for the 12.9”.
I cancelled the 11” MK and ordered the 12.9” MK, but the 11” iPP and Smart Cover have now shipped, so that also makes it hard. The 11” will arrive soon.
 
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Arran

macrumors 601
Mar 7, 2008
4,928
3,935
Atlanta, USA
Well another update from myself. I’ve done another flip and I now plan to get the MK for my current 12.9” 2018 instead of getting an 11” and getting the keyboard for that. I’ve flipped back and forth on this a number of times.
Good move IMHO.

I just upgraded my 2015 12.9” to a 2020 12.9”. For general productivity I’m not seeing any huge performance improvement. The 2015 was fast (and still is) and I imagine your 2018 is even better.

That said, I’m finding the 12.9” MK a little cramped - but acceptable. No way I’d downsize to 11”. The MK is heavy-ish, but Apple’s simple (non-keyboard) case is small and light and perfect for travel.

Overall, the 2018/2020 12.9” form-factor and accessories are pretty-much perfect. I can see myself with this for another 5 years.
 
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millydog

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2007
564
516
Australia
Good move IMHO.

I just upgraded my 2015 12.9” to a 2020 12.9”. For general productivity I’m not seeing any huge performance improvement. The 2015 was fast (and still is) and I imagine your 2018 is even better.

That said, I’m finding the 12.9” MK a little cramped - but acceptable. No way I’d downsize to 11”. The MK is heavy-ish, but Apple’s simple (non-keyboard) case is small and light and perfect for travel.

Overall, the 2018/2020 12.9” form-factor and accessories are pretty-much perfect. I can see myself with this for another 5 years.

Thank you. I’m feeling more and more settled with this plan. When the 11” and cover arrive, I’ll need to grab the return shipping label and take it straight over to the post office to return it. I don’t want to be tempted to open it. The more that I think about it though, this is the right decision. I’m sitting with the 12.9” on my lap in my recliner and it’s the perfect size.
I have the Apple Smart Cover (non Keyboard) for it, so I still have that option for going out when I don’t want to take the MK with me.
You did a good job holding onto the 2015 and just now upgrading to the 2020. I wish that I had such restraint. I’m ok with keeping the 2018 this time at least, but 2021 could tempt me to upgrade.
 

ct2k7

macrumors G3
Aug 29, 2008
8,382
3,439
London
I have just received my 12.9" iPad Pro, and boy does it feel big. I’m planning on getting the magic keyboard to see how it compares to my 11". It should arrive within 20 days, I hope.
 
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DwayneJohnson

macrumors member
Sep 19, 2013
79
31
Overall, the 2018/2020 12.9” form-factor and accessories are pretty-much perfect. I can see myself with this for another 5 years.
Yes, but the Ratio :rolleyes:
The 11" has a 10:7-Ratio (12,9 only 4:3)
With 10:7 the contents (movies with their black bars) are "larger" (despite the same display-size)
4:3 isnt up to date anymore...
 
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rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,916
13,261
Yes, but the Ratio :rolleyes:
The 11" has a 10:7-Ratio (12,9 only 4:3)
With 10:7 the contents (movies with their black bars) are "larger" (despite the same display-size)
4:3 isnt up to date anymore...
Depends on what you're doing.

Widescreen might be better for videos. For letter-size PDFs, etc, it's less ideal. Landscape mode with onscreen keyboard, on Android's 16:9 or 16:10, keyboard blocks a large part of the display. On 4:3, you see more of the content.

I've used 16:10 tablets and they've always felt off-balanced to me. 10:7 is a non-standard ratio and the only reason Apple's using it is to retain the full size keyboard from the iPad Pro 10.5.

That said, the 2018/2020 iPad Pro 12.9 was a much appreciated size reduction for a lot of users compared to the earlier models. I'm sure many would be very unhappy if size gets increased back to 2015/2017 Pro 12.9 level.
 
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DwayneJohnson

macrumors member
Sep 19, 2013
79
31
I think for PDFs 10:7 (display upright) is better than 4:3 (upright) ;)
(16:9 oder 16:10 (upright) - i dont know (text too tight))
 

iAdamator

macrumors 6502a
Sep 10, 2013
698
171
South San Francisco, CA
I have been giving the 12.9 a try and I don't know what it is, but it seems way more square than my iPad Pro 10.5. It must be an optical illusion because they are the same 4:3 ratio correct? it's especially noticeable in landscape mode. The iPad seems too TALL. For whatever reason, the iPad seems more proportional in portrait mode. Weird huh?

Probably doesn't help that I have been trying the 11 inch for the last week, which I know is wider than most previous iPad. Still though, my old 10.5 doesn't even seem quite so "square."

I thought I was for sure in on the 12.9; but trying it now, I am not as sure as I thought I would be. I definitely need to try it for a few more days. (I have been using the 11 for about a week.) But there is just something so perfect about the 11 that it took me trying the 12.9 to see. No doubting the screen is amazing on the 12.9. If I kept it, I could see myself using portrait mode a lot more for web viewing.

As someone above was kind enough to tell me, and what is absolutely true, is the typing is better on the bigger one with the bigger keyboard. The screen is not bumped nearly as much! I worry this factor alone may sway me more than anything towards the bigger one even though I really don't even doing that much typing.

I've also noticed that I need to swipe more to get the cursor across the screen on the 12.9, even though I turned the speed up.

I'm glad I am finally truly giving both sizes a fair try. Boy is it a tough decision though. It's very easy to see why the voting for both sizes is so even.


Just a quick update. I am still very torn on which one to keep as I Like a lot of aspects of both.
I ask myself questions like: If the keyboard on the 11 MK didnt feel cramped, would I have ever considered the 12.9?

If I keep the small one am I going to wish I had the bigger one? If I keep the bigger one am I going to wish it was smaller?

I did buy the 11 first as it was what I thought I wanted. But got the bigger one to try it’s MK. The bigger iPad is nice No doubt and not as bad to manage as some make it out to be.

I also have read that on average the bigger one has about an hour worse battery life and that more than anything is making me rethink the 11.,
 

Jamacfer

macrumors 6502
Sep 3, 2015
292
272
京都市
Just a quick update. I am still very torn on which one to keep as I Like a lot of aspects of both.
I ask myself questions like: If the keyboard on the 11 MK didnt feel cramped, would I have ever considered the 12.9?

If I keep the small one am I going to wish I had the bigger one? If I keep the bigger one am I going to wish it was smaller?

I did buy the 11 first as it was what I thought I wanted. But got the bigger one to try it’s MK. The bigger iPad is nice No doubt and not as bad to manage as some make it out to be.

I also have read that on average the bigger one has about an hour worse battery life and that more than anything is making me rethink the 11.,
I believe that if you think to use it "only" as a classic tablet (reading novels, browsing, watching movies, sometimes light work) and especially on the go better the 11". If you think to use it also as a laptop and want to exploit (even if only as a possibility) all the already present great potential and hopefully also future (next iPadOs) then better the 12.9" (the model I chose). PS Consider also your eye-sight, for myself sometimes was a bit difficult to read on the 11".
 
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secretk

macrumors 65816
Oct 19, 2018
1,494
1,229
I believe that if you think to use it "only" as a classic tablet (reading novels, browsing, watching movies, sometimes light work) and especially on the go better the 11". If you think to use it also as a laptop and want to exploit (even if only as a possibility) all the already present great potential and hopefully also future (next iPadOs) then better the 12.9" (the model I chose). PS Consider also your eye-sight, for myself sometimes was a bit difficult to read on the 11".

Good advice! I would also add something specific (that is not relevant for anyone but for people like me). Face ID is really difficult for me to make it work on 11 inch tablet let alone on 12.9 inch. I do not have the strength in my hands to hold the device the way it has to be for Face ID to work. So if people have concerns about this they should consider the screen size as a factor.
 

Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
Good advice! I would also add something specific (that is not relevant for anyone but for people like me). Face ID is really difficult for me to make it work on 11 inch tablet let alone on 12.9 inch. I do not have the strength in my hands to hold the device the way it has to be for Face ID to work. So if people have concerns about this they should consider the screen size as a factor.

Interestingly I find FaceID to be more reliable on my iPad 11“ if both are laying flat on a table for sure, though that‘s a tricky angle; upright or in the keyboard or in my hands, it’s generally a wash.

I too am struggling again after feeling committed to the 12.9”. For handwritten notes and PDF reading, the bigger screen is great except that I need to lay it down to comfortably do those activities; for eBook reading, the smaller form factor is clearly a win (showing about double the amount of text of my iPhone 11 Pro Max which is still a big advantage). Video viewing doesn’t matter to me since I wouldn’t hold the device up for that activity but would totally dock it in the keyboard.

As for the magic keyboard, yes the 12.9 is definitely more comfortable for extended periods of time, but the 11” one is generally perfectly good and still a huge upgrade from the keyboard portfolio I used extensively since 2018. I’m not sure the disadvantage of the ergonomics of the smaller keyboard outweigh the disadvantage of the larger iPad as a tablet?

Battery wise I’m totally satisfied with both, not sure that would make or break my decision. Either way, I‘m finding I’d be totally thrilled with what effectively is a super compact 2-3lb laptop replacement which can quickly become a 1-1.5lb tablet for consumption (or for PDF annotating or handwritten notes).

I don’t have a personal Mac at home anymore (and can maybe count on one hand the number of times I booted up my 16” MBP before I sold it) but we do have a docked MBP for the household that can always serve in a pinch; I’m wondering if that plus my 11”+MK is the way to go.
 

Jamacfer

macrumors 6502
Sep 3, 2015
292
272
京都市
Interestingly I find FaceID to be more reliable on my iPad 11“ if both are laying flat on a table for sure, though that‘s a tricky angle; upright or in the keyboard or in my hands, it’s generally a wash.

I too am struggling again after feeling committed to the 12.9”. For handwritten notes and PDF reading, the bigger screen is great except that I need to lay it down to comfortably do those activities; for eBook reading, the smaller form factor is clearly a win (showing about double the amount of text of my iPhone 11 Pro Max which is still a big advantage). Video viewing doesn’t matter to me since I wouldn’t hold the device up for that activity but would totally dock it in the keyboard.

As for the magic keyboard, yes the 12.9 is definitely more comfortable for extended periods of time, but the 11” one is generally perfectly good and still a huge upgrade from the keyboard portfolio I used extensively since 2018. I’m not sure the disadvantage of the ergonomics of the smaller keyboard outweigh the disadvantage of the larger iPad as a tablet?

Battery wise I’m totally satisfied with both, not sure that would make or break my decision. Either way, I‘m finding I’d be totally thrilled with what effectively is a super compact 2-3lb laptop replacement which can quickly become a 1-1.5lb tablet for consumption (or for PDF annotating or handwritten notes).

I don’t have a personal Mac at home anymore (and can maybe count on one hand the number of times I booted up my 16” MBP before I sold it) but we do have a docked MBP for the household that can always serve in a pinch; I’m wondering if that plus my 11”+MK is the way to go.

If you don't have a Mac I would suggest the 12.9"
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,916
13,261
I think for PDFs 10:7 (display upright) is better than 4:3 (upright) ;)
(16:9 oder 16:10 (upright) - i dont know (text too tight))
Note, I specifically mentioned letter-size PDF (US).

11/8.5 = 1.29

4/3 = 1.33

10/7 = 1.43

That said, I do recall A4 is narrower so that probably fits better fullscreen on the Pro 11.
 
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rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,308
955
If you don't have a Mac I would suggest the 12.9"
I agree, the extra screen space is required if you are using it as a primary device. Maybe iPadOS will add external monitor support that isn't a gimmick at some point. One can only hope.
 
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Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
If you don't have a Mac I would suggest the 12.9"

Agree with this in theory. In practice? I’m finding myself using it less as I used to an iPad, like reading in Apple Books for a few hours or reading through an article without the keyboard attached while sitting on the couch in Apple News or Reeder. Those activities seem more relegated to the iPhone now, which is cramped despite the max size for things like long ebook sessions.

It’s not the weight itself I’m finding uncomfortable for long stretches; it’s the distribution of said weight. The center of gravity is off just enough that I need to prop it up on something for it to be comfortable.
 
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rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,308
955
Well another update from myself. I’ve done another flip and I now plan to get the MK for my current 12.9” 2018 instead of getting an 11” and getting the keyboard for that. I’ve flipped back and forth on this a number of times.

I guess that I’ve read more and more opinions from people trying the MK with the 11” and then deciding that they want to upgrade to the 12.9”. I already have the 12.9”, so getting the MK for that will save some money. Plus, I have my iPP 10.5” with ASK if I need extra portability or I decide to read a book, etc.
I’ve just heard so many glowing reviews of the MK for the 12.9” now that I think it’s the way that I should go now.
Really seems like you'd be better off buying both and returning one. This doesn't seem like the kind of problem you're going to be able to work out in your head.
 
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hipnetic

macrumors 65816
Oct 5, 2010
1,270
565
Agree with this in theory. In practice? I’m finding myself using it less as I used to an iPad, like reading in Apple Books for a few hours or reading through an article without the keyboard attached while sitting on the couch in Apple News or Reeder. Those activities seem more relegated to the iPhone now, which is cramped despite the max size for things like long ebook sessions.

It’s not the weight itself I’m finding uncomfortable for long stretches; it’s the distribution of said weight. The center of gravity is off just enough that I need to prop it up on something for it to be comfortable.
This sounds a lot like the types of things people like me complain about when discussing the ever-increasing iPhone sizes. I'd love to see Apple release an iPad Pro mini.
 
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Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
This sounds a lot like the types of things people like me complain about when discussing the ever-increasing iPhone sizes. I'd love to see Apple release an iPad Pro mini.

Totally; it’s interesting. Before the magic keyboard, i don’t know that I would have thought of the 12.9 despite the iPad being my main computing device. Now, there’s a duality in how I use it, and I can’t decide which is the more important purpose for me (the 11”+MK is a tiny little powerhouse which is nice).

interestingly, for phones, I much prefer the Max size. Almost serves as that iPad mini in my head; still, so much more content on an 11” iPad than the 6.5” pro max
 

subjonas

macrumors 603
Feb 10, 2014
6,253
6,736
4:3 isnt up to date anymore...
I wish movies went back to 4:3 or similar so we could just have one aspect ratio for video, photos, docs, everything. They only changed movies from their original 4:3 aspect ratio basically for novelty’s sake. Maybe with imax having made a step back toward 4:3, there is a glimmer of hope in the distant future.
 

hipnetic

macrumors 65816
Oct 5, 2010
1,270
565
I wish movies went back to 4:3 or similar so we could just have one aspect ratio for video, photos, docs, everything. They only changed movies from their original 4:3 aspect ratio basically for novelty’s sake. Maybe with imax having made a step back toward 4:3, there is a glimmer of hope in the distant future.
Oh boy...I (and many others) would consider that to be a terrible idea. And if it ever happened, it would be a *LONG* way off. All modern flat-screen TVs are 16:9 (1.78:1) aspect ratio. Keep in mind that humans have a wider field of vision than 4:3 (1.33:1), thanks to our two eyes.

As a side-note, I have a front projector and a pull-down screen and actually had my screen custom-made to be around a 2.35:1 aspect ratio (I forget exactly what mine is). There are actually a *LOT* of movies that were/are filmed wider than 16:9 (1.78:1). The majority of those are around 2.35:1, but it can vary, with many wider than that.
 
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subjonas

macrumors 603
Feb 10, 2014
6,253
6,736
Oh boy...I (and many others) would consider that to be a terrible idea. And if it ever happened, it would be a *LONG* way off. All modern flat-screen TVs are 16:9 (1.78:1) aspect ratio. Keep in mind that humans have a wider field of vision than 4:3 (1.33:1), thanks to our two eyes.

As a side-note, I have a front projector and a pull-down screen and actually had my screen custom-made to be around a 2.35:1 aspect ratio (I forget exactly what mine is). There are actually a *LOT* of movies that were/are filmed wider than 16:9 (1.78:1). The majority of those are around 2.35:1, but it can vary, with many wider than that.
How do you know humans have a significantly wider field of vision than 4:3 (since I did say “or similar”)? Is that an assumption or do you have supporting facts? Because the only info I could find after a quick search online was that it was between 4:3 and 3:2, or “it’s complicated”. But definitely didn’t see anything saying it’s 16:9 or wider, as you seem to be saying.

I know people have gotten used to wide screen now, but people can get used to anything, that doesn’t mean it’s innately superior. I agree if it happens, it would be a long way off, which is why I said distant future. Just a personal wish.
 

mac.cali

macrumors 65816
Mar 16, 2012
1,449
368
I have a 10.5 Pro as my primary device. I have an aged MB that I really don’t even use since it’s so slow. The 10.5 has held up just fine. I got used to the folio keyboard even though it’s not to full size scale. I recently upgraded to 12.9 and it’s a big difference. Very immersive in terms of the apps. I’m sure it’ll be an adjustment, but i don‘t know how it’ll work out. I mainly use it for home use with the magic keyboard attached 24/7. Everyone seems to think the 12.9 is the way to go as primary only device, i guess time will tell if that’s indeed true.
 
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