iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[dljor]

any consensus?

 

[TheMadBrewer]

When the 12.9 first came out I saw one in the wild and it just seemed too big. So I bought the 9.7 and was happy with it.

When the 11" came out I bought one and have been very, very happy with it -- love the screen, not too heavy to hold, etc. etc.

I recently did a two week trip sans laptop, just my iPadPro 11" + keyboard. Things went well, but I found myself wanting a bigger screen (old eyes ) So I've been thinking about getting a 12.9" as well, strictly as a laptop replacement. Not sure I can really justify (or afford!) it, but that has never stopped me before

 

[ssledoux]

any consensus?

Looks like the votes have them pretty close!

 

[dljor]

Looks like the votes have them pretty close!

I voted for the 12.9. but just got the 11 as well. after two months, I am still not sure which works better for me.

 

[ascender]

any consensus?

I’ve ended up with both but have replaced my laptop as a result of how good the 12.9” one is. They’re very different machines IMO, but they both crossover when it comes to how good they are at certain tasks.

 

[Ludatyk]

I’ve ended up with both but have replaced my laptop as a result of how good the 12.9” one is.

Yeah, I’ve been on the iPad is the substitute for a laptop for years now.

But I do have a iMac for heavy extensive tasks... for which I have loved the setup. I’ll always complement my iPad with a desktop.

I just prefer the flexibility of the iPad over a traditional laptop.

 

[ericwn]

Personally I never considered having both the 12.9 and 11 since I find them much too similar in size and function. That’s why I opted to complement my 12.9 with an iPad mini. The two extreme sizes specialize in their tasks with the least amount of compromise for me. But of course if one needs to combine their functions, that’s where the mid-size iPads come in.

I can see where you’re coming from, have entertained the thought of an iPad mini as an add-on too. Hope there will be a mini 5 with Pencil support...

 

[ascender]

I think that’s a really good point - they are similar in size and function for many things. I had the same thought as @subjonas that a great complimenting setup would be a 12.9” and a Mini, especially if it was updated to support the Apple Pencil.

But even then, I can foresee times where I’d want that middle-size of iPad.

At the moment, the 12.9 is fantastic - I do most of my work on it and its nice to have a bigger screen for some content and productivity when I’m not at my desk. But there’s quite a lot of the time where I just find it too big to comfortably use - particularly when around the house, on the sofa, in bed etc.

I’ve used the 11” iPad with a keyboard as an ultra-portable machine when travelling recently and found it to be a great experience. But there was a lot of the time I was wishing I had the 12.9 with me, as you always benefit from a bigger screen when staring at it for any reasonable length of time.

There’s definitely a Venn diagram to be produced showing what each one’s strengths are.

I will say though, I wouldn’t have bought both if I’d needed to keep my laptop.

 

[tps3443]

Hey everyone, I’m about to join the 12.9” 1TB club!

I’ve owned my 11” iPad Pro Cellular model for about a month now. I love it, and I think it is plenty big. I am only upgrading for more storage space, size has nothing to do with this. I’m honestly just curious about the 12.9” model.

I am getting a 1TB 12.9” iPad Pro 3rd gen in silver this time.

Just to help anyone out who is curious, and from my personal experience, the space gray finish looks awesome, it is easily the best color. But, the space gray isn’t the toughest finish available. Scuffs around the bezel can easily happen, and even the tinniest of scuffs stand out on space gray like a sore thumb because they are a bright silver mark. A silver iPad would be much more durable for wear and things like this. As a tiny scuff would not be very noticeable at all.

I’ll have my 12.9” 1TB Cellular/WiFi model on the 27th, or 28th. I’m looking forward to the storage space.

 

[subjonas]

I think that’s a really good point - they are similar in size and function for many things. I had the same thought as @subjonas that a great complimenting setup would be a 12.9” and a Mini, especially if it was updated to support the Apple Pencil.

But even then, I can foresee times where I’d want that middle-size of iPad.

At the moment, the 12.9 is fantastic - I do most of my work on it and its nice to have a bigger screen for some content and productivity when I’m not at my desk. But there’s quite a lot of the time where I just find it too big to comfortably use - particularly when around the house, on the sofa, in bed etc.

I’ve used the 11” iPad with a keyboard as an ultra-portable machine when travelling recently and found it to be a great experience. But there was a lot of the time I was wishing I had the 12.9 with me, as you always benefit from a bigger screen when staring at it for any reasonable length of time.

There’s definitely a Venn diagram to be produced showing what each one’s strengths are.

I will say though, I wouldn’t have bought both if I’d needed to keep my laptop.

Yeah, there’s definitely a strong use case for the 11” size. For a lot of people it seems to hit that bare minimum portability on the biggest screen possible. It just goes back to what I was saying about it being for those people who need that more even balance of portability and productivity in one device (obviously, right?). That’s just not me.

There is a big intersection in the venn diagram between the 11” and 12.9”, but on the other hand, if one has necessary unique use cases for both (which don’t lie in the intersection), nor in the 7.9” circle, then what can one do? Both are necessary, and the redundancy is just unfortunate. The 7.9 has quite a bit of redundancy with the 12.9, too—just less, which is why I’m glad it works out for me

I think it’s good to try to reduce redundancy/waste in our lives as much as possible. But the key words are “as much as possible”. Even an iPhone, Mac—almost all our devices have some degree of redundancy, but there are unique uses for each, so they’re necessary for many. The important thing is just to be thoughtful about our usage.

 

[ascender]

One thing that’s surprised me is that the more I use the 12.9, the more I find myself using it for stuff I’d previously favour the 11” for. It’s as if the large screen and bigger tablet is shrinking around me.

 

[subjonas]

One thing that’s surprised me is that the more I use the 12.9, the more I find myself using it for stuff I’d previously favour the 11” for. It’s as if the large screen and bigger tablet is shrinking around me.

Nice. I’m sure it’ll feel good to shed the redundancy if you find you can do without it (one or the other).

 

[tps3443]

The vote is close in this thread. I think it is hit or miss honestly, anyone on here could live with either model most likely.

 

[Fthree]

Love the info on this thread. My feeling is that after an update (or 2) if apple makes the updates that make the ipad more like a laptop rep you’ll have a huge gain on the 12.9 next year I however have futureproofed (HA) myself with the 12.9 now in anticipation (so I don’t have to spend twice the $$$)
[doublepost=1550936160][/doublepost]

Hey everyone, I’m about to join the 12.9” 1TB club!

I’ve owned my 11” iPad Pro Cellular model for about a month now. I love it, and I think it is plenty big. I am only upgrading for more storage space, size has nothing to do with this. I’m honestly just curious about the 12.9” model.

I am getting a 1TB 12.9” iPad Pro 3rd gen in silver this time.

Just to help anyone out who is curious, and from my personal experience, the space gray finish looks awesome, it is easily the best color. But, the space gray isn’t the toughest finish available. Scuffs around the bezel can easily happen, and even the tinniest of scuffs stand out on space gray like a sore thumb because they are a bright silver mark. A silver iPad would be much more durable for wear and things like this. As a tiny scuff would not be very noticeable at all.

I’ll have my 12.9” 1TB Cellular/WiFi model on the 27th, or 28th. I’m looking forward to the storage space.

I bought the 12.9 SG TB version. Its pretty slick

 

[tps3443]

I’m looking forward to the ios13 update for iPad Pro 3rd gen.

You know how you can hold 2 fingers on the keyboard, or hold down the space bar and it pops up with the insert tool?

Why can’t they make that a cursor, instead of a insert icon?

It is so smooth, and intuitive. I can just picture it now,hold down 2 fingers and a high speed cursor pops up that you control with your touch screen and your index finger.

Ios13 needs to come on, I hope it changes the way of iPads forever.

If it makes apple lose some of there macbook users, I honestly dont care.

A iPad Pro 3rd gen cost $950-$1800 bucks for cellular models not including any accessories! These devices are easily the price of a powerful gaming PC laptop, or PC workstation laptop. Or the cost of a new MacBook Air 2018, MacBook Pro 13, or used larger MacBooks.

I want more control, and I don’t want a MacBook Pro. MBP is too expensive for the options I want. And those options are way way overpriced for a PC equivalent laptop that would smoke it, and fold it at the knees!

Please bring iOS 13 with file system, and more awesomeness! And dark mode themed iOS, with built in cursor!

I appreciate the MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. And what all these laptops from apple can offer. I just really don’t want one. I like the iPad Pro, I think apple gave it too much power to go to waste by not offering a drastic iOS Improvement.

Let’s hope it is good!

 

[George Dawes]

Bought my Mom a 12.9 for her birthday but she's still on the air2 and says she feels intimidated by the screen size

Maybe I should've bought her the 11.. sigh

Decisions decisions ......

 

[tps3443]

Bought my Mom a 12.9 for her birthday but she's still on the air2 and says she feels intimidated by the screen size

Maybe I should've bought her the 11.. sigh

Decisions decisions ......

Why not just buy her a 2018 iPad 6th gen? Or three of them lol. There’s a member on here who swears by it.

Just a thought, 9.7” plenty capable for the majority of users.

 

[kp98077]

I started with A 11”, went to a 12.9” - both great units. However, to do any serious work, I think the 12.9 is easier. Yes it weighs more but not that much, many have them in coffeee shops, airports, or anywhere from what I’ve noticed....to me is just just worth the:
1-enlarged screen that’s just beautiful...
2-having more screen real estate is always a good thing!
3-ability to open up and work with large spreadsheets, word documents, web pages is priceless.
4-not to mention, watching movie, amazing!
It’s just such a nice functioning machine you just make it work if its all worth it to you.
I was just on a trip to Canada and it worked great even with the larger work laptop because this is not even my main machine, just for extracurricular activities.

 

[George Dawes]

The 12.9 IS amazing , it's taken over 90% of my work , apart from big spreadsheets and precision graphics

For general office tasks once you know how to set it all up - it's mind-blowing

 

[Ffosse]

My 10.5" iPad is enough for me; I wouldn't want anything larger.

 

[VanNess]

If your coming from an iPhone as your primary iOS device, the 12.9 will seem ridiculously huge, but here’s the deal: try it as your primary device for as much as possible instead of the iPhone and give it a week or two. Afterwards your perception will flip - the iPhone, for most use cases except calls, will seem too small and most taskes suddenly seem too marginalized (and basically a PITA) on such a small screen. Not suggesting the 12.9 iPad is a replacement for the iPhone, it isn’t. But the 12.9 iPad is a fundamental lesson that screen size matters for just about everything and the iPhone is a compromise albeit a well intended one for the sake of pocketability.

Anytime Im in a place where I have a choice between using the iPad or using the iPhone the iPad wins every time.

 

[ericwn]

If your coming from an iPhone as your primary iOS device, the 12.9 will seem ridiculously huge, but here’s the deal: try it as your primary device for as much as possible instead of the iPhone and give it a week or two. Afterwards your perception will flip - the iPhone, for most use cases except calls, will seem too small and most taskes suddenly seem too marginalized (and basically a PITA) on such a small screen. Not suggesting the 12.9 iPad is a replacement for the iPhone, it isn’t. But the 12.9 iPad is a fundamental lesson that screen size matters for just about everything and the iPhone is a compromise albeit a well intended one for the sake of pocketability.

Anytime Im in a place where I have a choice between using the iPad or using the iPhone the iPad wins every time.

Similar thoughts here, I much prefer to use the iPad over the iPhone.

 

[Pipper99]

I started with A 11”, went to a 12.9” - both great units. However, to do any serious work, I think the 12.9 is easier. Yes it weighs more but not that much, many have them in coffeee shops, airports, or anywhere from what I’ve noticed....to me is just just worth the:
1-enlarged screen that’s just beautiful...
2-having more screen real estate is always a good thing!
3-ability to open up and work with large spreadsheets, word documents, web pages is priceless.
4-not to mention, watching movie, amazing!
It’s just such a nice functioning machine you just make it work if its all worth it to you.
I was just on a trip to Canada and it worked great even with the larger work laptop because this is not even my main machine, just for extracurricular activities.

Same thing here. I tried both and used them extensively. The 12.9" won for me for the reasons you mentioned. I love this big screen even when using it in my lap. It's not too big carrying, either: it's no more cumbersome, to me, than carrying an 8.5 x 11" notepad.

 

[ascender]

I’ve not picked up my smaller iPad Pro in over a week now. Using the larger one instead of a laptop for my work has totally recalibrated my view of the size and its the one I reach for now without giving it a second thought. It’s amazing how this has happened so quickly, I really didn’t expect it.

 

[Fthree]

Any of y’all have the PaperLike screen protector on either your 11 OR 12.9s?

(And no I’m not affiliated with them in ANY way. Not a reviewer nor do i work for them)

Felt like I had to say that as it seems every review i read they are pretty positive and GIVEN the thing to review.