iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[Greenmeenie]

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.

You can love your iPad. Just don’t loooove your iPad. Lol. Besides, no matter how much we love her now, we always trade her in for a younger hotter model later.

 

[C225]

I’m just back from the apple store and brought this 11” one home. The 12.9 is just too big for me. I had an original 12.9 pro from a few years back that I sold a while back and while I loved the screen for media consumption it was just too unwieldy for me. When I was comparing the 2 today again the screen on the big one is impressive but trying to carry it around just brought back all the memories of why I sold the big one in the first place.

Loving the 11” though it’s just a handy size and the screen plenty big enough.

 

[chfilm]

Somebody mentioned the different mindset that the different sizes can get you in, and I couldn't agree more. When I was holding the much improved 12.9" version yesterday at the store, it felt like having a macbook in my hands... while what I always loved most about the ipads was that in fact it DOESNT feel like using a computer, but more like a book on the sofa or in bed. So yea, I'm happy with the 11" now.
If only I had ordered it in the right color.. I really dislike the look of space grey on it, makes it look like a tank. I'll swap it for a silver one.

 

[The Game 161]

The new Pro is still a handful to hold as that’s what I have to do tip the 19th until keyboard arrives

 

[augustya]

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.

So you do reckon that the 11" iPad Pro is not and does not feel smaller in display when compared to the 2017 10.5" iPad Pro ? it is the same ? right ?

 

[mdjasrie]

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...

For my use case, I just sold my 2017 model MBP 13 inch a couple of days ago and use the sales proceeds to get myself the 11 inch iPad Pro. I just completed my studies and foresee myself having little need for the laptop. Besides, I only use the laptop to write my assignments so it was underutilised in the first time.

With the iPad Pro I’m telling myself that maybe I could learn a new skill or two with all the apps that are available on the App Store, like learn a new language or learn how to draw or focus and improve on my writing. Possibilities are endless.

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

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?

You dont need the buttons, you can just swipe from the left or right of the screen to go back and forth.

 

[lsh]

I’m also torturing myself over this stupid decision. I’m not trying to replace my 15 inch MBP. I have a 9.7pro with keyboard but find I rarely use the keyboard. I love the 12.9 but what I don’t like about the 12.9 said by others too:

• All the white space. Feels like inefficient use of extra space
• Reach span. Some things controlled at top, others bottom. My head and hands are bobbing to navigate/glance at a page.
• Can’t fully leverage extra space because of lack of horizontal split screen. ....But then realized that’s irrelevant because the apps I’d like to split screen don’t support it anyway (maybe because they don’t make sense to use in a portrait rendering).
• More awkward to hold, although it is better without the keyboard folio. Easier to carry with folio, browsing without.

 

[Rm.237]

Just changed my vote to the 12.9. I had the 11 and thought it was perfect in portrait mode but too small in landscape mode for me. Now with the 12.9 I feel that landscape mode is perfect but portrait mode makes it seem too large albeit less so than the last iteration so I’m good.

Very happy I made the switch.

 

[Greenmeenie]

So you do reckon that the 11" iPad Pro is not and does not feel smaller in display when compared to the 2017 10.5" iPad Pro ? it is the same ? right ?

Totally. You definitely notice the 11” screen is bigger than the 10.5”. It’s just not as noticeable as the difference in the actual physical size of the new 12.9” compared to the old 12.9”. To me that was the big surprise.

 

[PuntNL]

Oh man, I’m tilting as well.. 24h in with the 11 inch and doubting about returning it to Apple and order tye 12.9 inch tonight.
Saw it in store today and the 12.9 gave me the wow feeling I was looking for.. Seems just a bit too large still, but damn..

 

[Greenmeenie]

It’s funny. When at the Apple Store yesterday comparing the new 11” & 12.9” iPad Pros, it reminded me of this optical illusion where the train seems to change direction the more you look at it.

Sometimes the new 12.9” seemed too big. Sometimes just right. Sometimes the 11” seemed too small next to the new 12.9”. And sometimes it didn’t. My perceptions changed back and forth constantly. Unlike before when comparing the previous 10.5” & 12.9” (where to me at least) it was very definitive & unchanging. The 12.9” always felt too big and the 10.5” felt just right.

It’s definitely harder for me to make a definitive decision this time.

 

[SaddleSC]

I bought both the 11 and the 12.9 on launch day. My wife has volunteered to take the one that I decide against...they are both fantastic devices and I don't think you can make a bad decision either way, but the one thing that is swaying me toward the 11 is thumb-typing in portrait mode. I am using the 11 in portrait mode quite a bit and it is so easy to swipe over to iMessage and thumb-type messages...kind of like holding a giant iPhone. This is simply not possible with the 12.9 and I have really started to miss that capability when I am using the larger tablet...it may just be the thing that tilts the scale permanently in favor of the 11.

 

[KUKitch]

I had a 12.9 gen 1 and was always happy with it - though I was jealous of my brother and parents when they got the 10.5 and was starting to gravitate back in that direction... then I saw them in the store and was more wowed with the 12.9 side-by-side, but they sold out before I could buy one. After thinking about it for a day though, I realized that I never used the side-by-side apps on the 12.9 to take advantage of 2 iPad-size apps... and since that's essentially the difference I decided to go with the 11 and I love it! Plus I got the 256, since I was going to get the base 12.9 and I just wasn't sure 64 would be enough if I keep it long term, coming from a 128 gen 1 - so I saved £50 and got more than enough storage.

It is awesome as well - the screen is big, but the size is so compact... it's like an alien next to my wife's Air 2!

 

[Dukat]

Just changed my vote to the 12.9. I had the 11 and thought it was perfect in portrait mode but too small in landscape mode for me. Now with the 12.9 I feel that landscape mode is perfect but portrait mode makes it seem too large albeit less so than the last iteration so I’m good.

Very happy I made the switch.

I agree, still really like the 11" but I think I'll return it today and keep the 12.9, some con's to the bigger one but the way I use it the pro's outweigh the cons.

The most recent pro I realized is I can use it without glasses, not perfect but with the smaller one I needed glasses to be comfortable or had to hold it closer.

Complex games, like board games with many elements shine on the huge screen.
[doublepost=1541789604][/doublepost]

It’s funny. When at the Apple Store yesterday comparing the new 11” & 12.9” iPad Pros, it reminded me of this optical illusion where the train seems to change direction the more you look at it.

Sometimes the new 12.9” seemed too big. Sometimes just right. Sometimes the 11” seemed too small next to the new 12.9”. And sometimes it didn’t. My perceptions changed back and forth constantly. Unlike before when comparing the previous 10.5” & 12.9” (where to me at least) it was very definitive & unchanging. The 12.9” always felt too big and the 10.5” felt just right.

It’s definitely harder for me to make a definitive decision this time.

Agreed.
The 12.9" iPad is smaller than my 13" MBP but even side by side the iPad looks larger.

 

[NeverInDoubt]

After a lot of internal debate, much hand wringing, muttering in dark corners, visits to the Apple Store, reading and rereading reviews and general angst, it’s the 11inch for Cellular version, just deciding on capacity.

We’ve had a 10.5 which is passing to a grateful family member and, for us, general portability was the deciding factor as the iPad regularly goes on its travels and the smaller form factor is ideal for that.

Having said that, there is no right or wrong answer, each choice is a personal one and I can fully understand those settling on a 12.9...gorgeous!

Black Friday purchase for me but will hopefully tie in with scheduled deliveries of screen protector and pencil. And then, no regrets.....

 

[kupkakez]

I’m also torturing myself over this stupid decision. I’m not trying to replace my 15 inch MBP. I have a 9.7pro with keyboard but find I rarely use the keyboard. I love the 12.9 but what I don’t like about the 12.9 said by others too:

• All the white space. Feels like inefficient use of extra space
• Reach span. Some things controlled at top, others bottom. My head and hands are bobbing to navigate/glance at a page.
• Can’t fully leverage extra space because of lack of horizontal split screen. ....But then realized that’s irrelevant because the apps I’d like to split screen don’t support it anyway (maybe because they don’t make sense to use in a portrait rendering).
• More awkward to hold, although it is better without the keyboard folio. Easier to carry with folio, browsing without.

I ended up swapping the 12.9 for the 11” for most of those reasons. I’m pretty happy with the 11”

 

[Dukat]

Those of you who had both sizes, did you notice the 12.9" is a fair bit brighter and whites look a lot more white than the 11"?
My 11" is much warmer than my 10.5 or new 12.9, wondering if they're all like that.

 

[Rck1984]

50/50, incredible!

I’m curious how the poll would look like if we started it now, it feels like a lot more people shifted towards the 12.9 model after seeing/feeling them in person.

 

[dannyar]

What "pro" functions can you do on an iPad? They both run a phone OS

Hence the “pro” in quotations. Features like split screen are much bette on larger screen.

 

[muadibe]

On launch day I went to the store, played with both for an hour and decided the 11” was the way to go.
..........
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?

You don't have to use the arrow keys to go backward/forward in Safari. Instead, from any height on the screen, swipe left or right making sure you begin the swipe slightly off the screen. So you would start the swipe on the bezel. Very handy gestures.

 

[justinb2987]

Can anyone please post a screenshot on how a Compact View of APPS or whatever looks on an 10.5" iPad Pro and how does a Full view, regular view look on a 12.5" iPad Pro.

Here’s the thing - everyone says “compact” like it’s a bad thing. I actually appreciate seeing more content instead of having it obstructed by additional UI elements. Sometime I just want the tabs or mailboxes to fade away so I can read the email or see the web page larger. That is what I am looking at on the screen anyways.

I have the 12.9 1st gen. I love the big screen and the larger keyboard. But it’s heavy and the size makes it unwiedly to carry around regularly. And it’s annoying that it feels like I’m just using a blown up display since so few developers take advantage of the size. I would ideally love the 12.9 and a mini with pencil support as a moleskin notebook replacement. BUT, right now I am going with the 11 inch, 256 gb, space gray. Should get a little more use in a more portable size I think. Just my two cents.

 

[sracer]

Here’s the thing - everyone says “compact” like it’s a bad thing. I actually appreciate seeing more content instead of having it obstructed by additional UI elements. Sometime I just want the tabs or mailboxes to fade away so I can read the email or see the web page larger. That is what I am looking at on the screen anyways.

I have the 12.9 1st gen. I love the big screen and the larger keyboard. But it’s heavy and the size makes it unwiedly to carry around regularly. And it’s annoying that it feels like I’m just using a blown up display since so few developers take advantage of the size. I would ideally love the 12.9 and a mini with pencil support as a moleskin notebook replacement. BUT, right now I am going with the 11 inch, 256 gb, space gray. Should get a little more use in a more portable size I think. Just my two cents.

"Compact" is a bad thing if it comes as a surprise to someone. If a person knows that in advance and makes an informed decision, then it isn't a bad thing.

When making heavy use of 50/50 splitview, full view is important to me for productivity. Things are already simplified a bit on iOS and having reduced content and UI makes it a bit more challenging.

But I totally agree with you about the poor exploitation of the larger screen size. I posted some comparison photos in another thread about how my Mini 4 displays 2 columns on the widget screen in landscape but only 1 column on my 12.9 Pro. Ugh.

 

[Mt44]

OK I went back for a second visit to the Apple Store and have reversed my opinion completely.

Now I want the 12.9 over the 11. This device will be my laptop.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Granted I haven't read this whole thread, but this really reminds me of the 11" vs 13" Macbook Air debate that raged from 2010-2017 or so. Even the differences in aspect ratios are similar.