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Which is the best iPad Pro ?


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    2,370

MacMandy

macrumors 6502a
Nov 13, 2006
740
905
Manchester, UK
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Jára Tyky

macrumors 6502
Apr 9, 2020
355
231
Finally I' m back on 12.9”. After having 11’ for 3 weeks, larger models feels much more premium and I like it much more than when I bought it one month ago and have returned it.
Now I can say with 100% certainty that sound on larger model is really cool in comparison with smaller model.
Digital keyboard and writing on it is pleasure and not pain as on 9.7 - 11”.
Affinity photo and another apps offer more functions and layouts.
Playing Dead by Daylight on couch with my girlfriend watching was better than I expected and bigger display helps really lot.
So 12.9” 2020 is really better device with whole functionality. 11’ model is great for size because it is really light and easy to use but it does not bring full user experience and having it you feels that you are using some limited version of iPad.

I hope this helps someone with decision. I am really happy that I could have each new model for few weeks and now can stop reading articles about size. Good luck!
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,118
10,908
Half way through the day and I went way way and then the other again, so basically I’m undecided again. Luckily we get 14 days to decide. It’s Friday, so I’ll be able to think about it more over the weekend when I’m not having to work.

Or just keep both.
 

petvas

macrumors 603
Jul 20, 2006
5,479
1,808
Munich, Germany
I have been using the 12,9" model for some weeks now and I have to say that I don't miss the 11" iPad at all. Even as a tablet I prefer the bigger display. When using the iPad with the Magic Keyboard the bigger display and keyboard are a joy to use. Of course the tablet is heavier and bigger, but I can handle the extra volume. Having said that, at least when I am at home I prefer to use my 16" MacBook Pro :)
 
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C. Robert

macrumors 65816
Oct 1, 2013
1,377
974
Baltimore
It’s very hard to decide. I love the screen of the 12 but it’s very heavy and the 11 is a tad too small but feels perfect in the hand.
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,118
10,908
Some people might not use both

It’s just an additional option instead of spending days trying to figure out which is the slightly better one. Life’s short, some might have the optional treat themselves. :)
 

PhaserFuzz

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2007
485
38
I have a 2018 12.9 inch and a 2020 11 inch. Personally, I prefer the 11 inch because it’s much more practical as a tablet. I prefer to hold it one handed, in portrait mode when reading or viewing sites. This does not work well at all with the 12.9.
 
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millydog

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2007
564
516
Australia
I’ve given the 11” a good try, but it still feels small to me after coming from a 12.9”. It’s light to hold in my hands, but I miss the bigger screen of the 12.9” when using it. I love browsing the web and watching video on my 12.9”, plus there are some games that I prefer on the 12.9” screen too.
If I was coming straight from my 10.5”, it would have been great, but I can’t adjust after using the 12.9”. I feel that the 11” would remain a second iPad to me, so not worth the upgrade until my iPP 10.5” breaks.

I prefer the on screen keyboard on the 12.9 and always seem to press the wrong key to get to numbers or alternate keys on the 11”. I’ve also been trying the ASK on the 10.5” (same width as the 11”) and the Brydge Pro for the 12.9” and the Brydge Pro is a much better width and feels like my work laptop keyboard, so I make fewer mistakes on the larger one and it feels less cramped. I regretted getting the Brydge Pro as it’s awkward to attach and detach the iPad. It’s also heavy and I found that I don’t take it to the office, so I doubt that will change with the Magic Keyboard for the 12.9”, but I’ll enjoy the typing experience at home more and that is what matters. Since I only use my iPad at work during my lunch break and usually for consumption (reading news or forums) in that time, I’ll continue to take my 12.9” to work with just the Smart Cover and I’ll have the on screen keyboard for the limited typing I do at that time anyway.

It’s not all about the keyboard, even just using it as a tablet, I prefer the 12.9” for the majority of the time. I enjoy the 12.9” as a tablet in my recliner and even in bed, reading or watching video.
The times that I would prefer an 11”, like when sitting in a cafe or doctor’s waiting room are far less often and it doesn’t make sense for me to get the 11” based on those times that make up 5% of the time that I’m using the iPad. I can use my iPhone or iPP 10.5” in those situations.

It was worth a try to see how I’d go with the 11”, but I’d miss the bigger screen. Yes, I would have kept both sizes if I kept the 11” and then just upgrade the 12.9” less often. But this was about me trying to figure out which iPad I wanted to use as my main iPad. I will keep my 10.5” for those times that I need extra portability and want a tablet and perhaps replace that down the track when it’s no longer usable, but for now, it still goes great.

The decision has been made. I’m packing up the 11” to return it. Thanks for helping and listening everyone.
 

lax28

macrumors 6502
Sep 28, 2014
279
157
New Jersey
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.

Sounds similar to my situation, wife had a 9.7 iPP (battery is starting to not last as long anymore). I purchased a 2020 11” to replace my 10.5 iPP which I gave to her, and we passed the 9.7 on to someone else in the family. I also already had a 2018 12.9 with the keyboard folio. Because of that I decided to get the AMK for the 11”, it felt kind of like a waste to buy it for the 2018 seeing how I already had the folio keyboard. I use both iPads. The 12.9 I use a lot more at work, where the 11 more so at home. Sometimes will use both, play a movie on the 11” while working on the 12.9. Either way, in 2 years or so whenever the next upgrade for me happens and if I am still using both iPads I will buy the 12.9 as it will be 4+ years old then. Hoping iPadOS evolves enough that I can remove my MacBook Pro from my daily workflow and leave at home. The AMK is great on the 11” that I want it on the 12.9” too, but that is not happening anytime soon if at all, plus I tend to do a lot of writing with the pencil on the 12.9 that I don’t seem to do no the 11”

Can’t go wrong with either, but being able to have and use both while passing down iPads to other family members is always a good thing and helps justify my apple/technology addiction too.
 
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cardfan

macrumors 601
Mar 23, 2012
4,431
5,627
Which do you prefer when actually using? I’d say it’s the 12.9.

When using 11 I just find myself missing something. The 12.9 is of course more to hold but comics are much better. I have comic readers and vast collections and now dc universe as well. Maybe marvel later. But 12.9 shines here. Would love oled for this.

Adobe pdf or other readers are just better on the 12. Drawing as well though I don’t do a lot.

Some games are better as well on bigger screen. As I play chess a lot. And viewing pc using screens is best on bigger iPad.

Magic kb is cool too as I just take off iPad and use it careless. Pop back on. I still don’t type that much on it but at least it’s more pleasurable to do so. However the scrolling makes lap use with it much better.

However if I’m on the go the 12 is too unwieldy for much. The 11 would win in that role. But I don’t really do this. The iPad is more of a home device or even hotel. I don’t use in car or restaurants etc. I don’t work on flights. Just never have. Phone does trick there for music or video or reading a novel.

Anyways hope it helps anyone.
 

millydog

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2007
564
516
Australia
Sounds similar to my situation, wife had a 9.7 iPP (battery is starting to not last as long anymore). I purchased a 2020 11” to replace my 10.5 iPP which I gave to her, and we passed the 9.7 on to someone else in the family. I also already had a 2018 12.9 with the keyboard folio. Because of that I decided to get the AMK for the 11”, it felt kind of like a waste to buy it for the 2018 seeing how I already had the folio keyboard. I use both iPads. The 12.9 I use a lot more at work, where the 11 more so at home. Sometimes will use both, play a movie on the 11” while working on the 12.9. Either way, in 2 years or so whenever the next upgrade for me happens and if I am still using both iPads I will buy the 12.9 as it will be 4+ years old then. Hoping iPadOS evolves enough that I can remove my MacBook Pro from my daily workflow and leave at home. The AMK is great on the 11” that I want it on the 12.9” too, but that is not happening anytime soon if at all, plus I tend to do a lot of writing with the pencil on the 12.9 that I don’t seem to do no the 11”

Can’t go wrong with either, but being able to have and use both while passing down iPads to other family members is always a good thing and helps justify my apple/technology addiction too.

Yes, it does sound similar. I gave the 11” a good try, but it was feeling like a secondary device to my 12.9” or a replacement to my iPP 10.5”, so it didn’t feel worth it for me. I found it to be the cutest iPad ever. I really like it, but I just felt like I couldn’t justify the upgrade just yet as my iPP 10.5” is still going strong. I’ll give the iPP 10.5” more time before I upgrade it. My husband is still happy with the iPP 9.5”, so there wasn’t any urgency to replace it there either.
This decision also leaves me open to upgrading my iPhone XS Max later this year too (I allow myself one device upgrade each year now) and also the next 12.9” upgrade next year. So I feel like this is a better plan all round.
 
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Greenmeenie

macrumors 68020
Jan 14, 2013
2,122
3,305
View attachment 802558 How meta is this...i’m at the Apple Store right now comparing the 11” & 12.9” ipad pros. Got them both on macrumors as i type this.

I have to say, making a decision is harder than i thought after seeing them in person. I was all sold on the 11” when i waked in the store....but The 12.9” is alot more hold - able than the previous version. I have to say, i am impressed.

Damn you Apple!

I may have to meditate on this a bit more.

Well, it’s a year later, and I am more than happy with my choice of going with the 11” iPad Pro. I travel a lot, and it just was the perfect size for that as well as doing serious work on. If I was mostly staying at home, I may have gone with the 12.9” but I have no regrets. Both are great iPads. I didn’t upgrade to the 2020 version, because it wasn’t a significant enough update in my opinion, and my 2018 iPad Pro still kicks butt. Supposedly the 2021 or 2022 iPad Pro will get the micro LED Screen, so perhaps I will upgrade then. Who knows.
 

millydog

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2007
564
516
Australia
I’ve given the 11” a good try, but it still feels small to me after coming from a 12.9”. It’s light to hold in my hands, but I miss the bigger screen of the 12.9” when using it. I love browsing the web and watching video on my 12.9”, plus there are some games that I prefer on the 12.9” screen too.
If I was coming straight from my 10.5”, it would have been great, but I can’t adjust after using the 12.9”. I feel that the 11” would remain a second iPad to me, so not worth the upgrade until my iPP 10.5” breaks.

I prefer the on screen keyboard on the 12.9 and always seem to press the wrong key to get to numbers or alternate keys on the 11”. I’ve also been trying the ASK on the 10.5” (same width as the 11”) and the Brydge Pro for the 12.9” and the Brydge Pro is a much better width and feels like my work laptop keyboard, so I make fewer mistakes on the larger one and it feels less cramped. I regretted getting the Brydge Pro as it’s awkward to attach and detach the iPad. It’s also heavy and I found that I don’t take it to the office, so I doubt that will change with the Magic Keyboard for the 12.9”, but I’ll enjoy the typing experience at home more and that is what matters. Since I only use my iPad at work during my lunch break and usually for consumption (reading news or forums) in that time, I’ll continue to take my 12.9” to work with just the Smart Cover and I’ll have the on screen keyboard for the limited typing I do at that time anyway.

It’s not all about the keyboard, even just using it as a tablet, I prefer the 12.9” for the majority of the time. I enjoy the 12.9” as a tablet in my recliner and even in bed, reading or watching video.
The times that I would prefer an 11”, like when sitting in a cafe or doctor’s waiting room are far less often and it doesn’t make sense for me to get the 11” based on those times that make up 5% of the time that I’m using the iPad. I can use my iPhone or iPP 10.5” in those situations.

It was worth a try to see how I’d go with the 11”, but I’d miss the bigger screen. Yes, I would have kept both sizes if I kept the 11” and then just upgrade the 12.9” less often. But this was about me trying to figure out which iPad I wanted to use as my main iPad. I will keep my 10.5” for those times that I need extra portability and want a tablet and perhaps replace that down the track when it’s no longer usable, but for now, it still goes great.

The decision has been made. I’m packing up the 11” to return it. Thanks for helping and listening everyone.

In a turn of events, I reset the iPad Pro 11” and put it back in the box and started the return process. My husband must have seen that I was still torn in doing this and told me that I’m to keep it as our 20th wedding anniversary gift as that’s in a couple of weeks. Awwwww.
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,118
10,908
In a turn of events, I reset the iPad Pro 11” and put it back in the box and started the return process. My husband must have seen that I was still torn in doing this and told me that I’m to keep it as our 20th wedding anniversary gift as that’s in a couple of weeks. Awwwww.

Nice to see that odyssey coming to a positive end! Congratulations as well!
 

MacMandy

macrumors 6502a
Nov 13, 2006
740
905
Manchester, UK
In a turn of events, I reset the iPad Pro 11” and put it back in the box and started the return process. My husband must have seen that I was still torn in doing this and told me that I’m to keep it as our 20th wedding anniversary gift as that’s in a couple of weeks. Awwwww.

That’s lovely ? I had my 20th Anniversary in March, funnily enough. We had a holiday booked which we had to cancel ? due to lockdown. Anyway, back on topic, which iPad will you get the magic keyboard for?
 

jimmy_uk

macrumors 68020
Oct 19, 2015
2,478
3,306
UK
I still feel 11" is too small but 12.9" too big. I want to get the 12.9" as I would mostly use it on the AMK but the times I'd want to use it for comics etc it's a big slab of glass to hold in your hand. Also going naked as the AMK doesn't fold back is an issue although I could skin the ipad. Meanwhile the 11" on the AMK is too small to maximise iPadOS features but a great size to hold. Damn...?‍♂️
 
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mac.cali

macrumors 65816
Mar 16, 2012
1,449
368
I still feel 11" is too small but 12.9" too big. I want to get the 12.9" as I would mostly use it on the AMK but the times I'd want to use it for comics etc it's a big slab of glass to hold in your hand. While the 11" on the AMK is too small to maximise iPadOS features but a great size to hold. Damn...?‍♂️

I’ve been using the 12.9 with the magic keyboard and I don’t miss the 10.5 it replaced. Once I got used to the size, I knew I couldn’t go back. I picked up the 10.5 to see if there was a difference and immediately put it down. It felt like a kids toy over the 12.9. The 12 feels more premium.
 

jimmy_uk

macrumors 68020
Oct 19, 2015
2,478
3,306
UK
I’ve been using the 12.9 with the magic keyboard and I don’t miss the 10.5 it replaced. Once I got used to the size, I knew I couldn’t go back. I picked up the 10.5 to see if there was a difference and immediately put it down. It felt like a kids toy over the 12.9. The 12 feels more premium.
For sure. The 12.9" is amazing and I always want the best. If I'm totally honest the price of the 12.9" and AMK, while I can afford, makes the choice a little harder as it's nearly decent laptop money. I'm so used to doing all my media consumption on my iPhone the ipad combo would really need to earn it's spot.

I gave up on ipads back with the 12.9" Gen 2 because it was too big and heavy as a tablet and with no mouse support at that time it just became annoying to use on a desk constantly having to reach for the screen. Now we have full mouse support I'm revisiting ownership. I used to love my original 10.5 pro and keyboard but craved a bigger screen.
 

mac.cali

macrumors 65816
Mar 16, 2012
1,449
368
For sure. The 12.9" is amazing and I always want the best. If I'm totally honest the price of the 12.9" and AMK, while I can afford, makes the choice a little harder as it's nearly decent laptop money. I'm so used to doing all my media consumption on my iPhone the ipad combo would really need to earn it's spot.

the price is very similar in terms of a laptop. However I feel Apple is putting more resources into iOS over macOS. For me I spend most of my time on iOS/iPadOS so to have another laptop wouldn’t be that beneficial. I’ll hold out for an iMac update before I get another Mac.
 

millydog

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2007
564
516
Australia
Thank you everyone!

That’s lovely I had my 20th Anniversary in March, funnily enough. We had a holiday booked which we had to cancel due to lockdown. Anyway, back on topic, which iPad will you get the magic keyboard for?

Congratulations on your 20th Anniversary Mandy. That’s a big shame about your holiday, I’m sorry that you had to cancel. This has been a terrible year. I’m in Australia where we lucky that it wasn’t as bad as elsewhere. Although the Government is trying to open up things again and we have outbreaks in clusters occurring. Schools are returning in a week for the lowest and highest school levels, then 2 weeks later for the rest of students. Pubs and restaurants are opening up too to reduced numbers of customers. I’m concerned about how we will go getting out of this with more local transmission and outbreaks occurring than before we went into lockdown. With the opening up of things, people are acting like it’s all over and it’s not.

Yes, back on topic. As much as I think that the typing experience would be best on the 12.9”, I’m afraid of the bulk and weight. I feel that the 12.9” is large enough and heavy enough with just the Smart Cover. I’ve heard of people saying it’s like a laptop with the MK. I can use the Brydge with it still or use a regular (older) Magic Keyboard that I have here. I might add a Magic Mouse though as I think I’d like that instead of a trackpad for it. I’ll decide on that later. Anyway, that means that I think I’ll get the MK for the 11” so as it would be more portable with the MK.
 
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rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,308
955
I still feel 11" is too small but 12.9" too big. I want to get the 12.9" as I would mostly use it on the AMK but the times I'd want to use it for comics etc it's a big slab of glass to hold in your hand. Also going naked as the AMK doesn't fold back is an issue although I could skin the ipad. Meanwhile the 11" on the AMK is too small to maximise iPadOS features but a great size to hold. Damn...?‍♂️
There’s still room for improvement on the 11” in the future as the slimming of the bezels on this generation of iPad design language wasn’t nearly as big as it could have been.
 
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