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Which is the best iPad Pro ?


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    2,370

jazzer15

macrumors 6502a
Oct 8, 2010
538
119
Not around the house, but when I’m putting it in my purse or another bag, I often do. I got an inexpensive felt one from Amazon that does the job nicely.

I've been thinking about something like this for use with the smart folio when transporting to/from work. Care to share a link?
 

redman042

macrumors 68040
Jun 13, 2008
3,063
1,657
After debating this myself, and spending 30 minutes with both at a Best Buy, I went with the 11. I’m coming from an original 9.7 Pro.

I found that I could certainly make the 12.9 work for me, and I loved the big display and side-by-side full apps. It’s a way better form factor than the older generation 12.9s. For a few minutes, I seriously considered going that route. But, then I thought carefully about how I use my iPad most. Whether for work or play, I mostly use it while on the go or leaning back on the couch, holding it with one hand. I’m not an artist (though I do like to draw sometimes). When doing work, I mostly use it to review and mark up PDFs, iPad in the left hand and Pencil in the right. I usually hold it at chest height, close to my face, like a book. For that, the 11” is definitely the better form factor IMO. It’s also cheaper, as is the Keyboard Folio. And coming from a 9.7, the screen size is definitely a big step up. The display looks large and expansive to my eyes.

But if you are going for a laptop replacement, and want to use it like a laptop a lot, or flat on the table like a drawing pad, the 12.9 is certainly worth a close look. It really comes down to specific use cases.

One thing that’s clear is that the larger size, with its much-improved form factor, has gone from niche to mainstream. That size makes sense for more people than ever before.
 
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6749974

Cancelled
Mar 19, 2005
959
963
the weight and size complaints are really blown out of proportion in my opinion.
You think? People here act like if you buy the 12.9-inch, you have to call Uhaul and make an appointment just to get 3 guys to come over and help you move it from the bedroom back to the livingroom couch.

Good luck taking it out of your bag and putting it on your desk with both arms. You'll need to tie it to a rope and then your bookcase for leverage. I hope you have children, they can call the ambulance when you pull your back.

And don't even get me started on using the 12.9-inch in bed. Apparently mattress can't hold such heavy devices. Only the 11-inch is compatible with standard King and Queen.
 

Maukey

macrumors regular
Apr 26, 2010
168
195
You think? People here act like if you buy the 12.9-inch, you have to call Uhaul and make an appointment just to get 3 guys to come over and help you move it from the bedroom back to the livingroom couch.

Good luck taking it out of your bag and putting it on your desk with both arms. You'll need to tie it to a rope and then your bookcase for leverage. I hope you have children, they can call the ambulance when you pull your back.

And don't even get me started on using the 12.9-inch in bed. Apparently mattress can't hold such heavy devices. Only the 11-inch is compatible with standard King and Queen.
I just spit hot chocolate all over my living room floor! :D LMAO
 

MK500

macrumors 6502
Aug 28, 2009
434
550
I chose the iPad 10.5. Best Buy has it for $525 (Black Friday) AND it has a 3.5mm jack with 64 GB (more than I need). For those with weak math skills, that $275 less than the new iPad 11". Enough to buy a fancy keyboard and still have $100 for Starbucks. Yeah, I know the 11" is high power, but I don't need that feature.

Yup. Me too. I wish there was a third selection in this poll for the 10.5; which is still considered a current model. Here is what I wrote in a different thread:

My conclusion to this issue is I replaced my 11" iPad Pro with a 10.5" model. Here are my findings:

The 10.5" I replaced it with has:
Pros:
- Headphone jack <- big one for me
- Optical image stabilization on the camera (yeah, I do occasionally use my iPad as a camera. shoot me.)
- Has a much more robust feeling case structurally. I believe the curves actually improve structural strength.
- Has a home button; not as cool as Face ID...but notably faster to tap/double tap than to swipe up for multitasking
- $699 shipped new (BH Camera sale $100 off). $250 savings over 11". There are likely to be many more deals on the 10.5" vs. the new shiny 11" and 12.9"
- Works with my daughters old Apple Pencil so I can borrow it. I don't use it enough to buy one for myself.
- Maybe I had bad speakers on my 11"; but the 10.5 inch sound seems more precise to me, and I don't have the balance issue I was experiencing (was shifted toward left side on my 11").

Same Same:
- 4GB RAM, 256GB Storage
- Same exact weight to the ounce
- Exact same color accuracy and brightness as 11"
- Still has USB 3 speed over the lightning port for my camera card reader; its actually exactly the same 5GB/s as when you plug the camera card reader into the new USB-C iPads
- Works with the dozens of lightning peripherals and chargers I have everywhere in a house with many devices
- This is still considered a "new device sold in 2018" by Apple. It has 4GB RAM. My guess is it will support exactly the same future revisions of iOS as the 11" for the exact same number of years.

Cons:
- No Face ID. I really liked this and will miss it. Animoji was really cool also! However, I would have likely used Animoji like twice with to make my wife laugh...and then never again.
- When in landscape orientation (my normal use case) has same height as 11" (1668 pixels same as 11") but is 7% smaller horizontally to make room for the button (164 fewer pixels horizontally...2388-2224). I always say "if it's less than 20% I probably won't notice it"; and this seems to be true of most things. I do however miss watching 16:9 videos on the 11".
- Slower CPU by 25% in single core and probably 50% in multi core. Also GPU is around 30% slower. I don't actually think I can tell the difference in any real applications.
 

Stokkes

macrumors member
Sep 24, 2007
63
35
You think? People here act like if you buy the 12.9-inch, you have to call Uhaul and make an appointment just to get 3 guys to come over and help you move it from the bedroom back to the livingroom couch.

Good luck taking it out of your bag and putting it on your desk with both arms. You'll need to tie it to a rope and then your bookcase for leverage. I hope you have children, they can call the ambulance when you pull your back.

And don't even get me started on using the 12.9-inch in bed. Apparently mattress can't hold such heavy devices. Only the 11-inch is compatible with standard King and Queen.

You know size and weight is highly subjective right ?

What's light for you may be heavy for me, what's comfortable for you may be uncomfortable to me.

The 11" feels more comfortable to me than the 12.9". I would have loved to keep the 12.9" but made my decision solely based on what felt more comfortable to me and likely those who also picked the 11".

People who can't fathom why others pick one or the other seem to suffer from a severe lack of empathy.
 

6749974

Cancelled
Mar 19, 2005
959
963
You know size and weight is highly subjective right ?

What's light for you may be heavy for me, what's comfortable for you may be uncomfortable to me.

The 11" feels more comfortable to me than the 12.9". I would have loved to keep the 12.9" but made my decision solely based on what felt more comfortable to me and likely those who also picked the 11".

People who can't fathom why others pick one or the other seem to suffer from a severe lack of empathy.
Either I didn't know any of that, so thank you for the enlightenment. Or I was having a fun jab with some of the hyperbole people are using to describe the difference between the 1.03 pound device and the 1.39 pound device.

I'm glad you found comfort and joy in the 11-inch. It's a great device, life's short, and we all deserve to treat ourselves. May it serve you well and Happy Holidays.
 

inimeg81

macrumors member
Nov 18, 2018
62
40
Either I didn't know any of that, so thank you for the enlightenment. Or I was having a fun jab with some of the hyperbole people are using to describe the difference between the 1.03 pound device and the 1.39 pound device.

I'm glad you found comfort and joy in the 11-inch. It's a great device, life's short, and we all deserve to treat ourselves. May it serve you well and Happy Holidays.


Well, after much back and forth on the 11 vs 12.9 debate I finally decided on the 12.9 - I had a 10.5 and got both the 11 and 12.9 on release day. I posted a few pages ago that I’d keep the 11, but I decided to just bring the 11 with me on a mini vacation away from home and leave the 12.9 at home. It’s when I didn’t have the 12.9 to revert to that I realized the 12.9 for my use cases was a better device.

I still have this sinking feeling that I want to keep the 11 but I don’t have a laptop and I’m starting to feel the 12.9 IPP can replace most of my portable computing neeeds when I don’t need to use my phone, work laptop, or gaming PC.

Changing my vote! 12.9 it is boys. You can’t go wrong with either device, really. The 12.9 just has this precense that the 11 can’t match.
 

6749974

Cancelled
Mar 19, 2005
959
963
You can’t go wrong with either device, really.
You really can't go wrong. Both devices are equal in function. But the experience is slightly different in that one has the more portable, more inconspicuous size; while the other is less constrained in dimension, servings artists, note-takers and multi-taskers with the space they are used to if 8.5 x 11 is a standard for them.

I was just having a little fun with language, but in terms of preference they are both magical devices that we are fortunate to live to see. 1,000 years ago this device would make people faint upon witness. We'd be burnt at the stake for owning one of these.
 

6749974

Cancelled
Mar 19, 2005
959
963
I think it makes sense that, say as a guesstimate, 60% of people are best served by the 11-inch. But for the rest thinking about the 12.9-inch, here's a video (not mine):

 
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pdaholic

macrumors 68000
Jun 22, 2011
1,957
2,910
So many people complain about the compact view with split screen on the 11 or 10.5, but I have to say I prefer the compact view when browsing on Safari as all the user interface items (bookmarks, forward and backward) are on the bottom of the screen rather than the top. Much quicker and less gorilla arm to have them down low next to the keyboard. Not really a reason to choose one over the other, but I do like the smaller tablet simply because I don't have to keep reaching so high on the screen like I do the larger.
 
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The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,980
20,169
UK
Spilt screen is certainly nice to use where browsing and using YouTube for example. Not say i use it more often than not apart from doing work on web and using notability.
 

Matz

macrumors 65816
Apr 25, 2015
1,161
1,690
Rural Southern Virginia
...

If you’re like me and you’re trying to decide if you can use the 12.9” like a true tablet, my advice is to take it home and try it for yourself. You may find that it’s not as bad as you may be thinking. Now I just need to determine if I even need my MBP anymore

I'd sold my MBP a few months earlier, based on the fact that my iMac and iPad Air 2 covered my needs for a 'real' computer and something for mobile use. I figured I'd wind up with a 10.5.

With its reduced size (from Gen 2), the 12.9 was a pleasant surprise, and fills the mobile side of the pair quite nicely.
 
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pshady

macrumors 6502
Mar 10, 2005
267
192
los angeles
Is the split screen view on the 11” that much better than the 10.5” for those of you who’ve had both? The 11” in landscape is not taller but is wider so that would be the only difference. In fact I think the 11” is a little bit shorter in landscape.
 

Wags

macrumors 68020
Mar 5, 2006
2,239
1,701
Nebraska, USA
I think it makes sense that, say as a guesstimate, 60% of people are best served by the 11-inch. But for the rest thinking about the 12.9-inch, here's a video (not mine):

Good example of couch/lap vs desk. They work both ways but one is small on desk or large in lap. Maybe pick by most usage type. Both sizes nice.
 

Maukey

macrumors regular
Apr 26, 2010
168
195
I do believe the entire thing is blown slightly out of proportion. The 12.9" is a little better for desk use, the 11" is a little better if you use your iPad a lot while standing/walking, while lying in bed, or while sitting on a couch/recliner holding it as oppose to attaching the keyboard folio and using it like a laptop. However, both can be used in either scenario and you'd be fine.

In my opinion it comes down to how you use your iPad, and what other devices you have. If I'm replacing a laptop, it would be the 12.9" hands down for me. If I already have a MB/MBP, I'd probably go 11" which to me compliments the MBs better. The only exception would be the 15" MBP, I would consider the 12.9" in that scenario especially if I had the iPhone XS Max.

I've had the 11" for a couple of weeks. I was sold on it. Said I wouldn't even try the 12.9" because I knew my use cases. Well, like many here, I stayed on MacRumors reading this thread and got curious about the 12.9". Picked it up a few days ago. Up until last night I was sold that I was keeping the 12.9". I had boxed up my 11" and everything. The wow factor of the 12.9" can't be denied. Well, last night I decided to open my 11" and give it a final look to make sure I would be at peace with my decision. I am now downloading everything back on to my 11" and will box up the 12.9".

For me and my use cases, the 11" is more practical. I have a 13" MBP and an iPhone X. A lot of the advantages I have on the 12.9", is offset by my 13" MBP. I carry my iPad everywhere with me. Most of my use is mobile use, couch, recliner, and bed. I also like to use my iPad in Portrait mode holding it in one hand. While the 12.9" isn't a ton heavier than the 11", the bigger size in general makes it weird to use in portrait mode and not very comfortable/practical.

Bottom line, discover your use cases. Don't fall for the hype here, God knows I almost did LOL. It's nothing wrong with getting different perspectives, but the one that matters the most is your own. In the end, they're both amazing devices and in my opinion it's a win win no matter which device you choose.
 

jazzer15

macrumors 6502a
Oct 8, 2010
538
119
I do believe the entire thing is blown slightly out of proportion. The 12.9" is a little better for desk use, the 11" is a little better if you use your iPad a lot while standing/walking, while lying in bed, or while sitting on a couch/recliner holding it as oppose to attaching the keyboard folio and using it like a laptop. However, both can be used in either scenario and you'd be fine.

In my opinion it comes down to how you use your iPad, and what other devices you have. If I'm replacing a laptop, it would be the 12.9" hands down for me. If I already have a MB/MBP, I'd probably go 11" which to me compliments the MBs better. The only exception would be the 15" MBP, I would consider the 12.9" in that scenario especially if I had the iPhone XS Max.

I've had the 11" for a couple of weeks. I was sold on it. Said I wouldn't even try the 12.9" because I knew my use cases. Well, like many here, I stayed on MacRumors reading this thread and got curious about the 12.9". Picked it up a few days ago. Up until last night I was sold that I was keeping the 12.9". I had boxed up my 11" and everything. The wow factor of the 12.9" can't be denied. Well, last night I decided to open my 11" and give it a final look to make sure I would be at peace with my decision. I am now downloading everything back on to my 11" and will box up the 12.9".

For me and my use cases, the 11" is more practical. I have a 13" MBP and an iPhone X. A lot of the advantages I have on the 12.9", is offset by my 13" MBP. I carry my iPad everywhere with me. Most of my use is mobile use, couch, recliner, and bed. I also like to use my iPad in Portrait mode holding it in one hand. While the 12.9" isn't a ton heavier than the 11", the bigger size in general makes it weird to use in portrait mode and not very comfortable/practical.

Bottom line, discover your use cases. Don't fall for the hype here, God knows I almost did LOL. It's nothing wrong with getting different perspectives, but the one that matters the most is your own. In the end, they're both amazing devices and in my opinion it's a win win no matter which device you choose.
Well said. These type of threads are very helpful for insight as to what other people are doing and why, but ultimately everyone is different and coming from their own unique situation. There is no right answer, just what works best for each person. Don't let someone else make a decision for you either way, as their situation and perspective may be very different from your own.
 
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Maukey

macrumors regular
Apr 26, 2010
168
195
Are you saying do not fall for the hype of getting a 11" exchanged for 12.9" ? is that what you are saying ?
No. I'm saying know your use cases, try both if you can, and go for what fits you. Nothing at all wrong with exchanging either way if you feel one fits you better than the other. Just don't read a comment and make a impulsive decision because of it. For example, a user says, "Multitasking is sooo much better on the 12.9". Don't run and swap your 11" for a 12.9" because you use multitasking. Evaluate how you use multitasking. Do you use it at a desk or in your hands on a couch? I would argue that using multitasking on the 11" while holding it is just fine because it's close to your face so the iPhone App size in 50/50 view is not an issue. At a desk or sitting in your lap attached to a keyboard folio is a different story and the advantage of the 12.9" in this scenario is much more noticeable.
 
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