iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[lillefot]

Love the 12.9” iPad Pro. But I have since the gen 1 version. Easy to hold one handed, use while standing up and walking about onsite. It is great for my usage.

But as I posted earlier in this thread, it all comes down to figuring out what works for you.

The weight of the 12.9" one handed was the final reason why I decided for the 11"... I think this is where I need to ask how strong you are?!

 

[gsmornot]

I wasn't sure which one to get and mentioned to my daughter how the 12.9 might be a bit big. She, at school age, carries one around daily (the previous model) and said it feels small in a week or two. If she can do it all day every day it should be no issue for me and so far has not. I enjoy the extra screen size coming from a 9.7 model.

 

[Alaxlmartin]

12.9

 

[Oreon]

Been using the 12.9 now for a few days and it feels normal now, doesn’t feel large at all, took a look at the 11 in the apple store the weekend and it felt tiny, I asked my mate if I made the right decision and even the apple empoyee nodded his head and agreed lol.

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

Is this somewhat of a cyclical thing for some people, going from one size to another each upgrade and maybe back the other way? Also, working preferences change I guess.

I had a 15" MacBook Pro for years then I moved to 13" MacBook Pro for 4 years and now I have a 15" MacBook Pro again. I remember moving to the 13" and saying I love the compact size etc etc. And then when getting the 15" I was / am saying I love the extra screen space again and how to occupies my full attention / vision - helps me focus.

Same with the iPad. I had the first and second 12.9 and liked it but eventually transitioned to a 10.5 because I liked the more 'private' personal screen when I was out and about and reading etc in various places like coffee shops etc. The 12.9 always felt like more than I needed.

I have both the 2018 iPads 12.9 & 11" and im preferring the 11". However, I think the 12.9 is quite a nice improvement and smaller than I thought. But in the end it is a bigger screen.

I'm always reaching for the 11" - and once all apps are eventually optimise the screen will come into its own. Its already great with few of the apps I use and safari / apple apps.

At the moment the 11" is 80% keeper for my setup. I don't see it changing as spend most of the time on the 15" MacBook Pro.

 

[jazzer15]

At the moment the 11" is 80% keeper for my setup. I don't see it changing as spend most of the time on the 15" MacBook Pro.

This was essentially my reasoning as well (for now ). Most of my "computing" or consumption time at home is spent on my iMac or on a TV. When I am using an iPad it is generally in a location where I find a somewhat smaller device more comfortable. I admit, though, that I am not 100% settled on the decision despite having made a trade from the 12.9 to the 11.

 

[Dukat]

Is this somewhat of a cyclical thing for some people, going from one size to another each upgrade and maybe back the other way? Also, working preferences change I guess.

I had a 15" MacBook Pro for years then I moved to 13" MacBook Pro for 4 years and now I have a 15" MacBook Pro again. I remember moving to the 13" and saying I love the compact size etc etc. And then when getting the 15" I was / am saying I love the extra screen space again and how to occupies my full attention / vision - helps me focus.

Same with the iPad. I had the first and second 12.9 and liked it but eventually transitioned to a 10.5 because I liked the more 'private' personal screen when I was out and about and reading etc in various places like coffee shops etc. The 12.9 always felt like more than I needed.

I have both the 2018 iPads 12.9 & 11" and im preferring the 11". However, I think the 12.9 is quite a nice improvement and smaller than I thought. But in the end it is a bigger screen.

I'm always reaching for the 11" - and once all apps are eventually optimise the screen will come into its own. Its already great with few of the apps I use and safari / apple apps.

At the moment the 11" is 80% keeper for my setup. I don't see it changing as spend most of the time on the 15" MacBook Pro.

Yes,
I've gone from MBP 13" to 15" to 13" to 15" to 13".
I'm finding the 13" much more portable, easier to type on, works better on lap and use a monitor for big screen at home.

Same thing with iPad throwing a mini in the mix.
Mini, 10.5 (11) and 12.9 all have their advantages.
Mini is awesome for 1 handed use, laying in bed. (I think mini is now redundant with Xs Max release).
11" is great if you move the iPad around a lot and travel and I finally settled on the 12.9 as I mostly use it on a desk with a keyboard..

 

[bOFFE1968]

I ordered both sizes and have used them since the release day. The first three days I only used the 12.9 trying to get used to the big size (coming from 10.5 pro). They have done a great job with these new tablets, especially the size reduction from the previous gen 12.9 is impressive and the hardwarepower these provides is mindblowing. But.....
Today i returned both. Neither of them gave me something I found justified the pricetag. The big one was too big for me and the small one didn’t give me the satisfactory feeling you should get when you spend that kind of money on an uppgrade. Decided to hold on to my 10.5.

 

[MCube74]

I’m coming from a 10.5” iPad Pro ordered the 12.9”. If the 12.9 is too heavy I’ll just return and stay with the 10.5. Just not enough difference to pay the price for an 11”.

Yeah, if one likes the the 11” model then might as well get the 10.5” model and save lots of money.

 

[Capt T]

The weight of the 12.9" one handed was the final reason why I decided for the 11"... I think this is where I need to ask how strong you are?!

I am small, have small hands and not that strong. Just like with anything you get used to it. And it weighs a lot less than carrying my laptop....

It is only 1.4lbs. I have had an iPad since the original iPad which weighed 1.5lbs and was only 9.7” screen. So pretty used to carrying that weight around with one hand for quite a few years now.

 

[lsh]

I ordered both sizes and have used them since the release day. The first three days I only used the 12.9 trying to get used to the big size (coming from 10.5 pro). They have done a great job with these new tablets, especially the size reduction from the previous gen 12.9 is impressive and the hardwarepower these provides is mindblowing. But.....
Today i returned both. Neither of them gave me something I found justified the pricetag. The big one was too big for me and the small one didn’t give me the satisfactory feeling you should get when you spend that kind of money on an uppgrade. Decided to hold on to my 10.5.

I had the same story, in fact, I found the 11 initially disappointing after trying it after days on 12.9. But once I realized the 12.9 wasn’t for me for several reasons, I could embrace the 11 and I LOVE it. I came from a 9.7 though so screen and speed improvements were a bigger jump.

I especially like the USB C. I’ve had it on my mbp for a year plus now so I already had a travel case of adapters. I just wish I could get rid of lightning all around although I have to sort out usbC in the car.

 

[augustya]

I had the same story, in fact, I found the 11 initially disappointing after trying it after days on 12.9. But once I realized the 12.9 wasn’t for me for several reasons, I could embrace the 11 and I LOVE it. I came from a 9.7 though so screen and speed improvements were a bigger jump.
.

Did you think using the split screen functionality on the 11" and running to APPS side by side on the 11" iPad Pro was a satisfying experience for you ?

 

[UnclePaulie]

Had the 12.9 for a total of 3 days and ended up returning it. I had the original 12.9 pro and ended up selling it to buy a 9.7 and then the 10.5. When I saw the smaller footprint I really wanted the bigger screen back particularly for Lightroom CC. Unfortunately that’s the only app I use landscape and the rest of my iPad usage is in the portrait orientation. Couldn’t get over the size and weight of the 12.9. Now back to my 10.5 which feels tiny in comparison but very easy to hold. Tempted to get an 11” but it just doesn’t seem like a big enough upgrade.

 

[pshady]

Had the 12.9 for a total of 3 days and ended up returning it. I had the original 12.9 pro and ended up selling it to buy a 9.7 and then the 10.5. When I saw the smaller footprint I really wanted the bigger screen back particularly for Lightroom CC. Unfortunately that’s the only app I use landscape and the rest of my iPad usage is in the portrait orientation. Couldn’t get over the size and weight of the 12.9. Now back to my 10.5 which feels tiny in comparison but very easy to hold. Tempted to get an 11” but it just doesn’t seem like a big enough upgrade.

Got my 12.9 on launch day. Initially excited by still found it too unwieldy to hold. Returning it tomorrow and I think I’ll just stick with my 10.5 until next year.

 

[dan9700]

Compared the 12.9 to the old 10.5 and the screen is much darker on new one the 10.5 was bright and backlit better I’m returning the 12.9

 

[Oreon]

Compared the 12.9 to the old 10.5 and the screen is much darker on new one the 10.5 was bright and backlit better I’m returning the 12.9

Strange my 12.9 is much brighter than my 10.5 was, I have to keep the brightness way down as it’s way over powering.

 

[Dukat]

Compared the 12.9 to the old 10.5 and the screen is much darker on new one the 10.5 was bright and backlit better I’m returning the 12.9

My new 12.9 is same brightness/color vibrancy as my 10.5, the 11 was darker and much warmer.. too warm, whites looked dirty.

 

[Mr X]

My new 12.9 is same brightness/color vibrancy as my 10.5, the 11 was darker and much warmer.. too warm, whites looked dirty.

Same experience here. The 11 looked darker/warmer than the cooler 12.9

 

[6749974]

X-posted from similar thread:

Benefits of larger 12.9" iPad Pro:

• I like to read PDFs in two-page mode, not always but frequently, and the 11" isn't ideal for that but 12.9" is
• The 11" feels a little cramped for some PDFs, and a little cramped for drawing/illustrations and even note-taking
• Anything the 11" can do, the 12.9" can do better, in terms of display and viewing comfort
• All your "professional" apps breath better on the 12.9, including Photoshop, Lightroom, iMovie, Notes, PDF readers and editors, writing programs like Scrivener, not to mention...
• With professional endeavors you tend to need to multitask (eg. Research between Safari and writing a report). This is where a 12.9" is a no-brainer

The main benefit of the 11" is

• It's less expensive, at $799 instead of $999
• It's lighter for 1-handed use

But my rebuttal to that is, if you're using the iPad in 1-handed use, that means you're likely just laying around watching Netflix or reading an Ebook. Which means you should be buying the $329 iPad, or a used iPad Air 2 for Netflix and Ebooks. Chances are you already own a smaller iPad. For example, I'm keeping my iPad 4 by the bed for ebooks and occasional Netflix, but buying a 12.9" for my work desk and couch sketching.

Also

• Anatomy varies person to person, so if you're a shorter woman with small hands, the 11" is accentuated as a more comfortable size even for productivity, because a 12.9" to you would be like a 16" to me. I say this to say that screen size value is relative to the individual's anatomy and thus perception. There's a lot of people in this forum stating the 12.9" is too unwieldily, as if objective fact, and as if anyone stands-up, up-right, to take notes while holding an iPad with one hand. Guess what, amigo? No-one (commonly) stands up to take notes with one hand. I don't do that with a pad of paper. Who does that with an iPad, unless you're a factory floor-manager walking the rounds.
• I feel like people are so self-absorbed they aren't able to categorize use-cases, and then talk about that. They instead have to imagine their own Netflix use-case and express how large or small something is. So it's no help (when making buying decisions).
  • Instead you have to ask: what's my goal?
  • Then ask: what is constraining my goal?
  • Then take action on what will help.

If note-taking, reading, and annotating PDFs is constraining on a smaller device, a 12.9" will eliminate that constraint greatly.

 

[Porterhouse]

For me, the 11 inch works great. As I posted pages and pages ago, when I first with to the Apple Store on launch day, I looked at both and was sorely tempted by the 12.9. There's something about how they've got it displayed that makes it look just right. But I had settled on the 11 inch previously, and now that I've got it home, I agree that it's just what I needed. I'm a shorter woman with small hands. Plus, I've got a 13 MBP; I felt that the 12.9 iPP would be redundant.

This is my first iPad Pro, though I've had an Ipad since they came out. I found the 11 IPP (once I was outside of the Apple store) to be surprisingly large, especially compared to the 9.7 that I'm used to.

I strongly considered the regular iPad. In fact, I still have 8 days to decide. But I use my iPad a lot, and I wanted to at least try the Pro product with Pencil and ASK. I have a collection of iPad keyboards, none of which I've liked, but I really like the ASK, and unfortunately, it only works with the Pro.

 

[jazzer15]

For me, the 11 inch works great. As I posted pages and pages ago, when I first with to the Apple Store on launch day, I looked at both and was sorely tempted by the 12.9. There's something about how they've got it displayed that makes it look just right. But I had settled on the 11 inch previously, and now that I've got it home, I agree that it's just what I needed. I'm a shorter woman with small hands. Plus, I've got a 13 MBP; I felt that the 12.9 iPP would be redundant.

This is my first iPad Pro, though I've had an Ipad since they came out. I found the 11 IPP (once I was outside of the Apple store) to be surprisingly large, especially compared to the 9.7 that I'm used to.

I strongly considered the regular iPad. In fact, I still have 8 days to decide. But I use my iPad a lot, and I wanted to at least try the Pro product with Pencil and ASK. I have a collection of iPad keyboards, none of which I've liked, but I really like the ASK, and unfortunately, it only works with the Pro.

I agree. In the store, the 11 inch looks pretty small, especially next to the 12.9 and among all of the large iMac screens. But interestingly, my 9.7 inch Air never seemed small to me (especially next to my wife's mini ). It seemed like a good size.

Initially, I too had considered the regular iPad and then intended to buy last year's 10.5. When looking at last year's models I never considered a 12.9 because I thought it was definitely too big. For a variety of reasons, I ultimately decided to get the new iPad Pro rather than last year's model and suddenly I started asking myself if the 11 inch was too small. LOL

 

[lsh]

Did you think using the split screen functionality on the 11" and running to APPS side by side on the 11" iPad Pro was a satisfying experience for you ?

For me, that's not applicable. My habit is more around flipping to different apps. I am playing with that more though. I'm finding that apps I use don't lend themself to this and if they did, they'd work better in a horizontal layout which isn't supported.

btw, while it's not a full 'mouse', I'm loving the new keyboard function of holding the onscreen keyboard spacebar to move the cursor around vs. touch.

 

[MisterSavage]

I agree. In the store, the 11 inch looks pretty small, especially next to the 12.9 and among all of the large iMac screens. But interestingly, my 9.7 inch Air never seemed small to me (especially next to my wife's mini ). It seemed like a good size.

It really does look tiny when you're in the Apple store. When I was there exchanging my 12.9 for an 11 it made me pause and wonder if I was making a mistake for a second even though I was confident I wasn't. It's similar to when you're in an electronics store and a big TV doesn't seem so large when compared to the other ones on display.

 

[lax28]

btw, while it's not a full 'mouse', I'm loving the new keyboard function of holding the onscreen keyboard spacebar to move the cursor around vs. touch.

I would say correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m sure if I am several people will jump on the opportunity to do so, but I believe that function has been built into iOS since maybe iOS 10. I don’t believe that it new and also not limited to iPad Pros, can be done on all iOS devices.

 

[lsh]

I would say correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m sure if I am several people will jump on the opportunity to do so, but I believe that function has been built into iOS since maybe iOS 10. I don’t believe that it new and also not limited to iPad Pros, can be done on all iOS devices.

It is IOS, so also iPhone. I thought it was latest release but maybe it's been there longer.