My wife and I work from home but if we go out we take one iPad with us most of the time. We don’t use it most of the time but there are situations when we need to do some quick work while out of the house and that’s what it is for. Most of it we can do on our phones but occasionally we benefit from the bigger screen. We take one of our 12.9” iPads with us.
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iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?
- Thread starter George Dawes
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My wife and I work from home but if we go out we take one iPad with us most of the time. We don’t use it most of the time but there are situations when we need to do some quick work while out of the house and that’s what it is for. Most of it we can do on our phones but occasionally we benefit from the bigger screen. We take one of our 12.9” iPads with us.
Right answer is: For ME and my needs Ipad pro 11.
Why? i have and Imac 2019 and Macbook pro 2016, i do not need "another" laptop, i just need to replace my old Ipad Air 2. I want to keep the tablet form and portability BUT much more power and future proof that new Ipad 11 offers.
Guys, THERE is not a BEST IPAD, at each their own device according to their needs.
Why? i have and Imac 2019 and Macbook pro 2016, i do not need "another" laptop, i just need to replace my old Ipad Air 2. I want to keep the tablet form and portability BUT much more power and future proof that new Ipad 11 offers.
Guys, THERE is not a BEST IPAD, at each their own device according to their needs.
There is best Ipad and it is Ipad Pro 2020 ? But the size depends on individual needs.
A great article...
thesweetsetup.com
One Week With the New 2020 iPad: Moving Back to Small – The Sweet Setup
The 2020 iPad Pro marked the opportunity for me to try out the smaller of the two iPad Pros. I’ve been using the 12.9-inch iPad Pro since debut day in 2018, and I know how that shoe fits after a few years. Throw that large iPad into a dock on a desk, connect a Smart Keyboard Folio or external...
So you take it out in a bag and leave it in the car if you don’t need it or if you’re at a place where carrying it is awkward or not allowed, I’m guessing? I do that too from time to time (as long as it’s not hot out and I know I’m not going to be parked in the sun). It’s just when people say they bring it with them everywhere that got me wondering if they were being literal or exaggerating a bit, because I just never saw people using ipads or carrying bags at these kinds of places. But I think the people who are being literal are the ones with purses or man bags that can inconspicuously fit smaller iPads inside.
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Hahah welllll, I think my iPad mini is the best iPad... for reading and quick everyday tasks. Best depends on the purpose, and for that purpose, size is much more important to me than having the latest specs.
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Ipad Pro 2020 is PRO line, so it is the best. It´ s the same as you would say that Iphone 11 is best Iphone, but you can not say it because best is always the PRO line (highend model). Same with Airpods. It does not matter that Ipad Mini suits your needs well. Yes subjectively it is best for you but objectively it is not best. I had Ipad Mini few years before as well.
As I have returned 12.9”, for me 11” is Mini now
We typically always have a smallish backpack with us. If we know we are literally just going grocery shopping then we won’t take it but if it’s grocery shopping, dinner and some other things then we will. Same as if we know we’re just going to a restaurant for dinner we won’t take it. Anything that is open ended is different though. We always have a backpack or two with us because they double as our reusable bags for shopping too.
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Well, that’s what I’m saying, “best” is a relative term. In other words, the pros have faster processor speed and louder speakers—that’s objective; but whether that makes them the best—that’s subjective. It just depends which set of standards one considers most important. There are no THE set of standards. There are common standards, but that’s not objective.Ipad Pro 2020 is PRO line, so it is the best. It´ s the same as you would say that Iphone 11 is best Iphone, but you can not say it because best is always the PRO line (highend model). Same with Airpods. It does not matter that Ipad Mini suits your needs well. Yes subjectively it is best for you but objectively it is not best. I had Ipad Mini few years before as well.
As I have returned 12.9”, for me 11” is Mini now
Yesterday I took delivery of the shiny new iPad 12.9” 2020. I don’t think the tablet is big but rather reasonably sized. If it were 15”, that would be big.
I went for 12.9” because there are a few more use cases I’d like to take advantage of. My primary hobby is music (I’m a violist) so I can read sheet music on the iPad. I want to try Cubasis (Cubase for iPad) - with the mouse support it should be big. Also, iMovie is very convenient on the bigger screen. And Photos is where this tablet shines.
Coming from iPad Air2, the screen of the Pro is much better, I did not expect that. It is much easier on the eyes to read text on this device.
The only reason I’d go for the 11” is that for the price of 12.9“ 256GB I can get 11” 512GB - twice the storage.
I went for 12.9” because there are a few more use cases I’d like to take advantage of. My primary hobby is music (I’m a violist) so I can read sheet music on the iPad. I want to try Cubasis (Cubase for iPad) - with the mouse support it should be big. Also, iMovie is very convenient on the bigger screen. And Photos is where this tablet shines.
Coming from iPad Air2, the screen of the Pro is much better, I did not expect that. It is much easier on the eyes to read text on this device.
The only reason I’d go for the 11” is that for the price of 12.9“ 256GB I can get 11” 512GB - twice the storage.
A great article...
One Week With the New 2020 iPad: Moving Back to Small – The Sweet Setup
The 2020 iPad Pro marked the opportunity for me to try out the smaller of the two iPad Pros. I’ve been using the 12.9-inch iPad Pro since debut day in 2018, and I know how that shoe fits after a few years. Throw that large iPad into a dock on a desk, connect a Smart Keyboard Folio or external...
It’s nicely written but basically just the journey of finding out that both sizes can be useful and have their strengths and weaknesses.
Essentially somebody not used to the smaller iPad then suddenly using it only to find out that it’s not terrible for a lot of things.
Exactly. For every article like this you can find one with the opposite opinion. This comparison happens to share many of my opinions as someone who moved from the 2018 11” to the 2020 12.9.
I WAS WRONG - iPad Pro 11 vs. 12.9 inch
I went from an 11“ and got the 12.9” . I was very worried about the size difference and if it would be uncomfortable or awkward. To my surprise its perfect for me. I use it most of the time on a desk. I have used it on the couch, and walking around and it has not been an issue at all. I’m so glad I bought the 12.9, it’s the best size to me!
I've had the 2018 12.9" since launch and love it. I keep it mainly at work. I just got the 11" 2020 Pro. It is probably the best all around iPad ever. 11" is still a pretty good size for desktop use and it's still very portable. I'm glad to own it. Looking forward to adding the new magic keyboard next month.
I realize the A12X and Z are nearly identical, but that shows how powerful the A12X was to begin with.
I realize the A12X and Z are nearly identical, but that shows how powerful the A12X was to begin with.
I am currently using the 12,9 model but I have to say that his opinion as expressed in the linked video, doesn't take many things into consideration. He is using his iPad only as a productivity tool and not as a consumption device. Of course the 12,9 model is better for productivity..
Having used both models for an extensive period of time I can say that both are great in their unique ways. Just go with what you feel is right for you. I decided to go with the bigger iPad and despite its bigger size, I enjoy using it more, even for consumption stuff, but I decided to not try to use it with one hand at all.
YES. I still read this thread because it’s amusing for some reason, but really it just keeps going round and round. The relationship between big and small is completely straightforward common sense, and for these iPads it’s pretty much the same deal. The only thing to dissect is the self—what are the needs of one’s own life. (Btw, do people deliberate this much over the bigger and smaller iPhones?)
For people who have trouble deciding, which I’m guessing means they have trouble evaluating their needs, this exercise might help:
Imagine Apple somehow had the tech to make an iPad that could change sizes whenever you want, from 7.9” to 12.9” and every size in between—and you have this iPad. Now take some time to imagine yourself going about your day and how you would change sizes for each particular task.
Then imagine Apple announces that the resizable feature was temporary, you have to choose a size in a week. So back to reality. But now you can look back at your usage:
Which sizes did you find yourself using at different parts of the day/week? Which size did you use the most? Was it also the size of your most crucial use cases? If not, then what size or sizes did you find crucial albeit not often? How crucial is that use case to you compared to other your frequent but less crucial use cases?
These are the kinds of questions that will actually help you come to a decision. But it may require you actually getting your hands on the iPads or even just a similar size and weight dummy slab. Either way, internet strangers are largely useless to you (their conclusions can only serve to confirm your already-made conclusions). This is a you thing.
Everyone is different. I use my 12.9 the exact same way I used my 11, mostly consumption with light productivity, except with the advantage for me of more screen real estate for the times I use it at a desk. I have no problem one handing my 12.9 and do it all the time, one of the points the guy made in the video. In the end, everyone has to decide what‘s best for them, and one person‘s opinion/experience may not be another’s. .3 pound difference may not be a lot for me, but for others it can make all the difference. Dimensions play a factor for some people as well. At the end of the day, everyone should try both before making a decision if possible.
Having just received my 11", I have the following opinions on form factor.
iPad Mini (7.9")
iPad Mini is still the ideal tablet only form factor for me. It's like the tricorder or futuristic PDA in Hollywood ... big enough to show you a relatively large UI or web page and still small enough to put in a jacket pocket. It's incredibly easy to one hand and poke at ... and two handed thumb typing in portrait is quick and comfortable as well. If the Mini ever gets the bezel-less treatment, I hope they keep the screen size and decrease the bezels. That would be perfect. I thought it got just a bit too tall when they went from the Mini 3 to the Mini 4.
iPad Pro (11")
The 2018 11" is only slightly larger than the 9.7's I used back in the day, but it feels clunkier in practice as a tablet. Part of that is due to the "swipe home" gesture ... because the screen started further up the tablet on the older models, it was easier to access the bottom of the screen / hit the home button. Now, reaching your thumb over across the slightly wider 11" tablet and all the way down to the bottom (in portrait) just feels uncomfortable. I have to reposition my hands all the time to do it. Therefore, as a tablet, I would have again preferred the form factor to shrink to the 9.7" screen instead of expanding the screen.
However, a big part of the appeal of the 11" iPad Pro is the keyboard and landscape usage. And it may well be that the reason Apple went larger on the form factor is that the keyboard for a "Pro" iPad needs to be a comfortable size. Perhaps they deemed it worth the tradeoff against tablet usage?
I don't have my Smart Keyboard yet, but I tried Jump Desktop with a usb-c hub and keyboard ... and wow. I was really impressed! I can (and did, for half an hour) legitimately do serious work on this thing by remoting to a computer. I think the "cloud computing" piece of this is getting very promising. Definitely going to be experimenting with this more, but my goal for this is to be able to nuke my Macbook from my travel bag with this iPad.
iPad Pro (12.9")
If you are going to "laptop" around the house, it's the form factor that gets the most done IF you don't mind the extra size. The 12.9" is simply too unwieldy for normal tablet usage ... keyboard and landscape usage is practically mandatory.
As a laptop replacement, there are still a lot of questions. Around the house, if you truly need to be productive, most people would be fooling themselves using a 12.9" iPad instead of a real computer attached to some sort of big screen. On the go, I think it comes into its own a bit more, but still has limitations. That puts the 12.9" into a situation where it's less useful in the general case and more reliant on specific uses to justify its existence ... such as anything involving drawing, sidecar with a Mac, a portable note taking adjunct to a primary Mac, etc.
It's hard to articulate this, so I guess I'll just talk about how I ended up using my 12.9" when I had one.
What's dropped me back into the iPad ecosystem again is full mouse/keyboard support for Jump Desktop and the great refurb prices on 2018 iPad Pro's. The price/performance situation has improved enough that I'm going to give everything another shot.
iPad Mini (7.9")
iPad Mini is still the ideal tablet only form factor for me. It's like the tricorder or futuristic PDA in Hollywood ... big enough to show you a relatively large UI or web page and still small enough to put in a jacket pocket. It's incredibly easy to one hand and poke at ... and two handed thumb typing in portrait is quick and comfortable as well. If the Mini ever gets the bezel-less treatment, I hope they keep the screen size and decrease the bezels. That would be perfect. I thought it got just a bit too tall when they went from the Mini 3 to the Mini 4.
iPad Pro (11")
The 2018 11" is only slightly larger than the 9.7's I used back in the day, but it feels clunkier in practice as a tablet. Part of that is due to the "swipe home" gesture ... because the screen started further up the tablet on the older models, it was easier to access the bottom of the screen / hit the home button. Now, reaching your thumb over across the slightly wider 11" tablet and all the way down to the bottom (in portrait) just feels uncomfortable. I have to reposition my hands all the time to do it. Therefore, as a tablet, I would have again preferred the form factor to shrink to the 9.7" screen instead of expanding the screen.
However, a big part of the appeal of the 11" iPad Pro is the keyboard and landscape usage. And it may well be that the reason Apple went larger on the form factor is that the keyboard for a "Pro" iPad needs to be a comfortable size. Perhaps they deemed it worth the tradeoff against tablet usage?
I don't have my Smart Keyboard yet, but I tried Jump Desktop with a usb-c hub and keyboard ... and wow. I was really impressed! I can (and did, for half an hour) legitimately do serious work on this thing by remoting to a computer. I think the "cloud computing" piece of this is getting very promising. Definitely going to be experimenting with this more, but my goal for this is to be able to nuke my Macbook from my travel bag with this iPad.
iPad Pro (12.9")
If you are going to "laptop" around the house, it's the form factor that gets the most done IF you don't mind the extra size. The 12.9" is simply too unwieldy for normal tablet usage ... keyboard and landscape usage is practically mandatory.
As a laptop replacement, there are still a lot of questions. Around the house, if you truly need to be productive, most people would be fooling themselves using a 12.9" iPad instead of a real computer attached to some sort of big screen. On the go, I think it comes into its own a bit more, but still has limitations. That puts the 12.9" into a situation where it's less useful in the general case and more reliant on specific uses to justify its existence ... such as anything involving drawing, sidecar with a Mac, a portable note taking adjunct to a primary Mac, etc.
It's hard to articulate this, so I guess I'll just talk about how I ended up using my 12.9" when I had one.
- On the go
- I'd often throw my 12.9" iPad in my bag for a day trip where I'd probably be sitting at a table for a while. Both a normal size iPad vs a 12.9" iPad fit perfectly well in a backpack, so why not take the bigger one if it's going to be stationary? I'd often avoid the Macbook for a day trip if I didn't need it because it isn't as energy efficient, the trackpad is less ergonomic, and the always on LTE of the iPad is vastly easier to work with.
- On longer trips, I ended up leaving the iPad behind. It didn't fill enough of a niche between my iPhone and Macbook (which I had to have for work) to warrant bringing it along.
- At home
- I'd use the iPad sitting up on the couch or in bed watching TV. Sometimes I'd put it in front of me on the table while I was eating.
- I would avoid using it lying down, on my side in bed or on the couch because it was just too large. I would never use it in portrait mode ever.
- I never did real work on the iPad at home. It couldn't run real apps or multitask/web browse with anywhere close to the efficiency of a full workstation ... which I work at all the time. So I'd end up gravitating back to my computer a lot.
- Signing documents was sometimes useful, but I don't think it was often enough to make a difference.
What's dropped me back into the iPad ecosystem again is full mouse/keyboard support for Jump Desktop and the great refurb prices on 2018 iPad Pro's. The price/performance situation has improved enough that I'm going to give everything another shot.
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You need to get yourself a Smart Keyboard Folio ASAP for your 11” Pro. Landscape, split screen multi-tasking using a keyboard is very effective. Coming from a 12.9“, I honestly don’t feel compromised and the portability advantage is huge. You can then hook it up to an external monitor for some serious work - though there is still some room for improvement to make this setup ideal.
I see the 12.9” more suited for creative professionals/hobbyists who primarily work at a desk using the Apple Pencil. Though I personally prefer sketching with the 11” away from a desk and when I want to work at a desk, I just project my canvas in Procreate onto an external monitor for a more efficient workflow.
I see the 12.9” more suited for creative professionals/hobbyists who primarily work at a desk using the Apple Pencil. Though I personally prefer sketching with the 11” away from a desk and when I want to work at a desk, I just project my canvas in Procreate onto an external monitor for a more efficient workflow.
Because this way the screen isn't hidden by the on screen keyboard and so there's enough room for multitasking.
Remember spit keyboard? I dont understand why Apple killed it. Even “small” iPads were often used two-handed so why break a working concept?
That swipe keyboard isnt bad on a phone or maybe at Mini but on a 10.5-12.9” device then youre not holding that one-handed and swipe-typing.
I personally could not wait for the 12.9” iPad Pro to come out when it at last did in 2015 and have mostly used the larger size ever since. I initially got to play music (I play tuba), but soon found I preferred to a MacBook Pro for work when combined with the Smart Keyboard. I did get an iPad Pro 10.5” when they came out, as a more portable device, but found the smaller screen and more compact keyboard not so much to my liking (now consigned to video watching in the kitchen) - and with the 2018 iPad Pro with Face ID I feel I have the perfect device - with decent size screen and compact enough to use as tablet, or with smart keyboard as laptop substitute. I don’t have on me all the time, but never go far without my iPad Pro - if I am out shopping, at a restaurant, or coffee shop and when on business will invariably have my 12.9” iPad Pro with me which I carry in leather man-bag. It is by far my main computer device - I on average use 12 hours a day for both work and leisure.
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In fact, in my opinion 12.9” is fine as the main computer and 11” as the secondary one.