iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[IngerMan]

Long time user of both, 2018 12.9, 2020 11, 2021 12.9 again.

MK changed everything, both great. I convinced my wife to upgrade her ipad 6th gen to my 11” iPP and I needed the 12.9” again. It worked….

 

[Diablo360]

I got the 12.9“ and love it, but if I was traveling more I wouldn’t mind the smaller version either

 

[MacPeasant123]

I think as with most things, which iPad Pro is better depends on your situation and how you use it. For my situation, which is likely not typical, the 12.9" iPad Pro is better.

This is what went through my thought process:

1. I saw the wonders of having an external monitor with my coworkers. Then I wanted to use Sidecar

2. I was using the 2017 iPad Pro 10.5" - it still runs just fine so I didn't really feel a strong need to upgrade, but the screen is too small for my taste as a second monitor

3. my mom was using the original iPad Air from 2013 I gave her, running the A7 processor. It's slow and also not going past iOS 12.5.5

4. I saw starting from 2018, the iPad Pro has USB-C, and so does the iPad Air 4. That was an important feature to me in my next iPad. I wanted to be able to do HDMI out easily, and I have USB-C hubs for that purpose

5. I considered the iPad Air 4 or 5, but eventually decided the 10.9" was still too small for an external monitor. The ability to use my next iPad purchase as an acceptable external monitor became the main factor, with USB-C also being important. So iPad Pro 12.9" from before 2018 were out for me.


I ended up getting a used 2020 iPad Pro 12.9", and gave the 2017 iPad Pro 10.5" to my mom. I get an iPad Pro upgrade plus a good sized portable second monitor with Sidecar, and my mom gets an iPad that's not slow, has a bigger screen, and gets the latest OS updates.

I will say that I am disappointed with the reliability of Sidecar when running wirelessly, so I connect it to my Mac with the USB-C cable when I use that feature.

Thinking back, if my only reason for the purchase was to have an external monitor, then I should have gotten a portable 15-17" monitor. But with addition of giving my mom a better iPad, I think I'm ok with the choice I made in end, even though it's a bit pricey.

 

[nfl46]

I had the 2018 12.9 but upgraded to the 2021 11. I nearly got the 12.9 again but chose not to because my MacBook Air M1 is 13 inches and I still use it for more serious work. I didn’t see a point of me having two 13 inch devices. So, I went with:

iPhone - 6.7-inch
iPad Pro - 11-inch
MacBook Air - 13 inch

 

[slplss]

It’s nice to see the poll is 50-50 after all that time passed. Apple should really make the next 11" miniLED or OLED, that would make a lot of people happy and finally put it on par with 12.9" and push it further away from Air.

 

[UBS28]

12.9 because the keyboard on the 11” is weird and the bigger screen is better for multitasking. And it also has miniLED display.

 

[AndyGarton]

The closeness of this vote really shows that Apple got the two size choices spot on!

 

[Ace008]

The closeness of this vote really shows that Apple got the two size choices spot on!

Having owned both and used them for hours daily, I can say I don't agree with that. I bought the 12.9 and have stuck with it ever since because it's the largest iPad available. At first, the 12.9 seems to be too big but after some usage, it ends up feeling like the smaller model and I ended up wishing the 12.9 was an inch or 2 bigger. I'm 6'1" with big hands. Once the device is too big to hold with one hand for a long period of time, then that size and anything larger are all pretty much in the same ballpark. 12.9 or 15 inches, I would treat them the same, as a device that requires two hands to hold for a period of time and is too big to carry around everywhere like a phone.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Having owned both and used them for hours daily, I can say I don't agree with that. I bought the 12.9 and have stuck with it ever since because it's the largest iPad available. At first, the 12.9 seems to be too big but after some usage, it ends up feeling like the smaller model and I ended up wishing the 12.9 was an inch or 2 bigger. I'm 6'1" with big hands. Once the device is too big to hold with one hand for a long period of time, then that size and anything larger are all pretty much in the same ballpark. 12.9 or 15 inches, I would treat them the same, as a device that requires two hands to hold for a period of time and is too big to carry around everywhere like a phone.

But that doesn't go against their point at all.... The point is that nearly exactly 50% of people agree with you, and nearly exactly 50% of people disagree with you.

 

[Ace008]

But that doesn't go against their point at all.... The point is that nearly exactly 50% of people agree with you, and nearly exactly 50% of people disagree with you.

Who’s point, your point? Again, there is a difference between choosing what’s available and being able to choose exactly what you want. I’ve had several generations of the 12.9 because Apple doesn’t offer something bigger. If the car I drive only came in 2 colors, and none were the color I want, I would have to choose what’s available if I wanted the car bad enough and so would every other buyer.

The iPad in 10.2” is the highest selling iPad model of all. I can’t speak for everyone but again, for me after using a 10 and then an 11, I wanted the biggest size available.

As for the numbers on this forum, they mean very little. This is a tech site where a specific type of user comes to. Most Apple product users don’t visit this site or any Apple tech site. It’s like going to a car enthusiast site. The opinions there are not going to be representative of the average car owner who doesn’t even know how much horsepower their car has.

 

[AndyGarton]

Blimey, a light hearted point about a 2000 person vote being almost exactly split in half turns into another argument!

 

[Ace008]

Blimey, a light hearted point about a 2000 person vote being almost exactly split in half turns into another argument!

Woah nelly! 🤣 Someone not agreeing with your pov does not automatically equal an argument. But hey, thanks for sharing.

 

[AndyGarton]

Hehe, now you’re arguing whether it’s an argument or not 😀

 

[PlayUltimate]

Hehe, now you’re arguing whether it’s an argument or not 😀

"This isn't an argument! It's just contradiction!"

 

[Ace008]

Hehe, now you’re arguing whether it’s an argument or not 😀

Thanks for sharing. Good luck.

 

[MisterSavage]

Still using my 2018 11" daily and the battery still performs like a champ. Still have zero regrets about returning the 12.9" and getting this instead.

 

[darngooddesign]

Blimey, a light hearted point about a 2000 person vote being almost exactly split in half turns into another argument!

You must be new to MacRumors. 🤣

 

[Rafterman]

The age-old question. It's always a tough call. The 11 is a nice middle ground, as it is smaller and lighter, like a Mini, but has the power of a full Pro. It just feels "right", size-wise. In the end though, I settled on the 12.9 because, in some apps, the layout takes better advantage of the extra screen. I didn't realize that, I thougt the 12.9 and 11 worked identically, but a few apps do have a slightly different screen layout. I picked up a Mini 6 for light use cases. I find I use both equally.

Plus, the mini LED is nice. The fact the 11 didn't get Mini LED (and is rumored to not get it in the next refresh) makes me think the 11 may not be around much longer - or will be marginalized, like the Mini has become.

 

[spiderman0616]

The age-old question. It's always a tough call. The 11 is a nice middle ground, as it is smaller and lighter, like a Mini, but has the power of a full Pro. It just feels "right", size-wise. In the end though, I settled on the 12.9 because, in some apps, the layout takes better advantage of the extra screen. I didn't realize that, I thougt the 12.9 and 11 worked identically, but a few apps do have a slightly different screen layout. I picked up a Mini 6 for light use cases. I find I use both equally.

Plus, the mini LED is nice. The fact the 11 didn't get Mini LED (and is rumored to not get it in the next refresh) makes me think the 11 may not be around much longer - or will be marginalized, like the Mini has become.

I think the 11" size range is still what Apple and most others consider the "standard" size, and it always has been. And when I say "size range" I just mean the iPads that fill the size gap of the original iPad. (base iPad, iPad Air, 11" iPad Pro). I'm guessing those tablets have stayed roughly the same size as their screens have gotten bigger, because Apple knows that's the size most people find to be the sweet spot.

 

[Dealmans]

It's 50/50 on here, I reckon out in the real world would be more like 75/25 in favour of the 11".
I am yet to know anyone with a 12.9" family and friends have 9.7/10.2 or 11".

I had a 2018 11" for 2 years then a M1 12.9 for 1, sold it few months ago, tried a mini 6 didn't like it, now have a 11" M1, using it way more than the 12.9", should of known it was the right size for me after 2 years with the 2018, got caught up in the mini led, lucky I only lost a few hundred after 11 months.

 

[Rafterman]

I think the 11" size range is still what Apple and most others consider the "standard" size, and it always has been. And when I say "size range" I just mean the iPads that fill the size gap of the original iPad. (base iPad, iPad Air, 11" iPad Pro). I'm guessing those tablets have stayed roughly the same size as their screens have gotten bigger, because Apple knows that's the size most people find to be the sweet spot.

I agree that 11 is close to the original "traditional" iPad and offers the best proportion to size vs capability. I just find it interesting that the 11 got stiffed on Mini LED. Twice.

 

[MisterSavage]

In the end though, I settled on the 12.9 because, in some apps, the layout takes better advantage of the extra screen. I didn't realize that, I thougt the 12.9 and 11 worked identically, but a few apps do have a slightly different screen layout.

Yeah that was a PITA in the beginning when the 11 launched and developers didn't yet adjust their apps to the screen size.

 

[sparksd]

I'll never again buy a full-size tablet (not including the Mini here) smaller than the 12.9" - I really like this size. (My brother also has one - where I got my first real try at one). I also owned the Air 2 and 10.5.

 

[subjonas]

It's 50/50 on here, I reckon out in the real world would be more like 75/25 in favour of the 11".
I am yet to know anyone with a 12.9" family and friends have 9.7/10.2 or 11".

I had a 2018 11" for 2 years then a M1 12.9 for 1, sold it few months ago, tried a mini 6 didn't like it, now have a 11" M1, using it way more than the 12.9", should of known it was the right size for me after 2 years with the 2018, got caught up in the mini led, lucky I only lost a few hundred after 11 months.

Well the poll is asking about iPad Pros specifically. So while I’m sure most iPads out in the real world (probably more than 75%) are smaller than 12.9”, I believe it’s likely because most iPads out there are not Pros. But if we’re talking about just the Pros, I think a 50/50 split is more likely because of the people buying the Pros and what they use their iPads for compared to the non-Pros. Also the fact that the first year of the iPad Pro was only 12.9”—makes me think that size sells at least a comparable number to the smaller size.

 

[The Game 161]

I agree that 11 is close to the original "traditional" iPad and offers the best proportion to size vs capability. I just find it interesting that the 11 got stiffed on Mini LED. Twice.

They are waiting to give it oled in 2024