If possible, take advantage of the return policy window to remove any doubts.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?
- Thread starter George Dawes
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I find the typical 14 day return policy is still within the honeymoon period and not enough time to decide whether the device works best for one's usage.
With the poster I was responding to, there well may not be much of a honeymoon period anymore. They are already familiar with an iPad, so the immediate fascination has already passed, and it's about getting right back to work with a device that you have already owned. For another friend who did change sizes, for them it was all about the focus on which size was preferable for their current lifestyle. They still had their original size, and had the luxury of being able to switch back & forth to see what was more comfortable for them. For them, that option was great in helping to make their ultimate decision.
For clarification: I am working with the presumption that the poster isn't selling their 12.9 off first and jumping to an 11. My guess is they would try the newer 11, then sell off the older 12.9 to offset cost, or give it to family/friend. With that in mind, for a time they would have two iPads, which they can make their decision with. ?
Last edited:
When I bought my 2018 12.9 I kept my 10.5 Pro, thinking that I might want that smaller form factor at times but I've found that I don't care for the smaller screen so I very rarely use it, even out and about and in bed. But it's a personal preference thing so there is no universal answer.
I would prefer to decide ahead of buying if I can and then only reserve the option of returning the device if it doesn’t work out as I planned. I don’t want to unnecessarily buy just to try, although I appreciate the option to return if it doesn’t work out.
Thanks for the YouTube video link above. I have watched that one. I search up 11 vs 12.9 all of the time. I think that I keep getting swayed by people’s opinions though and it doesn’t help that I like both sizes.
You both have good points here. Even though I liked the 12.9 size from the start, I felt like it was so large initially and had doubts about whether I wanted my iPad to be that big since I take it everywhere in my handbag. However, when I was sitting and using it, I loved the size. But it took longer than 2 weeks before I felt comfortable with my decision to keep it...and truth be known, when I bought the 12.9 2015 model, I returned it at the end of the 2 week window because I was feeling buyers remorse and wasn’t sure about the size. I then spent the next 2 weeks reading about it constantly, until I realised that I really did want the bigger one and then I went and purchased another one. Now, I’m in a situation though where I know what the 12.9 is like and I can pretty much try to imagine the 11” since I have a 10.5 still. I guess that I had the thought of consolidating my devices and having only one of either the 11” or 12.9” going forward and that’s why I feel like I am struggling to make a decision on which size I’d prefer.
I don’t need to sell my 12.9 in advance if buying the 11”, so there is that. I’m either going to keep my current set up of 12.9” 2018 and iPP 10.5, or switch over to a 2020 11” when one is available.
I use my 12.9 mostly, but also use the 10.5 sometimes too. I find the 10.5 more convenient when I have medical appointments especially and the 12.9 feels too large to get out in a doctors waiting room. I guess that I always have my iPhone or iPad mini 5 for those times anyway. My 10.5 feels more comfortable to hold than the 12.9, both in terms of shape and weight, but the larger size of the 12.9 is great on the couch in the evenings and I like Face ID on the 12.9”.
Lol, funnily enough, that's one of the reasons I like having the iPad 9.7/10.5 as well.
I find the iPad mini too small for comfortable web browsing and I carry a Kindle with me if I wanted something lighter weight for reading.
I'm fine keeping both size classes each with their own dedicated usage.
Lol. Yeah, the 12.9 feel to awkward and heavy in a waiting room, yet I’m fine with it at home. In a public setting like that, I also feel that others can see what I’m doing. I am yet to take a flight with my 12.9 2018 as I tend to only take a trip every 3-5 years, but when I do, I take a series of around 6-8 flights over around a 6-7 week period. That trip is likely to be around 18 months away still. So it’s not my main use case for a device and isn’t a major consideration I guess, but I have started to wonder which size would be preferable on such a trip. I wouldn’t take my MacBook Pro 15”, just an iPad and an iPhone. The 11” might be better on a plane, but the 12.9 could be good at my destinations.
What sizes do others prefer for travel?
Does anyone use their 12.9 in settings out and about, like the doctors office?
I am thinking of replacing one of our laptops with a revised 12.9", but I'd still keep my normal iPad for media consumption around the house. The last time I had a 12.9 it was great for so much, but I missed the smaller form-factor - I think I said at the time that the best solution would probably be to have both sizes of Pro!
It always amazes me how close the numbers are in this poll. For a while it looked like the 11" was going to be minority but it evened out.
I'm one of those that wavered on the size initially after release, finally settling on the 11". All of these months later, I'm glad I stayed with the 11; I even tried the 12.9 for a week and went back to the 11. Though I'll admit, if I could justify two iPPs, I would probably get a 12.9 as well, though it would feel redundant with my MBP. (I can't use the iPP exclusively, as I teach online and one of the platforms I use doesn't work well with iPad OS.)
A rumor is floating around about a 12 inch iPP. Personally, I think that size would be just about perfect. Unfortunately, I believe that it's based on a typo. (Here's the article if anyone is interested: https://9to5mac.com/2020/02/18/digi...h-3d-sensing-rear-camera-likely-march-launch/
Anyone else up for a 12 inch?
A rumor is floating around about a 12 inch iPP. Personally, I think that size would be just about perfect. Unfortunately, I believe that it's based on a typo. (Here's the article if anyone is interested: https://9to5mac.com/2020/02/18/digi...h-3d-sensing-rear-camera-likely-march-launch/
Anyone else up for a 12 inch?
12" - no. After moving from the 10.5 to the 2018 12.9, I have no interest in ever getting a tablet with a smaller screen. The 10.5 now sits virtually unused.
Yeah for some reason the 12.9 has always been known as the 12" iPP rather than the 13" in common parlance so quite possibly just a typo based on that. Assuming it were true I'd certainly be interested - the smaller overall size of the third gen appeals to me, I'd have to try it though.
I remember that! Finally someone else who is still happy with their 11".
LOL. I don't think the two of us are the only ones; though the 12.9 is winning in this poll, it's only by about twenty or so votes.
I thought I was going to want the bigger version, but I am glad I went with the 11" instead. It's so much more portable and easy to carry around - the screen is big enough for my needs and easy to hold when I'm reading. In the end it's all personal preference, but I prefer the 11" over the 12.9"
I have used the smaller iPads since Gen 1 and now the 11 inch the since it came out. I tried the 12.9 the last week and now prefer it over the 11. Especially, when doing work and reading papers on it. 12.9 will be my next upgrade when the new one comes out.
I actually downgraded from 12 to 11 and I don't regret it. 12.9 was too big for on the go video editing and photo editing. 12.9 felt like you always needed to sit on a desk to work on it lol, just get a pc if you will be doing that
Reading in bed. I tried this with the 12.9" at Apple store and can do it, not sure how long though.