iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[Greenmeenie]

It seems everyone has their preference. It’s all good. They are both amazing devices.

As an artist, I want to use this iPad Pro as a traveling digital sketchbook among other things. Before these were announced, I was 100% going for the 10.5”. The previous 12.9” was just too unwieldy to sketch with standing up. But I have to say, the new 12.9” is much much better now for travel. Still big...but much more managable. The 11” with it’s larger screen from the previous 10.5” is just perfect for sketching while standing.

The UWS Apple Store here in NYC didn’t have Procreate loaded on any of the new iPad pros which surprised me. So I had to settle for notes to sketch. The 12.9” would be perfect for sketching while sitting down or while at home, while the 11” is just perfect for on the go sketching.

This really is a tough one. I could go either way and be happy. You really can’t go wrong no matter which one you pick.

Gonna take the weekend to mull it over.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I might end up buying an 11 inch (in the lowest configuration) just to try it along with my already purchased 12.9. Since i have two weeks. 1 winner will survive. I'm too torn.

 

[augustya]

I have still not been able to see the 2018 iPad Pro's but for someone who thought the last year 2017 10.5" iPad Pro were a perfect size, this year's 11" iPad Pro are the same !!

Here's a comparison that I found between the 2017 10.5" iPad Pro and 2018 11" iPad Pro.on some videos.

 

[bOFFE1968]

Iˋve had my first night in bed with the 12.9. She gave me an our with joy before we closed our eyes and got some sleep. I wake up and she was laying there beside me...naked...still sleeping. I woke her up and we spendt the next our in bed learning to know eachother even more. I think I might be in love and that she is a keeper.

 

[George Dawes]

It's beyond me why everyone keeps wittering on about the iPad not being a computer

Thank God it isn't !! Mac OS has a veneer of sleek sophistication behind which is a bizarre unix command line interface best left in the labs , one you have to access more often than not to get the thing going... horrible experience

SJ had it sussed when he did the truck analogy vid

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

A couple of images of 12.9 vs 11. I seem to prefer the 'cosy' screen of the 11 but I'm still considering the 12.9 just to make sure. May have to buy it to try it properly. But using a 15 mbp daily as main device (I prefer laptop for getting stuff done) the 11", being a smaller screen, seems to engage a different mental space, in a good way - almost like im in downtime / leisure mode... 11" screen is still a very decent size, although using a mbp15 I do appreciate larger screen space feels good.

The 11" was precisely on top of the 12.9" but it doesn't look it in the pic

Voting currently 50/50 - says it all. Tough decision.

And the pencils on top give you some perspective of size if you havent seen them in person.

 

[T-Bob]

Anyone also have 13” notebook? Use Mbp tb2016 daily here and used to have that and 10.5. But with new gen I am trying both new sizes and it’s taking some mental gymnastics to try and work out best solution now. Especially when you add 12.9 ASK into mix! It’s almost like a duplication of the notebook. But really like new 12.9 form factor and not sure the new aspect ratio and overall similarity of the 11” is as tempting. Also 12.9 doesn’t have many good cases with stability apart from ASK...

 

[The Game 161]

My 12.9 will be here on two hours

Can’t wait to get it set up

 

[fm_carv]

Go large! You won’t regret it

11in looks too small imho

 

[jsmitty]

I have still not been able to see the 2018 iPad Pro's but for someone who thought the last year 2017 10.5" iPad Pro were a perfect size, this year's 11" iPad Pro are the same !!

Here's a comparison that I found between the 2017 10.5" iPad Pro and 2018 11" iPad Pro.on some videos.

I watched that video before but these stills are good. I have the silver 10.5 and after these photos, I had the fleeting thought of getting the 12.9 and keeping my 10.5. I like the white bezels and the touchID is very convenient when the iPad is on a desktop. This is horrible

 

[mdjasrie]

Wow look at the polls! It’s too close to call! I guess everyone has their own preferences and use cases. I had such a hard time deciding when I was at the store. I tried basically everything, holding it, spinning it, peering it close, at arms length, you name it before deciding on the 11 inch version. The staff must have think I am crazy. I even type entire paragraphs of text just to get a feel of the Smart Keyboard Folio for both sizes. I mean, I had to since these things don’t come cheap. I know you can return and get a different size if you are not happy, but I always prefer to make my first purchasing experience magical.

I had no regrets choosing the 11 inch over the 12.9 inch. The portability to bring with me anyway is a big factor when deciding between the two sizes. However, if the keyboard for the smaller version was too small, I might have gotten the 12.9 inch one, but fortunately, after trying the smaller version, it’s actually perfect!

So guys, choose carefully, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter which size you got, so long as you are happy with your purchase!

 

[Davefevs]

I feel like I did the exact same thing:

• I went into the apple store confident I would get the 11 because I have used the 12.9, i enjoy it because i complain at times on how big is it.
• after 1 hour of back and forth. I leave the store with a 12.9 instead of a 11 because the 12.9 next to the 11 makes the 11 look like a toy tablet. This is exactly the same thing i said when i bought the 12.9 vs to 10.5.

I will say, I did enjoy the compact size of the 11, it looked like a solid companion i can take into meetings for notes and references. sometimes i wonder if my original choice was correct. I feel like i need to buy both and run simulations.

The compact Size made me feel inclined to keep the tablet light: 64GB. But the 12.9 for some reason, compelled me to buy the 256 LOL when i only really need 128GB.

What was the observation that moved the needle. Web Browsing, I like how full the 4:3 aspect ration makes websites, its like a digital newspaper. the 11 in vertical, could not fill as much text and made it feel more...mobile. So I tried the 12.9

But even now, i'm torn.

Pencil is money tho.

I have the 12.9” 1st Gen. Popped into Apple Store yesterday to have a look at both sizes. I’d kinda made my mind up to go for the 11’ 256g model, but was expecting to go into the store and be torn by the reduced size of the 12.9”. However when I went in, I didn’t think it looked much smaller, well not enough to sway my view. Think I need to take my 12.9’ 1st Gen in and compare all three side by side.

 

[T-Bob]

Never thought it’d be this hard, need more time and imagined use cases to help decide. If I didn’t also want to use a 13” notebook it would be easier I think.

 

[mdjasrie]

Go large! You won’t regret it

11in looks too small imho

Go large or go home right?

 

[The Game 161]

Loving my 12.9 so far...now for keyboard to arrive

 

[mdjasrie]

Loving my 12.9 so far...now for keyboard to arrive

You will love the keyboard. And since you got the 12.9 inch version, you will appreciate the extra space between the keys.

 

[penajmz]

That is certainly not true!! That's just downright rubbish !!

The bezels are too big FOR ME.

 

[augustya]

You will love the keyboard. And since you got the 12.9 inch version, you will appreciate the extra space between the keys.

Plus you will regret how big it is !! lol !!

 

[christophermdia]

Some more perspectives. I’m sticking with the 11. If it was a smidge thinner, like MacBook screen size it might have tipped it in the opposite direction. I have smaller hands though.

 

[Dukat]

On launch day I went to the store, played with both for an hour and decided the 11” was the way to go.
Used it for 2 days, liked it a lot but kept thinking what was I missing out on.
Bought a 12.9” yesterday and used it side by side with the 11” swapping every hour or so.

The 11” is far more portable, weight not that different, it’s more the bulk of the 12.9” taking up more space.
My preoccupation with portability isn’t logical as it sits on my desk 90% of the time, gets carried to the living room 5% of the time and misc use the rest.

My thoughts on 12.9” after onen day of side by side use with the 11”..

Pro’s
- Larger screen is much nicer for reading, gaming & video
- Better split screen experience
- Speakers are a little better (richer sound) than the 11” which was a little better than the 10.5”
- Display color is better on the 12.9, the 11” is too warm(whites look too ‘dirty’), far warmer than both the 12.9 and 10.5, don’t know if this is all 11” or a calibration issue on my unit
- Screen being larger means I don’t have to look as far down as on the 11”, feels a little more ergonomic regarding how far I have to crane my neck

Con’s
- Arms get fatigued quicker gaming because they have to move across a much larger surface area, particularly more movement in height
- Not as convenient to carry around, takes up more space in backpack

I’m now reversing my preference and leaning towards the 12.9”.

I do agree with a previous poster about the 11” having a ‘cozier’ screen.. depending on the app or website sometimes the 12.9” feels like overkill and having to move hand much further up to select the URL bar is sometimes annoying.

Everything has a trade-off. I think I will keep the 12 and return the 11 but will give them both a try for another 2 or 3 days.

The dilemma we’re going though is a pretty damn funny 1st world problem, eh.

Side note.. is there a way to get Safari forward/back arrow keys on the bottom so I don’t have to reach ‘all the way’ to the top every time?

 

[tdbrown75]

I was decided on the 11" (delivers here any moment) and then I found this darn thread while trying to kill some time. Now i'm second guessing my whole decision. Darn you people!

I'll go to the store to check out the 12.9”, but as is the case with the iPhone, I suspect i'll prefer the smaller screen device. Portability tends to win over screen size for me.

Went to the Apple store yesterday and spent a solid 30 minutes with both devices side by side. I’m keeping the 11”, no question.

I have to admit that when I first walked up, the 12.9” does in fact make the 11” look tiny, just like my 27” iMac screen would make the 12.9” inch tiny - it’s all relative.

Here’s what I found with my side by side comparison:

1) White space. When using the tablets side by side, doing the kinds of this I do, the 12.9” had lots of white space. Text is the same size on either iPad, in instances where it fills the screen on the 11”, the 12.9” just had lots of extra white space.

2) Aspect ratio. I much prefer the elongated screen on the 11” to the more squared shape of the 12.9”. If the 12.9” had the same aspect ratio as the 11”, and was slightly less tall, might be swayed. The 11” just makes better use of the space for movies and videos due to the elongated aspect ratio.

3) I’ve seen others mention apps have black bars on the 11”, and they do - for now. Developers will fix this in coming days and weeks - so not really a factor.

4) portability and comfort - I use my pad standing, sitting on the couch or in bed. I bring it to work, along with my work laptop. I found the 12.9” to be a bit too bulky. 1/2” smaller with a different aspect ratio would be better IMHO, but not enough benefit to the larger screen to pay off in lost comfort and portability.

5) I use my pad without a folio keyboard, it’s almost never in a “propped up” position and I use the on screen keyboard. With the 11” I can type with my thumbs in portrait mode, no way with the 12.9”. Also much more comfortable on screen typing in landscape. Don’t need as much “elbow room”.

6) And finally, coming from a 10.5” pro, I find it a worthy upgrade. After getting my iPhoneX last year I have come to loathe the home button and hated switching between devices. The extra screen space is nice too, and I love the overall design.

As soon as I completed my analysis, by sick mind immediately started second guessing my storage selection (always thinking about something) - I’m always on WiFi and leverage iCloud heavily (using 23.5GB now).

So in the end I”m sticking with my 11” w/ 64GB. I wasted a whole bunch of time reading the thread, writing this post, and visiting the Apple store, but at least I can stop thinking about it now!

Tim

 

[Greenmeenie]

I have still not been able to see the 2018 iPad Pro's but for someone who thought the last year 2017 10.5" iPad Pro were a perfect size, this year's 11" iPad Pro are the same !!

Here's a comparison that I found between the 2017 10.5" iPad Pro and 2018 11" iPad Pro.on some videos.

Yeah, I checked them out at the Apple Store yesterday, and if you liked the 10.5” before, you’re gonna love the new 11” for sure. That’s the way I was leaning, and I still am. But I also was really impressed with the new slimmer 12.9”. The smaller form factor from the previous 12.9” is really noticeable.

 

[Maukey]

Went to the Apple store yesterday and spent a solid 30 minutes with both devices side by side. I’m keeping the 11”, no question.

I have to admit that when I first walked up, the 12.9” does in fact make the 11” look tiny, just like my 27” iMac screen would make the 12.9” inch tiny - it’s all relative.

Here’s what I found with my side by side comparison:

1) White space. When using the tablets side by side, doing the kinds of this I do, the 12.9” had lots of white space. Text is the same size on either iPad, in instances where it fills the screen on the 11”, the 12.9” just had lots of extra white space.

2) Aspect ratio. I much prefer the elongated screen on the 11” to the more squared shape of the 12.9”. If the 12.9” had the same aspect ratio as the 11”, and was slightly less tall, might be swayed. The 11” just makes better use of the space for movies and videos due to the elongated aspect ratio.

3) I’ve seen others mention apps have black bars on the 11”, and they do - for now. Developers will fix this in coming days and weeks - so not really a factor.

4) portability and comfort - I use my pad standing, sitting on the couch or in bed. I bring it to work, along with my work laptop. I found the 12.9” to be a bit too bulky. 1/2” smaller with a different aspect ratio would be better IMHO, but not enough benefit to the larger screen to pay off in lost comfort and portability.

5) I use my pad without a folio keyboard, it’s almost never in a “propped up” position and I use the on screen keyboard. With the 11” I can type with my thumbs in portrait mode, no way with the 12.9”. Also much more comfortable on screen typing in landscape. Don’t need as much “elbow room”.

6) And finally, coming from a 10.5” pro, I find it a worthy upgrade. After getting my iPhoneX last year I have come to loathe the home button and hated switching between devices. The extra screen space is nice too, and I love the overall design.

As soon as I completed my analysis, by sick mind immediately started second guessing my storage selection (always thinking about something) - I’m always on WiFi and leverage iCloud heavily (using 23.5GB now).

So in the end I”m sticking with my 11” w/ 64GB. I wasted a whole bunch of time reading the thread, writing this post, and visiting the Apple store, but at least I can stop thinking about it now!

Tim

Almost my thoughts to a T! I truly use my 10.5 iPad Pro as a Tablet. I use it in so many different scenarios around the house that include standing, sitting, laying, and moving about. I don't use the smart keyboard unless I'm traveling and only taking my iPad with me, which is not often. I keep the Smart Cover on majority of the time. I have a 13" MBP for personal use also that I use when I'm doing things that require major typing, or things that you can't do/is not easy to do on an iPad. As much as I've been trying to justify the 12.9, it just doesn't make the most sense in my use case. The 12.9 would be a no brainer for me if I was getting rid of my MBP. However, I currently use my MBP for a few things that are important to me that the iPad can't do so getting rid of it is not an option. In the end, we all have different use cases and desires. There's no right or wrong answer. Both are amazing devices!

 

[Greenmeenie]

After visiting the Apple Store yesterday, I noticed a few things. One, the new redesign is stunning on both models. The flat edges, the slimmer bezels, the lightness, and the improved Apple Pencil integration are all stunning. The increase in screen size from 10.5” to 11” in the same form factor is definitely welcome. But the thing that is most noticeable, and causing the most indecisiveness i think is the huge difference in the physical size of the new 12.9” compared to the old one. As someone who dismissed the previous 12.9” iPad Pro outright as being too big before...I was shocked at how different I felt about the new one. It really is that drastic. Much more holdable.

It still is big, but it now skirts that line - at least for me - of being more mobile. The 11” is definitely more portable and easier to hold in one hand still, but the new 12.9” is challenging it now where the old one wasn’t even in the same ballpark. This is the thing causing the dilemma for most I believe. Almost makes me wish there was a size in between the two. Lol.

 

[thatappleguytoday]

Anyone also have 13” notebook? Use Mbp tb2016 daily here and used to have that and 10.5. But with new gen I am trying both new sizes and it’s taking some mental gymnastics to try and work out best solution now. Especially when you add 12.9 ASK into mix! It’s almost like a duplication of the notebook. But really like new 12.9 form factor and not sure the new aspect ratio and overall similarity of the 11” is as tempting. Also 12.9 doesn’t have many good cases with stability apart from ASK...

I have a 13 MBP and have had the 12.9 1st gen for 2 years. I’ve neglected the MBP in favor of the iPad due to the ease of portability. Like you said it’s really the same footprint with the screen.

I’m going to start utilizing my MBP-Ultrawide combo more, so in turn think I’m going with the 11” iPad this go around.

XS Max - 11in iPad Pro - 13in MBP

Think this is a nice balance