iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[millydog]

Hey all. I wanted to give an update on my decision. I've decided to give the 12.9 a try this generation. I debated it quite a bit, as most have on here, but for me it came down to how much more I like the typing on the bigger one. Plus, I had told myself for the longest time I would try the bigger iPad the next time I upgraded, especially after all the over all design got smaller with the 2018 iPad.

The real star of the new 2020 iPads for me was the keyboard and that alone was almost enough for me to upgrade my 10.5 to the 11 + MK and be happy. But also having the newness of the bigger size really helps me justify this expensive purchase. I returned my 11 yesterday and while I still love it's size, it seems so tiny to me now. Hopefully I wont regret the big iPad when we all start leaving our homes again. But every day I have had it I get more use to it's size. Ordered a skin for it's back last night as well.

I still have the tinniest bit of hesitation when I hear people deciding on the 11 and it gives me a moment of second thoughts. Hopefully it will pass. I have yet to subscribe to AppleCare on my 12.9.

I do have access to my wife's Air 3 should I ever need it for some reason.

I've really enjoyed everyone's thoughts in this thread. In particular @millydog has been very enjoyable.

I’m glad that my posts have been enjoyable to read. Hehe. I tell you what though, this has been hard on my end. Lol. Dare I say that I still feel torn. The 12.9” is great for a lot of things, but really in the home environment for me. I take my iPad to work to use on my lunch break and I usually take it in my handbag when I go places. The times when I’m out and even at work, I have felt that the 12.9” is a bit too large. I’ve been wondering if the 11” would be a better size, yet I had it arrive and at first it seemed quite small. The size has grown on me now though and I am more tempted than earlier to keep it.
I don’t just want to keep it though as my plan was really to decide if I’d prefer to keep on the 11” or the 12.9” upgrade path and therefore get the Magic Keyboard for that size.

The MK would provide the best typing experience on the 12.9”, yet the reviews all start out by commenting on the weight of it. Then many have said that it kind of turns the iPad into a laptop that can also be a tablet which is not my aim. The MK on the 11” would be a much more portable package as it’s smaller and lighter overall, yet the keyboard would be a bit more cramped.

The 11” started off feeling quite small last Wednesday when it arrived and now it feels a bit more normal, but I have gone backwards and forwards on deciding what to do so many times. I can afford both, that’s not the issue. I’ve been wanting to consolidate iPads and be happy with one size. I just have a dilemma as I wonder if I’d miss the12.9” if I get the 11”, yet I could love the portability.

I am one of those people who think that a 12” size would be perfect. Maybe it is because I can’t decide, or maybe that size really is what I’m after, I don’t know.

Apple have scheduled a courier to pick up the 11” on Friday and as I scheduled that on Tuesday, it has been sitting there in front of me and I feel tempted to get it out again and set it up.

My husband now thinks that because I have been so indecisive about it that I don’t want it. It’s hard to explain that I’ve been using the 12.9” for so long so it’s hard to switch to the smaller size and know if I’m going to miss the bigger one or not. He thinks that I should continue with the return for now, but to use my 10.5” for a month with my 12.9” put away, then use the 12.9” for a month, then repeat one more time to be sure to see which size I like best. I don”t know, the 11” is sitting right in front of me and it’s looking to be a good size right now.

If I decide to test that out, then I’ll be doing yet another MK cancellation while I decide. If I pick up the 11”, I’ll also be doing another MK cancellation and reorder it yet again. Oh my, I am envious of those that find picking the size to be easy.

 

[mac.cali]

I’m glad that my posts have been enjoyable to read. Hehe. I tell you what though, this has been hard on my end. Lol. Dare I say that I still feel torn. The 12.9” is great for a lot of things, but really in the home environment for me. I take my iPad to work to use on my lunch break and I usually take it in my handbag when I go places. The times when I’m out and even at work, I have felt that the 12.9” is a bit too large. I’ve been wondering if the 11” would be a better size, yet I had it arrive and at first it seemed quite small. The size has grown on me now though and I am more tempted than earlier to keep it.
I don’t just want to keep it though as my plan was really to decide if I’d prefer to keep on the 11” or the 12.9” upgrade path and therefore get the Magic Keyboard for that size.

The MK would provide the best typing experience on the 12.9”, yet the reviews all start out by commenting on the weight of it. Then many have said that it kind of turns the iPad into a laptop that can also be a tablet which is not my aim. The MK on the 11” would be a much more portable package as it’s smaller and lighter overall, yet the keyboard would be a bit more cramped.

The 11” started off feeling quite small last Wednesday when it arrived and now it feels a bit more normal, but I have gone backwards and forwards on deciding what to do so many times. I can afford both, that’s not the issue. I’ve been wanting to consolidate iPads and be happy with one size. I just have a dilemma as I wonder if I’d miss the12.9” if I get the 11”, yet I could love the portability.

I am one of those people who think that a 12” size would be perfect. Maybe it is because I can’t decide, or maybe that size really is what I’m after, I don’t know.

Apple have scheduled a courier to pick up the 11” on Friday and as I scheduled that on Tuesday, it has been sitting there in front of me and I feel tempted to get it out again and set it up.

My husband now thinks that because I have been so indecisive about it that I don’t want it. It’s hard to explain that I’ve been using the 12.9” for so long so it’s hard to switch to the smaller size and know if I’m going to miss the bigger one or not. He thinks that I should continue with the return for now, but to use my 10.5” for a month with my 12.9” put away, then use the 12.9” for a month, then repeat one more time to be sure to see which size I like best. I don”t know, the 11” is sitting right in front of me and it’s looking to be a good size right now.

If I decide to test that out, then I’ll be doing yet another MK cancellation while I decide. If I pick up the 11”, I’ll also be doing another MK cancellation and reorder it yet again. Oh my, I am envious of those that find picking the size to be easy.

Why not just stick with the 10.5 until the 2021 model? It doesn’t appear either one of these makes you completely happy. Perhaps next mode will be better for you. I think 12.9 is better for your needs since you like the larger screen. You’re just turned off by the size which many have adjusted too. But if size and weigh are a factor, the 11 is an awesome choice. Unfortunately you can’t have a the 12.9 size in the 11 form factor. Well at least not with this generation. Who knows what the design look like in the future.

 

[millydog]

Why not just stick with the 10.5 until the 2021 model? It doesn’t appear either one of these makes you completely happy. Perhaps next mode will be better for you. I think 12.9 is better for your needs since you like the larger screen. You’re just turned off by the size which many have adjusted too. But if size and weigh are a factor, the 11 is an awesome choice. Unfortunately you can’t have a the 12.9 size in the 11 form factor. Well at least not with this generation. Who knows what the design look like in the future.

Yes, I think that returning the 11” and then sticking with the 12.9” and 10.5” is going to be best for now. It’s the best of both worlds. I could have also done this my keeping the 11” as well as the 12.9”, but it just felt like overkill and I didn’t feel like I was solving my problem of which size is best for me.
My husband thinks it’s the 12.9” as I use it much more than the 10.5” now. He was just pointing out that it’s the 12.9” that I reach for all of the time at home and my lunch time usage at work accounts for far less time than my at home usage time. I’ve just been listening to his views and he’s making sense. I feel that my opinion has become cloudy by feeling (self) pressure to make a decision one way or the other.

 

[spiderman0616]

Yes, I think that returning the 11” and then sticking with the 12.9” and 10.5” is going to be best for now. It’s the best of both worlds. I could have also done this my keeping the 11” as well as the 12.9”, but it just felt like overkill and I didn’t feel like I was solving my problem of which size is best for me.
My husband thinks it’s the 12.9” as I use it much more than the 10.5” now. He was just pointing out that it’s the 12.9” that I reach for all of the time at home and my lunch time usage at work accounts for far less time than my at home usage time. I’ve just been listening to his views and he’s making sense. I feel that my opinion has become cloudy by feeling (self) pressure to make a decision one way or the other.

Just rip the bandaid off. Stick with the 12.9", return the 11", and in a week or two, the 12.9" will just feel like a normal size to you.

 

[millydog]

Just rip the bandaid off. Stick with the 12.9", return the 11", and in a week or two, the 12.9" will just feel like a normal size to you.

I do keep going back to the 12.9” and my husband is right that it’s the iPad that I pick up at home all of the time.
I’m wondering if you sometimes get the feeling that the 12.9” is the perfect size and then other times you look at it and it seems huge? Or is that a result of me looking at other devices as well?

 

[TwiceNightly]

I do keep going back to the 12.9” and my husband is right that it’s the iPad that I pick up at home all of the time.
I’m wondering if you sometimes get the feeling that the 12.9” is the perfect size and then other times you look at it and it seems huge? Or is that a result of me looking at other devices as well?

When you grab that 12.9 is it with the keyboard attached or not? I wonder if the heavy keyboard cover is what’s making you wonder, maybe a folio cover would make it more iPad like and help you be happier with it?

 

[ugahairydawgs]

I do keep going back to the 12.9” and my husband is right that it’s the iPad that I pick up at home all of the time.
I’m wondering if you sometimes get the feeling that the 12.9” is the perfect size and then other times you look at it and it seems huge? Or is that a result of me looking at other devices as well?

Honestly coming here to read about what works for everyone else is probably not helping. It devolves into a bit of analysis paralysis and turns a thing you seem to enjoy (fiddling with new tech) into almost a chore (trying to decide which one).

There is no "right" answer to this question. Both sized iPads are good and have their pros and cons. But we all can hem and haw over the decision of which one to get to the point where it ends up being a thing that sucks up far too much of our time (both physically and mentally) and just takes all of the fun out of the new thing.

Your 11" is in the box. Have your husband hide it until FedEx comes to pick it up.

 

[jbachandouris]

I have the 11 while the 10.5 is sitting in my bag unsold. Way past return period. Since I am using it mostly for media consumption, the 12.9 would've been better. Oh well.

 

[ssledoux]

I do keep going back to the 12.9” and my husband is right that it’s the iPad that I pick up at home all of the time.
I’m wondering if you sometimes get the feeling that the 12.9” is the perfect size and then other times you look at it and it seems huge? Or is that a result of me looking at other devices as well?

Oh lord I should NOT have gotten in here and read your last few posts. I am trying to decide which size right now, and I'm in this same dang situation. I feel that I'd love the 12.9 sitting on the MK at the desk, but not so much sitting in the chair in my den. I've had an 11" and I loved that size, but with the keyboard folio I hated it in my lap. I keep thinking with the ease of which I could remove it from the MK and use it naked (well, with a skin on it) in the chair, I'd probably really love the size now, and it would almost negate the need for the mini I've wanted forever and finally have.

Oh my I need to get out of this house and GO SOMEWHERE! ;-p

 

[millydog]

When you grab that 12.9 is it with the keyboard attached or not? I wonder if the heavy keyboard cover is what’s making you wonder, maybe a folio cover would make it more iPad like and help you be happier with it?

No, I’ve been using the 12.9” with the folio cover for the past 17 months. It has been on the high end of what I’d like, so I guess it has really been the thought of carrying it with the MK and the weight of that combo that had me second guessing things more than anything.

I’ll just keep taking it to work in the folio I think if the MK is too heavy for that. The MK would still be useful for weekends away, holidays and at home.

 

[millydog]

Oh lord I should NOT have gotten in here and read your last few posts. I am trying to decide which size right now, and I'm in this same dang situation. I feel that I'd love the 12.9 sitting on the MK at the desk, but not so much sitting in the chair in my den. I've had an 11" and I loved that size, but with the keyboard folio I hated it in my lap. I keep thinking with the ease of which I could remove it from the MK and use it naked (well, with a skin on it) in the chair, I'd probably really love the size now, and it would almost negate the need for the mini I've wanted forever and finally have.

Oh my I need to get out of this house and GO SOMEWHERE! ;-p

Oh no, I’m sorry. I think this thread has the same impact on me too.
If it helps, I like the 12.9” best at home on the couch, it’s only taking out if the house that had me wondering if the 11” would be better.
I’m sure that the 12.9” MK will be the better one for lap use due to the wider base, right?
Anyway, the 11” is in the box and my husband will tape it up tomorrow so I don’t second guess it (or 100th guess it).

 

[MacMandy]

I now have a dilemma. I was going to order a magic keyboard for my current 2018 iPad Pro 12.9, but I’m taking on a new role at work where taking my iPad with me and making notes would be really useful, but it needs to be compact and fit in a small bag and be carried in hand around a care home. I could manage with my iPhone, but I would not have the use of an Apple Pencil for drawing charts and taking notes.

Here are my options:-

1. Stick with my current iPad 12.9 and type up notes at home after shift that have been made on iPhone

2. Sell my 12.9 and buy 2020 11” (maybe 2018 or a refurb) and use as only computer - would be fine with 128gb WiFi

3. Buy an iPad mini 5 64gb WiFi to use on the go. I have an Apple Pencil 1st gen somewhere . . .

My current iPad is my main computer and I’m very happy with it. I love the larger size in all situations at home. If I do take it out, it’s not very often and I have a nice knomo 13” organiser bag for it.

My budget is £400 - which was for the 12.9 AMK and new muse case.

I can sell current iPad for just under £600 ( Its the 256 cellular)

Any thoughts, comments, experiences appreciated. Thanks so much in advance ?

 

[mac.cali]

When you grab that 12.9 is it with the keyboard attached or not? I wonder if the heavy keyboard cover is what’s making you wonder, maybe a folio cover would make it more iPad like and help you be happier with it?

I have the 12 and MK and it’s like laptop weight. Doesn’t bother me at all. Makes it feel premium. Also having the MK makes it seem more like actual laptop replacement. I can’t see myself going back to the smaller one anytime soon.

 

[spiderman0616]

I do keep going back to the 12.9” and my husband is right that it’s the iPad that I pick up at home all of the time.
I’m wondering if you sometimes get the feeling that the 12.9” is the perfect size and then other times you look at it and it seems huge? Or is that a result of me looking at other devices as well?

Even as a first time owner of the 12.9" size, I can say that it only felt a bit too big for the first few days. I tend to use my iPad for productivity tasks during the day and entertainment in the evening. I wasn't sure how well the 12.9" model was going to make that jump with me. My doubts turned out to be completely wrong.

With my 11" iPad Pro, I always kept the Smart Keyboard Folio stuck to the back of it for protection while using it as a tablet. This was heavy and bulky, but it worked out ok as long as I could put it down on something while using it. With my 12.9", because I have the Magic Keyboard, I just take it off and use it without anything attached to it at all. The end result is a larger tablet that feels lighter and sleeker than my 11" Pro ever did with the SKF folded around back. I do have the skin on it for protection, and that does the job just fine so far.

The brain is a strange thing. Now that I've been using the 12.9" iPad Pro for a few weeks, when I look at my son's 9.7" iPad Air 2, it seems far too small for me to want to use. My other son's iPad mini looks downright unusable to me.

It sounds to me like subconsciously you're desperately trying to avoid buyer's remorse, but that the 12.9" is the right way to go. All this inner turmoil isn't worth it. It's just an iPad. Return the 11" and use the 12.9" for a few weeks in a row without switching back and forth to your 10.5" I bet you'll find that eventually you don't feel like you need the 10.5" model anymore either. (Swappa is a great way to unload those by the way--I've had good luck with it.)

 

[TwiceNightly]

When you all take your 12.9’s off the magic keyboard do you close the keyboard or just leave it open all the time?

May seem like a silly question but I have been wondering.

 

[The Game 161]

When you all take your 12.9’s off the magic keyboard do you close the keyboard or just leave it open all the time?

May seem like a silly question but I have been wondering.

I tend to keep it open as i know it’s going back rather quickly after.

 

[spiderman0616]

When you all take your 12.9’s off the magic keyboard do you close the keyboard or just leave it open all the time?

May seem like a silly question but I have been wondering.

I leave it open on my desk, put the iPad back on it when I'm done with it, and then close it at that point.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I now have a dilemma. I was going to order a magic keyboard for my current 2018 iPad Pro 12.9, but I’m taking on a new role at work where taking my iPad with me and making notes would be really useful, but it needs to be compact and fit in a small bag and be carried in hand around a care home. I could manage with my iPhone, but I would not have the use of an Apple Pencil for drawing charts and taking notes.

Here are my options:-

1. Stick with my current iPad 12.9 and type up notes at home after shift that have been made on iPhone

2. Sell my 12.9 and buy 2020 11” (maybe 2018 or a refurb) and use as only computer - would be fine with 128gb WiFi

3. Buy an iPad mini 5 64gb WiFi to use on the go. I have an Apple Pencil 1st gen somewhere . . .

My current iPad is my main computer and I’m very happy with it. I love the larger size in all situations at home. If I do take it out, it’s not very often and I have a nice knomo 13” organiser bag for it.

My budget is £400 - which was for the 12.9 AMK and new muse case.

I can sell current iPad for just under £600 ( Its the 256 cellular)

Any thoughts, comments, experiences appreciated. Thanks so much in advance

Just for reference I sold my "old" 12.9 iPad Pro WiFi and cellular for £750 on eBay in March.

 

[ssledoux]

Even as a first time owner of the 12.9" size, I can say that it only felt a bit too big for the first few days. I tend to use my iPad for productivity tasks during the day and entertainment in the evening. I wasn't sure how well the 12.9" model was going to make that jump with me. My doubts turned out to be completely wrong.

With my 11" iPad Pro, I always kept the Smart Keyboard Folio stuck to the back of it for protection while using it as a tablet. This was heavy and bulky, but it worked out ok as long as I could put it down on something while using it. With my 12.9", because I have the Magic Keyboard, I just take it off and use it without anything attached to it at all. The end result is a larger tablet that feels lighter and sleeker than my 11" Pro ever did with the SKF folded around back. I do have the skin on it for protection, and that does the job just fine so far.

The brain is a strange thing. Now that I've been using the 12.9" iPad Pro for a few weeks, when I look at my son's 9.7" iPad Air 2, it seems far too small for me to want to use. My other son's iPad mini looks downright unusable to me.

It sounds to me like subconsciously you're desperately trying to avoid buyer's remorse, but that the 12.9" is the right way to go. All this inner turmoil isn't worth it. It's just an iPad. Return the 11" and use the 12.9" for a few weeks in a row without switching back and forth to your 10.5" I bet you'll find that eventually you don't feel like you need the 10.5" model anymore either. (Swappa is a great way to unload those by the way--I've had good luck with it.)

You do make a good point here about using that 11” with the keyboard folio attached. I hated the bulk of that, and it’s what made me want a mini to use when sitting around.

Of course now I’m thinking man if I had an 11” with just a skin on back, would I even need a mini? If I do a 12.9, even with a skin on back, I’m wondering if I’ll regret it being bigger for times when I’m just sitting around relaxing with it in my lap.

 

[JockItch43]

I have the 2020 12.9” with MK which I love, but honestly if Apple addresses external monitor support in future iOS versions (ie different aspect ratios/resolutions for either mirroring or extending the IPP desktop), I might prefer the 11” going forward. Small and very portable, better at being an actual tablet. Then dock it into the MK with external monitor support for real productivity work at a desk. Would be a very nice setup.

 

[MacMandy]

Just for reference I sold my "old" 12.9 iPad Pro WiFi and cellular for £750 on eBay in March.

I’m scared of eBay these days and when I factor that worry and the fees . . .
Also, near impossible to meet anyone in the UK at the moment.

 

[iAdamator]

I’m glad that my posts have been enjoyable to read. Hehe. I tell you what though, this has been hard on my end. Lol. Dare I say that I still feel torn. The 12.9” is great for a lot of things, but really in the home environment for me. I take my iPad to work to use on my lunch break and I usually take it in my handbag when I go places. The times when I’m out and even at work, I have felt that the 12.9” is a bit too large. I’ve been wondering if the 11” would be a better size, yet I had it arrive and at first it seemed quite small. The size has grown on me now though and I am more tempted than earlier to keep it.
I don’t just want to keep it though as my plan was really to decide if I’d prefer to keep on the 11” or the 12.9” upgrade path and therefore get the Magic Keyboard for that size.

The MK would provide the best typing experience on the 12.9”, yet the reviews all start out by commenting on the weight of it. Then many have said that it kind of turns the iPad into a laptop that can also be a tablet which is not my aim. The MK on the 11” would be a much more portable package as it’s smaller and lighter overall, yet the keyboard would be a bit more cramped.

The 11” started off feeling quite small last Wednesday when it arrived and now it feels a bit more normal, but I have gone backwards and forwards on deciding what to do so many times. I can afford both, that’s not the issue. I’ve been wanting to consolidate iPads and be happy with one size. I just have a dilemma as I wonder if I’d miss the12.9” if I get the 11”, yet I could love the portability.

I am one of those people who think that a 12” size would be perfect. Maybe it is because I can’t decide, or maybe that size really is what I’m after, I don’t know.

Apple have scheduled a courier to pick up the 11” on Friday and as I scheduled that on Tuesday, it has been sitting there in front of me and I feel tempted to get it out again and set it up.

My husband now thinks that because I have been so indecisive about it that I don’t want it. It’s hard to explain that I’ve been using the 12.9” for so long so it’s hard to switch to the smaller size and know if I’m going to miss the bigger one or not. He thinks that I should continue with the return for now, but to use my 10.5” for a month with my 12.9” put away, then use the 12.9” for a month, then repeat one more time to be sure to see which size I like best. I don”t know, the 11” is sitting right in front of me and it’s looking to be a good size right now.

If I decide to test that out, then I’ll be doing yet another MK cancellation while I decide. If I pick up the 11”, I’ll also be doing another MK cancellation and reorder it yet again. Oh my, I am envious of those that find picking the size to be easy.

Im sure you mentioned this and I just forgot but with you already having the 10.5 and a 12.9, why did you consider the 11 to begin with? And had you kept the 11, would you keep your 12.9 too? (Well I guess your husband already offered to let you keep everything basically right?...which was super nice.)

 

[spiderman0616]

You do make a good point here about using that 11” with the keyboard folio attached. I hated the bulk of that, and it’s what made me want a mini to use when sitting around.

Of course now I’m thinking man if I had an 11” with just a skin on back, would I even need a mini? If I do a 12.9, even with a skin on back, I’m wondering if I’ll regret it being bigger for times when I’m just sitting around relaxing with it in my lap.

When I ready on my iPad, I do it in landscape orientation with one page on each side--just like an open book. To me, when I read, the 12.9" feels like a large paperback or maybe and average sized hardback book. I either prop it up on a pillow or just hold it. Without all the keyboard and covering attached it's really not hard for me to use that way.

It's roughly the size of a clipboard or a piece of computer paper. Yes, I know both of those objects are much lighter than an iPad Pro, but just size-wise, that's a good way to think about it. It's noticeably bigger than the 11", but with all that bezel gone from the top and bottom, it's no longer ridiculously big like the first 2 generations seemed to be.

 

[ericwn]

I was 100% in the 11” inch Camp but now gradually i have started to drift and have started to think and make up my mind, most likely my next iPad will be a 12.9”

What’s causing you to change your mind?

 

[ericwn]

I’ve seen several people say the ideal device is in between the 11” and 12.9” (usually 12”). But I can’t help but wonder if for some of them it’s just because of the psychology of having to choose between two sizes (assuming they don’t consider non pro iPads as options)—the in between size is always the default “ideal”. So for them, it doesn’t actually matter what those sizes are—they could be 10” and 12”, and they would say the ideal is 11”—because it’s always the in between. Not everyone, but I have a strong suspicion this is the case for some.

Good observation! You certainly have a point there!