Similar situation. 12.9 is my favourite size for home use by far. I use the mid sized almost exclusive outside my home, but I won't upgrade them. Same for the mini (only used in bed). I don't need more power or anything. 1-2 hours of battery life is more than enough for that use. If they last me another 10 years, great. I don't care about no more OS upgrades, as long as they run the couple of apps I need. I will keep them until the wheels fall off. If I buy a new iPad in this decade it has to be 12.9 or larger.
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iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?
- Thread starter George Dawes
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I've adapted to the 12.9" iPad Pro even if it's a bit unwieldily in some use cases. There is never a situation where the 12.9" would be unusable while the 11" would be usable, though sometimes I do reach for my iPhone for something quick due to the weight of the iPad.
The other day I got out my 10.5" iPad Pro and used the two side-by-side as I used to think the 10.5" was the perfect size and for general tablet use I still think that's the case. The biggest thing I noticed though that pushed me to the 12.9" wasn't split screen or anything like that - it was the 10.5" really presented a large mobile experience mores that the 12.9" iPad Pro. Websites like MacRumors, Reddit, and even google as well as many apps present more sidebars or more desktop-style interfaces whereas on the 10.5" (especially in portrait) it was often a scaled up mobile interface.
That said, and perhaps unsurprising based upon the pole, I would really love a 12" iPad Pro as that would be be perfect for me. It would be smaller and lighter than the 12.9" but appreciably larger than the 11" and with the increased resolution would hopefully fall more inline with a desktop experience.
The other day I got out my 10.5" iPad Pro and used the two side-by-side as I used to think the 10.5" was the perfect size and for general tablet use I still think that's the case. The biggest thing I noticed though that pushed me to the 12.9" wasn't split screen or anything like that - it was the 10.5" really presented a large mobile experience mores that the 12.9" iPad Pro. Websites like MacRumors, Reddit, and even google as well as many apps present more sidebars or more desktop-style interfaces whereas on the 10.5" (especially in portrait) it was often a scaled up mobile interface.
That said, and perhaps unsurprising based upon the pole, I would really love a 12" iPad Pro as that would be be perfect for me. It would be smaller and lighter than the 12.9" but appreciably larger than the 11" and with the increased resolution would hopefully fall more inline with a desktop experience.
I'm still team 11" but a 12" would be an interesting option!
I'm wondering how much the display scaling in iPadOS 16 will help with the desktop vs mobile feeling of the 11"?
I went from 12.9 M1 256 that I didn’t even open, exchanged it for 12.9 M1 512, then found it too heavy with Combo Touch keyboard case and returned it for the 11” M1 512 with Combo Touch, only to miss the extra screen area and am finally happily back to the 12.9 M1 512 (Cellular) in a slim cover case (no keyboard). Glad the back-to-school promos were still going on, plus an additional $100 gift card.
The 11" was more portable and I thought that mattered to me more. During actual use I found I prioritize screen size even more, especially in split view mode or reading sheet music, and am willing to ditch the keyboard to save weight. I already have a MBA M1 that I love and my mistake was trying to use my very first iPad as a laptop. With the Combo Touch, screen protector, and pencil, the 12.9 IPP weighed over half-a-pound more than my MBA! Although the Combo Touch and function keys is pretty awesome to use, I realized I’m not even utilizing the main feature that sets the iPad apart from a MacBook — the touchscreen!
I reset my expectations and started using the 12.9 purely as a tablet, sans physical keyboard, and it’s been great. I find the 12.9 still plenty portable and take it on-the-go regularly outside the house. Being my first iPad ever I finally learned of the limitations of iPadOS and am glad I still have my MBA to fall back on for things I can’t accomplish on the IPP. I definitely plan to keep the 12.9 for a long time and still have an early-2015 MBP Retina 13 that I’ve handed down to our 10-year-old.
The 11" was more portable and I thought that mattered to me more. During actual use I found I prioritize screen size even more, especially in split view mode or reading sheet music, and am willing to ditch the keyboard to save weight. I already have a MBA M1 that I love and my mistake was trying to use my very first iPad as a laptop. With the Combo Touch, screen protector, and pencil, the 12.9 IPP weighed over half-a-pound more than my MBA! Although the Combo Touch and function keys is pretty awesome to use, I realized I’m not even utilizing the main feature that sets the iPad apart from a MacBook — the touchscreen!
I reset my expectations and started using the 12.9 purely as a tablet, sans physical keyboard, and it’s been great. I find the 12.9 still plenty portable and take it on-the-go regularly outside the house. Being my first iPad ever I finally learned of the limitations of iPadOS and am glad I still have my MBA to fall back on for things I can’t accomplish on the IPP. I definitely plan to keep the 12.9 for a long time and still have an early-2015 MBP Retina 13 that I’ve handed down to our 10-year-old.
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It definitely helps. Doesn't make it a 12.9", but it helps.
LOVE it. I thought for a while that 11" was going to be the unpopular choice but it came roaring back.
Awesome. I'm sure this thread will ramp itself up again next month! The battle resumes
Huh, nearly 2060 votes split down the middle. Interesting. 11” for me personally though.
For extended use, iPad Pro 11 is way lighter.
And also there is no such a thing such as one handed iPad, it cannot be apply to iPad the same way as iPhone.
Even people dont use their iPhone Pro Max for several hours without resting it to the table.
Still iPad of all size spent most of the time in Backpack, and Table for 21 Hours average more than iPhone Pro Max. Me as a worker in gym i can't even hold my iPhone 13 Pro Max one handed without switching to the other hand.
At the end of the day, iPad of all size will ended up being used more in Lap, Table, Coffee Table, and etc.
So you can't go wrong choosing iPad of whatever size it is, 8.3" or 11" or 12.9 .
And also there is no such a thing such as one handed iPad, it cannot be apply to iPad the same way as iPhone.
Even people dont use their iPhone Pro Max for several hours without resting it to the table.
Still iPad of all size spent most of the time in Backpack, and Table for 21 Hours average more than iPhone Pro Max. Me as a worker in gym i can't even hold my iPhone 13 Pro Max one handed without switching to the other hand.
At the end of the day, iPad of all size will ended up being used more in Lap, Table, Coffee Table, and etc.
So you can't go wrong choosing iPad of whatever size it is, 8.3" or 11" or 12.9 .
I’ve got the 11” and 12.9”. Lately I find myself using the mini 6! So easy to hold.
I don’t hold anything for several hours lol, not even my 4” SE1. But I do agree iPads are not one-handed the same way phones are. But with my iPad mini AND a Pop Socket, it’s pretty darn close. I can probably hold it for just as long and as comfortably as a phone that doesn’t have a Pop Socket—the only difference is I can’t do much with my thumb except scrolling. So the Pop Socket is the key, and only with the Mini.
I have a 12.9” too, both get used a ton for different situations and purposes.
I get more all around use out of my 11" M1 now than I did with the 12.9 M1 I had for a year.
Yeah, I think it’s quite rare for people using iPad case less. So their experience is combined weight with case.
I used to have a 12.9 pro back in 2017, but downgraded shortly after To 10.5 and to 11 inch since 2018. The main reason is because It’s too heavy to use with the magic keyboard, and second, I use my iPad 99% in bed. I always fall asleep with it next to me, watching videos. With a 12.9 there’s a bigger chance it may fall out of my bed.
but I did looooove the screen size of the 12.9 for the short time I had it, it was so good for multitasking… maybe I’ll upgrade the size again one day if iPadOS becomes more like macOS…. Or if I buy a wider bed 😂
but I did looooove the screen size of the 12.9 for the short time I had it, it was so good for multitasking… maybe I’ll upgrade the size again one day if iPadOS becomes more like macOS…. Or if I buy a wider bed 😂
I usually have the iPad sitting on my chest and the bigger issue for me is how much more painful the 12.9 is when it falls flat on your nose when you get sleepy. 😂😂😂
I was thinking of that too, luckily I didn’t experienced that when I had it 😂😂 but I have with the 11-inch.
It happened to me with the heavier, older style 2017 iPad Pro 12.9. I stuck to the 9.7-11” models for in bed use afterwards. 😂
This is a common sentiment. The screen size of the 12.9 is glorious but it‘s ungainly to use in some situations whether in bed, kitchen counter, airplane etc.
The 12.9 inch is wayyyy too big. It's just as big as the M1 MacBook Air's display, and can't easily be used with one hand.
That is why I chose the 11 inch.
That is why I chose the 11 inch.
I don't know if I have already written in this thread. Anyway I have all sizes and by far the 12.9 gets the most use. 11in feels too small for what I do most (watching videos, second monitor for windows or mac and remote desktop), but it's perfect for replacing paper on the go.
The mini is perfect in bed, the only device I can hold comfortably there. Also good for ebooks but way to small for Word or PDF (12.9 is great for that).
The mini is perfect in bed, the only device I can hold comfortably there. Also good for ebooks but way to small for Word or PDF (12.9 is great for that).
The 11 inch is wayyyy too big. It's just as big as the 11” MacBook Air's display, and can't easily be used with one hand.
That is why I chose the Mini.
😂