iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[triangletechie]

I've had the 2018 12.9" since launch and love it. But I decided to add the 2020 11" and got it yesterday. I took some photos with it and they turned out great. The 11" is a perfect mobile tablet. I know it's disappointing that the A12Z is very similar to the A12X but I think that may show how powerful the A12X was to begin with.

Mine arrived in perfect condition, no bending whatsoever. I also got the Surf Blue folio case which looks great.

 

[MisterSavage]

Mine arrived in perfect condition, no bending whatsoever. I also got the Surf Blue folio case which looks great.

That does look great!

 

[The Game 161]

I've had the 2018 12.9" since launch and love it. But I decided to add the 2020 11" and got it yesterday. I took some photos with it and they turned out great. The 11" is a perfect mobile tablet. I know it's disappointing that the A12Z is very similar to the A12X but I think that may show how powerful the A12X was to begin with.

Mine arrived in perfect condition, no bending whatsoever. I also got the Surf Blue folio case which looks great.

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Nice case, what made you decide to have two iPads?

 

[triangletechie]

Nice case, what made you decide to have two iPads?

I keep the 12.9" at work so this is for home use or take with me on trips, etc.

 

[Maukey]

I received my 2020 12.9 2 days ago. I still have my 2018 11 as I wanted to make sure I was at peace with my decision. So far, I'm loving the 12.9 and the 11 will be getting sold. To my surprise, I've been using my 12.9 the same way I use my 11, with the Apple Keyboard Folio when I'm sitting at a desk or doing heavy typing like now, and naked when I'm standing, moving, or sitting on the couch. I did this with the 11 as well. For the record, I'm not really an in bed iPad user. Prefer my phone in that scenario.

This thing really isn't that much heavier when both folios are off. Where I really notice the weight difference is when I have the Keyboard Folios on both. I'm sure that's due to the Folio weight being greater on the 12.9 so this makes the overall weight more noticeable.

The major things I'm noticing so far:

1. The 11 is better to use in Portrait mode when holding. I prefer to hold the 12.9 in Landscape. Both I can comfortably hold with one hand. I just have a different grip on the 12.9 due to the greater dimensions. Again, this is with the iPads naked.

2. I use multitasking A LOT more on the 12.9 because it's so cool and beneficial with the greater screen real estate. With the 11 I always shied away from it. For example, I like to watch YouTube videos while browsing. With the 11, I would prefer to just use my iPad as the YouTube player and do the surfing on my MBP. With the 12.9, I actually do it all on the iPad. The bigger screen makes a huge difference in my opinion.

3. Using the iPad 12.9 as a second monitor to my MBP is much more enjoyable with the bigger screen 😜

More to come!

 

[KittyKatta]

I’ll open the 11” this evening and see how they compare. I really do wish there were a 12” as that would probably be pretty perfect (for my use).

I got my 12.9 In so It ve got the same size dilemma as you. Here’s how I’m weighing it so far against my 11.

Good:
Size - A big screen is just so nice. Especially with video content
Video Editing - Luma Fusion felt much easier due to the bigger layout
Speakers - Significantly better

Bad:
Weight - Not heavy, but noticeably heavier.
Balance - 12.9 feels unbalanced. Top heavy in portrait/Two hands in landscape.
Full Screen Apps: Apps clearly weren’t designed for this size. They just look “too big”.
Multitasking: Its passable but it is a poor implementation

 

[triangletechie]

That does look great!

I'm glad they put the Apple logo on the back.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I've had the 2018 12.9" since launch and love it. But I decided to add the 2020 11" and got it yesterday. I took some photos with it and they turned out great. The 11" is a perfect mobile tablet. I know it's disappointing that the A12Z is very similar to the A12X but I think that may show how powerful the A12X was to begin with.

Mine arrived in perfect condition, no bending whatsoever. I also got the Surf Blue folio case which looks great.

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Thats the exact same size and color I want when I get a 2020 iPad Pro (and even the smart folio cover)!

 

[ascender]

No idea what’s changed, but nearly a week in and I’m not finding the 12.9 too big for use around the house at all....

 

[Pspressart]

I went from a 2017 12.9 iPad Pro with an ASK to the 2020 12.9 Pro with the Smart Keyboard Folio and the difference is huge. I like the smaller overall size, Face ID. and the two different positions on the keyboard. The smaller overall size and weight is great. The 11 felt too small for me.

 

[Adelphos33]

I went from a 2017 12.9 iPad Pro with an ASK to the 2020 12.9 Pro with the Smart Keyboard Folio and the difference is huge. I like the smaller overall size, Face ID. and the two different positions on the keyboard. The smaller overall size and weight is great. The 11 felt too small for me.

To me, the 11” is much closer to the original iPad experience. The 12.9” has the versatility to be a full work machine along with a tablet.

I personally think these iPads are among the best hardware Apple has ever made, so having one of both size isn’t overkill in my opinion

 

[Mac47]

I agonized and read this thread for months before buying a 12.9“ iPad Pro 2020 on the day it was released. This is my first iPad Pro. I have owned the original iPad and the Mini 2, so the 12.9 Pro is the biggest I’ve ever owned.

It is unquestionably a trade-off, but I’m pleased. And the things I like about the large size are not ones I expected. I chose it because I wanted full-width split screen multitasking and lots of drawing space. But after using it regularly, I find I don’t draw much, and don’t multitask that often. In daily use, the advantages of the 12.9 are other things that I hadn’t anticipated:’’

The fact that the on-screen virtual keyboard is full sized means that I can touch-type quickly with it. That’s something I have never been able to do on an iPad before. It’s really nice. I will probably not buy the Smart Keyboard, because I can probably do 70 wpm on the virtual keyboard.

Ebooks are amazing on the 12.9. I have presbyopia, but the 12.9 lets me make anything super-legible. PDFs can be zoomed nicely. News stories and web articles are a joy with the Reader View. The Books app lets me make the text huge, and unlike on smaller iPads, there’s still plenty of words on the screen.

Viewing photos and showing them to others is also amazing on the 12.9. I don’t think there’s a better device for that job. And I don’t think photos would be as impressive on the smaller screen.

I work from home, and do a lot of reading on my iPad, but rarely travel. If I did, I’d want the Mini. And actually, I will buy a Mini Pro if Apple ever makes one.

 

[augustya]

Bad:
Full Screen Apps: Apps clearly weren’t designed for this size. They just look “too big”.

Even after one and half years since the slim bezel iPad Pros were introduced back in 2018 you are saying there are APPS which are still not optimised for the 12.9" iPad Pros ? Very Surprising ?

 

[1rottenapple]

I stuck with the 11” iPad Pro again this time around, but I’m really tempted to return it and go with the 12.9”. I love the portability of the 11” iPad has to offer, but the magic keyboard coming in May could be a game changer; especially when you factor in a larger screen. Decisions. Decisions.

I sized down from 12.9 3rd gen to 11 4th gen pro. The 12.9 is too big for couch surfing or bed reading as a tablet. As a “laptop” Tablet on the table with the Smart Keyboard it’s excellent.

 

[stanza.richi]

I'm glad they put the Apple logo on the back.

Totally agree 👍🏻
About 12.9”: I have the 2018 model and haven’t got any problems using it on the couch or in the bed. No big hands at all for me.

 

[subjonas]

To me, the 11” is much closer to the original iPad experience. The 12.9” has the versatility to be a full work machine along with a tablet.

I personally think these iPads are among the best hardware Apple has ever made, so having one of both size isn’t overkill in my opinion

I’m sure some could make good use of a 12.9 and 11. But in general, I think it’d be more effective to have two iPads with a more substantial difference in size. So if one is for productivity/bigger screen, and another just for comfortable consumption, a 12.9” paired with a 9.7” or 7.9” iPad seems to make more sense. As a bonus, it would be a lot more cost efficient.

Even after one and half years since the slim bezel iPad Pros were introduced back in 2018 you are saying there are APPS which are still not optimised for the 12.9" iPad Pros ? Very Surprising ?

But slim bezels wouldn’t have made a difference to apps made for the thick bezel 12.9. So apps have actually had since 2015 to be optimized for the 12.9 screen.

 

[The Game 161]

I’ve known the 11 pro max and 12.9 is perfect combo. For when in sofa I can do a lot on the screen of the iPhone and when a bigger screen is needed go with the 12.9. I felt with the 11 inch I was using my phone less but still wanted the bigger size for day to day tasks.

 

[The Game 161]

I got my 12.9 In so It ve got the same size dilemma as you. Here’s how I’m weighing it so far against my 11.

Good:
Size - A big screen is just so nice. Especially with video content
Video Editing - Luma Fusion felt much easier due to the bigger layout
Speakers - Significantly better

Bad:
Weight - Not heavy, but noticeably heavier.
Balance - 12.9 feels unbalanced. Top heavy in portrait/Two hands in landscape.
Full Screen Apps: Apps clearly weren’t designed for this size. They just look “too big”.
Multitasking: Its passable but it is a poor implementation

For me multitasking is great on 12.9. For spilt view the 12.9 is the best option. Felt on the 11 inch the content wasn’t as good due to limited space. YouTube and browsing is my main use case for this

 

[Jamacfer]

I’m sure some could make good use of a 12.9 and 11. But in general, I think it’d be more effective to have two iPads with a more substantial difference in size. So if one is for productivity/bigger screen, and another just for comfortable consumption, a 12.9” paired with a 9.7” or 7.9” iPad seems to make more sense. As a bonus, it would be a lot more cost efficient.

I think that, instead of getting 2 iPads (12.9” and 11”), would be more effective to get an iPad 11” and a MacBook. Or, at the opposite, to get only one device (iPad 12.9” or MacBook).

 

[subjonas]

I’ve known the 11 pro max and 12.9 is perfect combo. For when in sofa I can do a lot on the screen of the iPhone and when a bigger screen is needed go with the 12.9. I felt with the 11 inch I was using my phone less but still wanted the bigger size for day to day tasks.

That would be my combo IF I could stand large phones haha. I can’t though, so instead of a large phone I have a small phone (SE) and small tablet (mini). The mini is basically my phone when I’m at home, as my SE sits charging. The combo (SE + mini + 12.9) works out very well for me. Only thing is since I use my mini more like a phablet for home, I wish I could comfortably hold the mini by its edges in one hand, like a phone. It’s just a little too big for that.

I think that, instead of getting 2 iPads (12.9” and 11”), would be more effective to get an iPad 11” and a MacBook. Or, at the opposite, to get only one device (iPad 12.9” or MacBook).

I think we were just operating under the premise of the validity of using two iPads specifically. But I agree that a Macbook + iPad combo generally covers a greater range of uses (though which ipad/pro is best to pair with depends on the size of the Macbook as well as what the user wants to achieve with the ipad). And of course, being able to do it all with one device would be most efficient, IF that device is able to satisfy all of one’s use cases.

 

[jcshas]

I sized down from 12.9 3rd gen to 11 4th gen pro. The 12.9 is too big for couch surfing or bed reading as a tablet. As a “laptop” Tablet on the table with the Smart Keyboard it’s excellent.

Its interesting because after using the 12.9 over the past several days for watching Netflix on the sofa and in bed, I actually Prefer the it over the 11. I think if I were to buy another smaller iPad to use as a media consumption device I’d probably just pick up an iPad Air.
[automerge]1585911645[/automerge]

I've had the 2018 12.9" since launch and love it. But I decided to add the 2020 11" and got it yesterday. I took some photos with it and they turned out great. The 11" is a perfect mobile tablet. I know it's disappointing that the A12Z is very similar to the A12X but I think that may show how powerful the A12X was to begin with.

Mine arrived in perfect condition, no bending whatsoever. I also got the Surf Blue folio case which looks great.

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Love that surf blue Smart folio. I was tempted to get that color for my 12.9, but it’s too similar to my wifes cover.

 

[Maukey]

I’ve known the 11 pro max and 12.9 is perfect combo. For when in sofa I can do a lot on the screen of the iPhone and when a bigger screen is needed go with the 12.9. I felt with the 11 inch I was using my phone less but still wanted the bigger size for day to day tasks.

This is my plan and exactly why I upgraded from the 2018 11" to the 2020 12.9". Funny thing is, I'm using my 12.9 in the exact same way as my 11 even though that wasn't my plan. When on the couch or walking around I still pull my keyboard folio off and hold it naked. The weight difference it minor to me although the larger size makes me have to use a different grip.

For me multitasking is great on 12.9. For spilt view the 12.9 is the best option. Felt on the 11 inch the content wasn’t as good due to limited space. YouTube and browsing is my main use case for this

I do this all the time. When I owned the 11" I would just put YouTube on the iPad and browse on my MacBook. Now with the 12.9, I comfortably do both on it.

 

[The Game 161]

This is my plan and exactly why I upgraded from the 2018 11" to the 2020 12.9". Funny thing is, I'm using my 12.9 in the exact same way as my 11 even though that wasn't my plan. When on the couch or walking around I still pull my keyboard folio off and hold it naked. The weight difference it minor to me although the larger size makes me have to use a different grip.
I do this all the time. When I owned the 11" I would just put YouTube on the iPad and browse on my MacBook. Now with the 12.9, I comfortably do both on it.

Yeah on the sofa you can prop it up on the sofa without it hurting too much...or at the very least balance it on your knees if needed.

 

[GDF]

So, after all the back and forth, I am keeping the 12.9. Will try it for this cycle and see how it works.

 

[sidgriffey]

Question: is it fair to say that the MacBook 12" (2017) is less prone to overheating than the current gen MacBook Air on account of the thing not having fans? I keep reading about the 2020 MacBook Air having fans that go off like crazy. I'm not suggesting the MacBook 12" doesn't get warm, but does the absence of fans hold an advantage that maybe I should not so quickly discount?