iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[hipnetic]

There were a few years in between that iPad and the first iPad Pro where I had given up on the device as something I could ever use as my main machine, so I just got an iPad mini and went back to my Macbook.

...

That remained true until I started really jumping in to the Affinity apps, LumaFusion, ProCreate, etc. Those apps are all just way better and way more usable on a bigger screen. So this year I jumped up to the 12.9" model, and it's pretty liberating to have all that canvas.

It's interesting to read your comments, because there is some overlap with my situation. I bought a MBP 16 when it came out and I like to dabble in graphic design. I had an iPad Pro 9.7" with Pencil and love some of the apps, but I spend too much time on forums and not enough time actually creating things. Last year I had need for an on-board GPS (we had bought a used boat a couple of years ago and I wanted to use the Navionics app on the iPad and delay upgrading the boat electronics), so I bought the latest iPad mini. I figured that the iPad mini would actually be a great size for using Affinity Designer, as you can just pinch to zoom in for more detailed work, right? But I found myself having to pinch-to-zoom a lot more frequently than I wanted to (e.g., for editing nodes, and in particular to accurately select a particular node), and I also found that expanding the sidebar controls took up a lot more screen real estate.

In the mean time, my daughter was majoring in Studio Art, focusing on traditional media (and printmaking in particular) and had zero interest in graphic design, but I really wanted to nudge her over to building up a skillset in graphic design, and hoped that if she put some effort into it that she might actually love it. I let her borrow the iPad Pro 9.7" and she had been using it a bit, and raised some interest in the Cintiq, but I really felt like the iPad w/Pencil was the way of the future. She specifically pointed out that she wanted a very large canvas size. So, I told her that I might be willing to get her an iPad Pro 12.9". But I was still worried that the 12.9" would be too big and that she might use the iPad for more things if she went with the 11". But she has a 2018 (?) MBP 13" and seemed convinced that she would likely just use the iPad for drawing, and use her MBP for everything else. I'm not convinced that it will turn out that way, but I went ahead the other day and purchased a 2018 12.9" from Apple's refurb store. Her 12.9" arrived today. She's completed her semester and the school decided (last minute) to do some sort of virtual ceremony this Friday (they had previously pushed off the "real" ceremony until December), so I'm going to give her the 12.9" after that on Friday.

I'm still considering also purchasing an 11" so that she can compare the two first-hand, and also because I'm intrigued by these 2018+ iPad Pros myself, and may want to upgrade to one of them myself. Or I may stick to the mini for now, or move back to the older iPad Pro 9.7". My wife wants one of the iPads, though, and I'm not sure which she'll be happier with (she uses an MBA 13 as her main "device").

So in all of our cases, the iPad is a supplemental device to our MacBooks. In the case of my wife and my daughter, though, I suspect that they both could be pretty content with *just* an iPad along with the Magic Keyboard/case. I actually floated that idea past both of them and they rejected it, but I suspect that it's just because they don't realize how much you can do with the iPad Pros now, and how well the Magic Keyboard/case would turn the iPads into viable laptop-replacements. It won't surprise me if, in a few months from now, my daughter is using the iPad primarily and her MBP 13 is getting little use.

 

[rkuo]

12.9 is the only way to go. One look at that screen and there’s no turning back. Just received mine and it has the wow factor that should come with a device you are paying $1,000 for. I’m coming from an Air 2 and 10.5 Pro.

11” does not give the same impression as the 12.9 yet you are still paying basically $1,000 for the base 11” ($799 + Apple Care + Taxes). If the 11” was more like $599 or $650 then possibly. However, if you’re spending close to $1,000 anyway you might as well get the most for your money. Saving $200 for the 11” over the 12.9 over the course of 5 years or longer (how long we can realistically use these) is peanuts per month.

Go big or go home.

The 12.9 is not cumbersome at all. On the couch, you’re sitting down so it’s on your lap or in a smart folio with tilt stand. Portability? It fits nicely in most bags an 11” would. Carrying around is no problem, you’re not jogging with it.

There is no replacement for displacement.

12.9” is the definition of what the Pro should be.

I actually think of it the other way, which is that I'm paying an extra 200 dollars for the 12.9 for something that is in no way more capable or higher spec. Just a bigger screen size. It gets very annoying to pay that extra "size tax" and "GB tax" on my phone and iPad every time I upgrade to a new model.
[automerge]1589404594[/automerge]

In Apple's marketing materials and even sometimes in person at stores, I mistake the 12.9" model for the 11" model at first glance. If I'm just passing by, I have to look at how the Pencil is sitting to figure out which one it is. That's how close they LOOK in size in casual observation. I think a lot of people consider 11" to be "normal sized" for an iPad and 12.9" to be "the huge model". In reality, like they said in 2018, the 12.9" model is the size of an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. Over time when actually using one, that starts to feel like the "normal sized" iPad and the 11" starts to feel like "the small model". Looking at my son's 9.7" iPad Air 2, it looks more like a mini to me now, and my other son's ACTUAL iPad mini looks dink and borderline unusable.

Of course it's easy to acclimate to your preferred model, but there's an undeniable cliff in terms of portrait mode usability and overall tablet weight distribution and usability threshold that the 12.9" crosses over as compared to the traditional tablet sizes. It's not just a looks issue.

Comparing the iPad's to a A4 sheet of paper is not a comparison I've ever bought into. I don't hold sheets of paper in my hand, they don't weigh the same as an iPad, and even if it was a full notepad, I'd still need to lay it flat on a desk to use it or have it inside a folio.

There are smaller sized notepads (A5) for handheld usage and most books have a form factor designed to be held. Those are a better comparison.

 

[spiderman0616]

I actually think of it the other way, which is that I'm paying an extra 200 dollars for the 12.9 for something that is in no way more capable or higher spec. Just a bigger screen size. It gets very annoying to pay that extra "size tax" and "GB tax" on my phone and iPad every time I upgrade to a new model.
[automerge]1589404594[/automerge]

Of course it's easy to acclimate to your preferred model, but there's an undeniable cliff in terms of portrait mode usability and overall tablet weight distribution and usability threshold that the 12.9" crosses over as compared to the traditional tablet sizes. It's not just a looks issue.

Comparing the iPad's to a A4 sheet of paper is not a comparison I've ever bought into. I don't hold sheets of paper in my hand, they don't weigh the same as an iPad, and even if it was a full notepad, I'd still need to lay it flat on a desk to use it or have it inside a folio.

There are smaller sized notepads (A5) for handheld usage and most books have a form factor designed to be held. Those are a better comparison.

Are you implying that the 11" and 12.9" iPad Pro should be the same price? Or that a 128 GB and 256 GB iPad Pro should be the same price? I can get on board with that idea that there should maybe not be quite as MUCH of a price difference, but it's unreasonable to expect them to be dramatically closer than they are now.

As far as the screen size--I'm just saying that a screen the size of a piece of paper is not a ridiculously large viewing area. And in my experience, using the iPad Pro in portrait mode is.....fine? I mean, yesterday I had to sign some medical forms for my son and held it in one hand while writing with the other, then handed it over to my wife who had to do the same thing. Neither of us had much of an issue doing that at all--no more of an issue than using a clipboard or something at the doctor's office.

I take the iPad Pro off of the Magic Keyboard when I don't need the Magic Keyboard, and it's very thin and light for uses like that. When I'm reading I rest it in my lap or on a pillow in my lap or on whatever the closest surface is. But even then, my preference is landscape, because I like what I'm reading to be shaped like an open book or a laptop screen that I just happen to be holding. If I'm doing a creative project, it just depends on what the project is. I can flip it either way.

EDIT: My comments about being tricked by the screen sizes were just in agreement with someone else who said they're really pretty close in size. Sometimes at a glance I don't see much difference. Maybe that will start to change now that I have a 12.9" model.
[automerge]1589405960[/automerge]

It's interesting to read your comments, because there is some overlap with my situation. I bought a MBP 16 when it came out and I like to dabble in graphic design. I had an iPad Pro 9.7" with Pencil and love some of the apps, but I spend too much time on forums and not enough time actually creating things. Last year I had need for an on-board GPS (we had bought a used boat a couple of years ago and I wanted to use the Navionics app on the iPad and delay upgrading the boat electronics), so I bought the latest iPad mini. I figured that the iPad mini would actually be a great size for using Affinity Designer, as you can just pinch to zoom in for more detailed work, right? But I found myself having to pinch-to-zoom a lot more frequently than I wanted to (e.g., for editing nodes, and in particular to accurately select a particular node), and I also found that expanding the sidebar controls took up a lot more screen real estate.

In the mean time, my daughter was majoring in Studio Art, focusing on traditional media (and printmaking in particular) and had zero interest in graphic design, but I really wanted to nudge her over to building up a skillset in graphic design, and hoped that if she put some effort into it that she might actually love it. I let her borrow the iPad Pro 9.7" and she had been using it a bit, and raised some interest in the Cintiq, but I really felt like the iPad w/Pencil was the way of the future. She specifically pointed out that she wanted a very large canvas size. So, I told her that I might be willing to get her an iPad Pro 12.9". But I was still worried that the 12.9" would be too big and that she might use the iPad for more things if she went with the 11". But she has a 2018 (?) MBP 13" and seemed convinced that she would likely just use the iPad for drawing, and use her MBP for everything else. I'm not convinced that it will turn out that way, but I went ahead the other day and purchased a 2018 12.9" from Apple's refurb store. Her 12.9" arrived today. She's completed her semester and the school decided (last minute) to do some sort of virtual ceremony this Friday (they had previously pushed off the "real" ceremony until December), so I'm going to give her the 12.9" after that on Friday.

I'm still considering also purchasing an 11" so that she can compare the two first-hand, and also because I'm intrigued by these 2018+ iPad Pros myself, and may want to upgrade to one of them myself. Or I may stick to the mini for now, or move back to the older iPad Pro 9.7". My wife wants one of the iPads, though, and I'm not sure which she'll be happier with (she uses an MBA 13 as her main "device").

So in all of our cases, the iPad is a supplemental device to our MacBooks. In the case of my wife and my daughter, though, I suspect that they both could be pretty content with *just* an iPad along with the Magic Keyboard/case. I actually floated that idea past both of them and they rejected it, but I suspect that it's just because they don't realize how much you can do with the iPad Pros now, and how well the Magic Keyboard/case would turn the iPads into viable laptop-replacements. It won't surprise me if, in a few months from now, my daughter is using the iPad primarily and her MBP 13 is getting little use.

The period of time where I had mostly gone back to the Macbook Pro for most of my "work" and used the iPad mini for everything else--that caused a lot of turmoil for me as far as what my workflow should be. I wanted the Macbook Pro to be less computer-y and the iPad to be more computer-y and I just felt like Apple was so far from that point. Little did I know it was only a year or two out. When they introduced the first 12.9" iPad Pro I didn't have the cash flow at the time to just jump right in to an unproven concept, but the introduction of the 9.7" model was a more affordable way in, so that's where I changed course back to iPad. These days I use my 15" Macbook Pro that my job provides during the day a) because I don't like putting wear and tear from work on my personal stuff, and b) they really prefer I work on company equipment when possible. But if I no longer had the Mac from work, I would absolutely not need a personally owned one at this point. Completely different world from when I tried this back in 2013 or 2014. In fact, the iPad Pro has been my main computer since that first 9.7" model.

 

[SurferJoes]

I've had a 11" for 18 months, if you are someone who holds the iPad when using it it's the perfect size.

 

[spiderman0616]

I've had a 11" for 18 months, if you are someone who holds the iPad when using it it's the perfect size.

That’s a blanket statement that doesn’t apply to every user though—that’s why people struggle so much with this decision. I use the iPad about equal amounts as a tablet and laptop, and I also used the 11” iPad Pro from the day it came out all the way up until a couple of weeks ago. By the end of that time the roles it had taken on in my daily use made the 12.9” a more appealing model.

If someone were to tell me that they use it mostly on the couch though for reading and things like that, I would say definitely get the 11” model.

 

[0128672]

If someone were to tell me that they use it mostly on the couch though for reading and things like that, I would say definitely get the 11” model.

I feel the 12.9 is great for reading on the couch and in bed. I like having it propped up in the SKF in my lap and not having to hold it. So far I haven't used mine in portrait or tablet mode at all. The 12.9 is so nice on my eyes.

 

[spiderman0616]

I feel the 12.9 is great for reading on the couch and in bed. I like having it propped up in the SKF in my lap and not having to hold it. So far I haven't used mine in portrait or tablet mode at all. The 12.9 is so nice on my eyes.

I kind of base it on where I’m going to be sitting and what I’ll be doing. If I’m going to be watching a movie or TV show and not really doing anything but stare at the screen in bed or on the couch, I’ll just leave it in the Magic Keyboard and put it on my lap so I don’t have to hold it. If I’m going to be reading or browsing the web or something like that, I have no problem just holding it. It’s light as a feather without the Magic Keyboard, and if my hands do get tired, I can just prop it up on a pillow or something.

 

[dazz87]

Went with the 11” with the MK and have no regrets.... Coming from iPad mini 4, I rather get a nice small form factor over a larger screen size....

 

[DwayneJohnson]

Let’s just say that watching movies is maybe a lower priority on a tablet marketed as a content creation device. Not impossible but it’s generally nicer for productivity and versatility to have a screen ratio that’s a bit more square rather than movie-like.

11“ for Multimedia and 12,9“ for Work?

 

[DwayneJohnson]

Some facts regarding watching 16:9 movies on both iPads.

The 12.9" iPad has 40.56% larger display area compared to the 11", but when watching 16:9 movies the 12.9" has only a 31.06% larger display area.

So you still have a larger movie image on the iPad 12.9", the 11" has only smaller black bars.

Da hat aber einer genau gerechnet
Ob jetzt 4:3 oder 10:7 (11“) besser ist. K.A.

 

[ericwn]

11“ for Multimedia and 12,9“ for Work?

Durchaus denkbar!

That’s a very workable scenario, or you could get an even cheaper iPad for the entertainment part, or just get one that is used for both.

 

[rkuo]

Are you implying that the 11" and 12.9" iPad Pro should be the same price? Or that a 128 GB and 256 GB iPad Pro should be the same price? I can get on board with that idea that there should maybe not be quite as MUCH of a price difference, but it's unreasonable to expect them to be dramatically closer than they are now.

Not at all ... I understand there should be a price difference. I just feel like 200 dollars is too much on top of the inflated ”Pro” price. Remember, the original iPad Pro 12.9 cost 799 at release, and even that felt like it was pushing it. This is exactly why I waited until the refurb‘s got to a good price before jumping back in.

As far as the screen size--I'm just saying that a screen the size of a piece of paper is not a ridiculously large viewing area. And in my experience, using the iPad Pro in portrait mode is.....fine? I mean, yesterday I had to sign some medical forms for my son and held it in one hand while writing with the other, then handed it over to my wife who had to do the same thing. Neither of us had much of an issue doing that at all--no more of an issue than using a clipboard or something at the doctor's office.

Eh ... I mean it’s all obviously personal, but the more you hold it, I think the less desirable the larger form factor is. It’s definitely OK for filling out the occasional form.

I take the iPad Pro off of the Magic Keyboard when I don't need the Magic Keyboard, and it's very thin and light for uses like that. When I'm reading I rest it in my lap or on a pillow in my lap or on whatever the closest surface is. But even then, my preference is landscape, because I like what I'm reading to be shaped like an open book or a laptop screen that I just happen to be holding. If I'm doing a creative project, it just depends on what the project is. I can flip it either way.

EDIT: My comments about being tricked by the screen sizes were just in agreement with someone else who said they're really pretty close in size. Sometimes at a glance I don't see much difference. Maybe that will start to change now that I have a 12.9" model.

Honestly I was surprised Apple didn’t reduce the physical size of the 11” when they reduced the bezels for the Face ID generation. It made the gap between the smaller and larger iPad Pro’s a lot smaller. But the size does make for the minimum “good” typing experience, I think, so I sort of get it now.

 

[cmonkey1976]

Thank you. I’m happy to share more photos if there is anything you’d like to see? I spend a bit of time on macrumors, so I have been including that in my comparison. When using Safari with macrumors, the with of the forum content looks to be the same in landscape.

Really useful to see the comparison pictures.

I currently have the IPP 10.5, restisted the urge to upgrade to the previous iPad but when the new iPads came out it had me thinking again... and I’ve been flip flopping between thinking is the 11” or 12.9” right for me.

I’ve read so many posts here, but for me, the fact that some that have had the 12.9 have swapped for the 11, or even considering it means to me that the 12.9 isn’t THE ultimate perfect size. Looking at the pictures there is just something about the smaller size, and makes the 12.9 look just a little too big (and I recall thinking the same when I looked at them in store, even though it’s so nice). Split screen does look better with the 12.9, but the 11 still looks more than adequate to do the job.

if I went with the 12.9 I’d more than likely go for Wifi only, but if I went for the 11 I’d be tempted to continue with the cellular model (not that I’ve really used cellular, but had it on all my iPads as I figure it’s best to have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it)... and if going for a cellular model, I think I should really hold out for 5G.

love the look of the AMK, but think for my use I’d only use it as a ‘dock’, and don’t have room for a computer setup at home

I love the IPP 10.5, and is going to the 11 really worth it?... it would be for the 12.9, but then with the extra size would I use it like I use my iPad at the moment as it’s so easy to pick up, hold and use.

11 vs 12.9 is a tough one... and think I need to decide that before I start convincing myself I need to upgrade from the awesome IPP 10.5

interesting to read these posts.

 

[cambookpro]

Really useful to see the comparison pictures.

I currently have the IPP 10.5, restisted the urge to upgrade to the previous iPad but when the new iPads came out it had me thinking again... and I’ve been flip flopping between thinking is the 11” or 12.9” right for me.

I’ve read so many posts here, but for me, the fact that some that have had the 12.9 have swapped for the 11, or even considering it means to me that the 12.9 isn’t THE ultimate perfect size. Looking at the pictures there is just something about the smaller size, and makes the 12.9 look just a little too big (and I recall thinking the same when I looked at them in store, even though it’s so nice). Split screen does look better with the 12.9, but the 11 still looks more than adequate to do the job.

if I went with the 12.9 I’d more than likely go for Wifi only, but if I went for the 11 I’d be tempted to continue with the cellular model (not that I’ve really used cellular, but had it on all my iPads as I figure it’s best to have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it)... and if going for a cellular model, I think I should really hold out for 5G.

love the look of the AMK, but think for my use I’d only use it as a ‘dock’, and don’t have room for a computer setup at home

I love the IPP 10.5, and is going to the 11 really worth it?... it would be for the 12.9, but then with the extra size would I use it like I use my iPad at the moment as it’s so easy to pick up, hold and use.

11 vs 12.9 is a tough one... and think I need to decide that before I start convincing myself I need to upgrade from the awesome IPP 10.5

interesting to read these posts.

I've been in a very similar situation, had a 10.5" with little desire to upgrade. However I had a white spot issue, and found that while working from home in lockdown I'm more drawn to using my iPad for a lot of tasks. I thought it was worth upgrading as I wanted a proper keyboard case and USB-C to use with my LG monitor - Face ID and the 2nd gen Pencil with double tap just about pushed me over the edge, and of course the design looks a lot more modern.

I'm currently waiting on a 11" and Magic Keyboard - the 12.9" was tempting, but I remember thinking just how unwieldy it was when picking it up at the Apple Store. It looks great in some photos, but I can't imagine doing a lot of traditional tablet tasks like reading or casually browsing the web on it. If it was my sole device, the 12.9" is probably the best option, but I still will be using my Mac for heavier stuff. I may end up regretting the size choice if this 'Pro apps' rumour is true and it can really become my primary computer, but my thinking I can always return/resell for a fairly minimal loss.

I think with a 12.9" I'd be reluctant to just casually take it out and use it on the train, in cafes etc which has never been a problem with my 10.5". I'm hoping the 11" is the perfect balance between a slightly larger screen, but still being ultraportable.

 

[Jamacfer]

I've been in a very similar situation, had a 10.5" with little desire to upgrade. However I had a white spot issue, and found that while working from home in lockdown I'm more drawn to using my iPad for a lot of tasks. I thought it was worth upgrading as I wanted a proper keyboard case and USB-C to use with my LG monitor - Face ID and the 2nd gen Pencil with double tap just about pushed me over the edge, and of course the design looks a lot more modern.

I'm currently waiting on a 11" and Magic Keyboard - the 12.9" was tempting, but I remember thinking just how unwieldy it was when picking it up at the Apple Store. It looks great in some photos, but I can't imagine doing a lot of traditional tablet tasks like reading or casually browsing the web on it. If it was my sole device, the 12.9" is probably the best option, but I still will be using my Mac for heavier stuff. I may end up regretting the size choice if this 'Pro apps' rumour is true and it can really become my primary computer, but my thinking I can always return/resell for a fairly minimal loss.

I think with a 12.9" I'd be reluctant to just casually take it out and use it on the train, in cafes etc which has never been a problem with my 10.5". I'm hoping the 11" is the perfect balance between a slightly larger screen, but still being ultraportable.

At first I thought exactly the same way too (I went from 10.5" to 11" with AMK). After a few days, however, I realized that the 11" was too close to the previous model and in some ways it seemed even smaller and I also realized that to express all the new great potential of the iPad, the 12.9" model would have been ideal. So I returned the 11" and bought the 12.9" along the AMK. Now I'm very satisfied with the choice since the bigger model especially naked is not that big and great also in portrait mode even when in bed or couch. PS I also own an iMac for heavier stuff.

 

[cambookpro]

At first I thought exactly the same way too (I went from 10.5" to 11" with AMK). After a few days, however, I realized that the 11" was too close to the previous model and in some ways it seemed even smaller and I also realized that to express all the new great potential of the iPad, the 12.9" model would have been ideal. So I returned the 11" and bought the 12.9" along the AMK. Now I'm very satisfied with the choice since the bigger model especially naked is not that big and great also in portrait mode even when in bed or couch. PS I also own an iMac for heavier stuff.

Hopefully I will be able to view the 12.9" again in a shop if they safely reopen within the next month or so. Looking forward to trying out the 11" anyway. Can't help feeling that a size slap bang in the middle would be the Goldilocks iPad!

 

[Jamacfer]

Yes, I agree, maybe a 12”?

 

[millydog]

Well, after trying the 11” and hoping that it was the Goldilocks size, I’m finding it a little bit too small for that. I’m going to stick with my 12.9” 2018 and I’ll get the MK for it.

So the 11’ is very cute and light. It has a beautiful screen and is a joy to hold. It’s very portable and I found it great for browsing in portrait mode in my hands. It’s also the better size for reading novels. It even suits most of my use cases.

However, I have been trying to decide which iPad I’m going to get the MK for. If I picked the 12.9” for the MK, then I’d keep my 10.5” for reading and for extra portability. If I picked the 11” for my main iPad, then I’d get the MK for it, keep the 12.9” at home and upgrade it far less often.
I’m going to keep the 12.9” as my main iPad. As that is the case, I’ll return the 11” as the 10.5” still works well as my second device (for portability and reading). I’ll replace the 10.5” with an 11” further down the track when it’s too old, slow or broken, but it’s still fine for now.

One of the reasons for my decision is that the 11” seems a bit too small now. Funnily enough, I think it’s the screen ratio that does it. I find the 11” to be too short when in landscape mode and that’s the orientation that it would be in with the keyboard. If it was 2:3 like the 12.9, so wider (higher in landscape mode), I might have picked it. It just feels squashed in landscape to me. The 12.9” has a good height to it in both landscape and portrait modes. I actually wanted to want the 11” as the best all round iPad, but after coming from the 12.9, I don’t think that I’d be settled with it as my main iPad, I’d miss the 12.9” for some things.
Each size has it’s benefits and trade offs, but trying the 11” has helped me to realise that the 12.9” is the one that I’m happiest with.

BTW, one more thing in case someone finds it interesting, like I did.… my 12.9” 2018 is the 1TB one with 6GB RAM. The 11” 2020 that I got is also 1TB with 6GB RAM. Well, Geekbench gave me similar/same processor scores for them both.

 

[MacMandy]

Well, after trying the 11” and hoping that it was the Goldilocks size, I’m finding it a little bit too small for that. I’m going to stick with my 12.9” 2018 and I’ll get the MK for it.

So the 11’ is very cute and light. It has a beautiful screen and is a joy to hold. It’s very portable and I found it great for browsing in portrait mode in my hands. It’s also the better size for reading novels. It even suits most of my use cases.

However, I have been trying to decide which iPad I’m going to get the MK for. If I picked the 12.9” for the MK, then I’d keep my 10.5” for reading and for extra portability. If I picked the 11” for my main iPad, then I’d get the MK for it, keep the 12.9” at home and upgrade it far less often.
I’m going to keep the 12.9” as my main iPad. As that is the case, I’ll return the 11” as the 10.5” still works well as my second device (for portability and reading). I’ll replace the 10.5” with an 11” further down the track when it’s too old, slow or broken, but it’s still fine for now.

One of the reasons for my decision is that the 11” seems a bit too small now. Funnily enough, I think it’s the screen ratio that does it. I find the 11” to be too short when in landscape mode and that’s the orientation that it would be in with the keyboard. If it was 2:3 like the 12.9, so wider (higher in landscape mode), I might have picked it. It just feels squashed in landscape to me. The 12.9” has a good height to it in both landscape and portrait modes. I actually wanted to want the 11” as the best all round iPad, but after coming from the 12.9, I don’t think that I’d be settled with it as my main iPad, I’d miss the 12.9” for some things.
Each size has it’s benefits and trade offs, but trying the 11” has helped me to realise that the 12.9” is the one that I’m happiest with.

BTW, one more thing in case someone finds it interesting, like I did.… my 12.9” 2018 is the 1TB one with 6GB RAM. The 11” 2020 that I got is also 1TB with 6GB RAM. Well, Geekbench gave me similar/same processor scores for them both.

Your experience with the 11” rings true. I do think the wider aspect ratio affects things when in landscape, particularly when using split screen. I think you’ve made the right decision, especially since you already have use of a 10.5”. I’d be interested on your view of the AMK for the 12.9” when it arrives.

I hope you feel relieved now you seem to be pretty certain that your 12.9” is your main device. Adding the AMK will probably make it feel like a new iPad! I didn’t think the upgrade to the new 2020 iPad was worth it for me as I rarely use the camera and wouldn’t notice the processor and RAM bump. In your case, there’s no change in RAM as you have the 2018 1Tb iPad.

 

[millydog]

Your experience with the 11” rings true. I do think the wider aspect ratio affects things when in landscape, particularly when using split screen. I think you’ve made the right decision, especially since you already have use of a 10.5”. I’d be interested on your view of the AMK for the 12.9” when it arrives.

I hope you feel relieved now you seem to be pretty certain that your 12.9” is your main device. Adding the AMK will probably make it feel like a new iPad! I didn’t think the upgrade to the new 2020 iPad was worth it for me as I rarely use the camera and wouldn’t notice the processor and RAM bump. In your case, there’s no change in RAM as you have the 2018 1Tb iPad.

Yes, thank you Mandy. I do feel relived and settled now in my decision to stick with the 12.9” as my main iPad size. My 10.5” is still good and I don’t feel that the upgrade is necessary as yet, as beautiful as the 11” is.
I had imagined the 11” being a great all-round device and great to use the camera on too. I’m sure that it would be if I wasn’t coming from the 12.9”. It’s just a bit small now. I’ll get one down the track when I feel that I need to upgrade my 10.5”, but for now I’ll stick to the 12.9” which means that I’ll upgrade it more often. This little experiment helped me to see that I’m not missing much at all by keeping the 2018 this year due to already having the 1TB.
I had the MK for the 12.9” on order already, so I don’t need to change that. It is expected between 27/05 - 03/06. I’ll post my thoughts on it. I’m expecting it to be heavy. Hehe. That’s one of the things that was drawing me to the 11”, but the typing experience is going to be good on it, or so I hear. I’m looking forward to it. Thanks for your support and advice Mandy. I know that I’ve waffled on. Trying the 11” was a good idea and I could have kept it, but I have my 10.5” that is still going strong enough for purpose.

 

[spiderman0616]

Well, after trying the 11” and hoping that it was the Goldilocks size, I’m finding it a little bit too small for that. I’m going to stick with my 12.9” 2018 and I’ll get the MK for it.

So the 11’ is very cute and light. It has a beautiful screen and is a joy to hold. It’s very portable and I found it great for browsing in portrait mode in my hands. It’s also the better size for reading novels. It even suits most of my use cases.

However, I have been trying to decide which iPad I’m going to get the MK for. If I picked the 12.9” for the MK, then I’d keep my 10.5” for reading and for extra portability. If I picked the 11” for my main iPad, then I’d get the MK for it, keep the 12.9” at home and upgrade it far less often.
I’m going to keep the 12.9” as my main iPad. As that is the case, I’ll return the 11” as the 10.5” still works well as my second device (for portability and reading). I’ll replace the 10.5” with an 11” further down the track when it’s too old, slow or broken, but it’s still fine for now.

One of the reasons for my decision is that the 11” seems a bit too small now. Funnily enough, I think it’s the screen ratio that does it. I find the 11” to be too short when in landscape mode and that’s the orientation that it would be in with the keyboard. If it was 2:3 like the 12.9, so wider (higher in landscape mode), I might have picked it. It just feels squashed in landscape to me. The 12.9” has a good height to it in both landscape and portrait modes. I actually wanted to want the 11” as the best all round iPad, but after coming from the 12.9, I don’t think that I’d be settled with it as my main iPad, I’d miss the 12.9” for some things.
Each size has it’s benefits and trade offs, but trying the 11” has helped me to realise that the 12.9” is the one that I’m happiest with.

BTW, one more thing in case someone finds it interesting, like I did.… my 12.9” 2018 is the 1TB one with 6GB RAM. The 11” 2020 that I got is also 1TB with 6GB RAM. Well, Geekbench gave me similar/same processor scores for them both.

Keep in mind that the improvement made in processor on the 2020 model was that they unlocked another GPU core. The CPU is the same. So your scores will be a bit better in the GPU department but should be shouldn't change much for CPU.

Your experience with the 11” rings true. I do think the wider aspect ratio affects things when in landscape, particularly when using split screen. I think you’ve made the right decision, especially since you already have use of a 10.5”. I’d be interested on your view of the AMK for the 12.9” when it arrives.

I hope you feel relieved now you seem to be pretty certain that your 12.9” is your main device. Adding the AMK will probably make it feel like a new iPad! I didn’t think the upgrade to the new 2020 iPad was worth it for me as I rarely use the camera and wouldn’t notice the processor and RAM bump. In your case, there’s no change in RAM as you have the 2018 1Tb iPad.

I didn't think I cared about the new cameras or LIDAR, but the other day I had to take a quick measurement and used my iPad to do it knowing that it's supposed to be more accurate than the iPhone--it is SO MUCH BETTER with the LIDAR sensor. It grabs on to an endpoint and just stays put and is VERY accurate.

 

[mac.cali]

I had the 10.5 pro since it was released and it‘s been paired with the Smart Keyboard. Everything was fine, no issues with anything other than the white spot on these screens. Lol. But recently i decided to go to 12.9 and Magic Keyboard . I mainly use it as a laptop replacement and so far, so good. It is larger, but not to the point some make it out to be. It doesn’t over power me. At no point do I feel I can’t handle it safely. It kind of reminds me when the first iPhone plus came out. When I got that, it was an adjustment. But till this day, each non plus size phone feels little to me. I’ve gotten used to the large screen sizes on these devices and appreciate the larger size. I haven’t tested the 11 since I didnt’ see it as being a big upgrade over the 10.5. Each one of use has our own opinions. There’s really no bad choice here. I’m sure if anyone was gift either one of these, we’d greatly appreciate it

 

[spiderman0616]

I had the 10.5 pro since it was released and it‘s been paired with the Smart Keyboard. Everything was fine, no issues with anything other than the white spot on these screens. Lol. But recently i decided to go to 12.9 and Magic Keyboard . I mainly use it as a laptop replacement and so far, so good. It is larger, but not to the point some make it out to be. It doesn’t over power me. At no point do I feel I can’t handle it safely. It kind of reminds me when the first iPhone plus came out. When I got that, it was an adjustment. But till this day, each non plus size phone feels little to me. I’ve gotten used to the large screen sizes on these devices and appreciate the larger size. I haven’t tested the 11 since I didnt’ see it as being a big upgrade over the 10.5. Each one of use has our own opinions. There’s really no bad choice here. I’m sure if anyone was gift either one of these, we’d greatly appreciate it

Yep--that's the whole thing--there's no bad choice. Kind of a good problem to have.

 

[JockItch43]

I have both... a work supplied 2018 11” pro and a personal 2020 12.9” pro. Honestly, I feel like the 11” is the better pure tablet experience. It’s easier to hold, especially with one hand. I also prefer the aspect ratio, to me it looks more aesthetically pleasing in addition to it being better for media consumption.

But the 12.9” is a better jack of all trades IMO, and better blurs the lines between the tablet and laptop experience. And with iPadOS continuing to offer features that make it more and more a laptop replacement, it was the choice for me.

 

[spiderman0616]

I have both... a work supplied 2018 11” pro and a personal 2020 12.9” pro. Honestly, I feel like the 11” is the better pure tablet experience. It’s easier to hold, especially with one hand. I also prefer the aspect ratio, to me it looks more aesthetically pleasing in addition to it being better for media consumption.

But the 12.9” is a better jack of all trades IMO, and better blurs the lines between the tablet and laptop experience. And with iPadOS continuing to offer features that make it more and more a laptop replacement, it was the choice for me.

Yep--this was my exact reasoning. I have always appreciated the smaller models for their pure tablet-ness--I do still want the iPad part to be an iPad--but I use my iPad Pro as a laptop AND a tablet. It's my main go-to machine for everything, so I feel like in that situation 12.9" is the way to go.

I judge it by how I like at night when I just want to watch something or read a book. For the longest time I thought the 12.9" would be too clunky for that, but I was wrong. I LOVE having the larger screen for those activities. I feel that if you just pop it off the MK and use it "naked" in tablet mode without any extra bulky cases, it's wonderful.

Because I'm very paranoid about damaging the iPad, I just put a skin on the back, the camera housing, and the sides, so it still feels like I'm holding it without any extra bulk at all. I love it, and can't believe I didn't do this more often before. I think the inability of the MK to fold all the way back has forced people to explore their options more as far as what to do when they don't need the keyboard, and this has been the ideal setup for me.