iPad Pro 11 or 12.9 Pro ?

[rkuo]

I still struggle with this, deciding between the pro sizes.

I’ve had the 12.9” gen 1, 2 and 3. I’ve also had either the iPP 9.7” or 10.5” at the same time.
So my current Pros are the 10.5” and 12.9” 2018.

Initially, I thought that I’d keep the big iPad at home and take the smaller one everywhere with me. But I eventually got a bigger handbag and the bigger one goes to work with me, although I am presently working from home.
So, for a long time, I considered the 10.5” to be my favourite iPad ever. But the 12.9 creeped up and I use it the majority of the time now. I kind of have a wish that I had the 11” only and that I was happy with the one size for portability and use, out and about and at home. Only, I wonder if I could revert back to the smaller size now that I use the big one mostly. It’s just that I find the 12.9 awkward in a few situations, like going to the doctors, and just a bit heavy to take in my handbag.

I have ordered the US Magic Keyboard for the 12.9 and my delivery window is 5th May - 13th May. It’s still in processing. Anyway, I didn’t sleep well last night as my brain was overactive, wondering if I should cancel the MK and wait until the next iPad Pro release when I may decide to stick with the 12.9 size or switch to the 11” size.
This morning, I picked up the 10.5 as it’s close enough to the 11” that it should help me decide if I’d be able to use the 11” as my one and only iPad. I now wonder if I’d find it too small to use as my only iPad and if I’d miss the bigger one, at the same time, I’d love the portability.

Has anyone reverted to the smaller size after using the bigger one for 12+ months and found that they adjust again?
If I knew that would work for me, then I would cancel my MK order before it ships and I’m running out of time to decide as it could ship any moment now. Then I would just hold out until the next iPad release and buy both together then. I’m undecided.

Depends on what you use the iPad for, no? I had the iPad Pro 12.9” 1st gen for a while, and recently jumped back in with the 11”. I’m not finding the 11” to be significantly compromised in any way ... the keyboard/typing experience is still good and I don’t think the 12.9” would be much better.

What helps me a lot is that I don’t try to use the iPad for serious productivity ... that falls to my desktop. And I don’t travel so much that the extra screen space of the 12.9” would get used a lot vs my 11”. It’s more important for me to have something around than it is for that something to be big, so in that sense the 11” has an advantage for me.

The more you set up with the 12.9 on the go, the more you‘ll be getting value out of that bigger screen. I will say that the magic keyboard gives my 11” a very chunky and heavy feel, and that‘s going to be magnified on the 12.9.

 

[millydog]

Depends on what you use the iPad for, no? I had the iPad Pro 12.9” 1st gen for a while, and recently jumped back in with the 11”. I’m not finding the 11” to be significantly compromised in any way ... the keyboard/typing experience is still good and I don’t think the 12.9” would be much better.

What helps me a lot is that I don’t try to use the iPad for serious productivity ... that falls to my desktop. And I don’t travel so much that the extra screen space of the 12.9” would get used a lot vs my 11”. It’s more important for me to have something around than it is for that something to be big, so in that sense the 11” has an advantage for me.

The more you set up with the 12.9 on the go, the more you‘ll be getting value out of that bigger screen. I will say that the magic keyboard gives my 11” a very chunky and heavy feel, and that‘s going to be magnified on the 12.9.

Yes, that is true. I am good at recommending the right size for friends and family who ask for my advice, but I can’t decide for myself.
My main uses are actually web browsing, forums, YouTube, videos and games. Although, I plan to do a bit more home video editing and scrapbooking, both of which could use the larger screen, but I never seem to make these a priority and actually do it, if I’m being honest and I have a MacBook Pro which would be better for video editing except that it’s not worth the software purchase for my limited use. So the iPad software is more economical and sufficient for my use case.
I consider that the 11” would be better for travelling, but yet I rarely travel anyway.
So I’m best off considering my regular usage which is mostly web browsing, forums, YouTube, videos and games, so mostly consumption.
I am a programmer, but unless Apple release XCode for the iPad, I probably don’t need the larger iPad. It’s more that I am used to it now that I wonder if I can solely use an 11” now and if so, I’d be better off putting off my MK purchase until I upgrade, but that wouldn’t be until the next 11” release. If I allow the MK to arrive for the 12.9, I believe that I’m going to love it, but I’ll feel more obligated to then stick with the 12.9 size going forward, hence why I feel like I need to make a decision now.

 

[OafTobark]

...So I’m best off considering my regular usage which is mostly web browsing, forums, YouTube, videos and games, so mostly consumption...

Quit kidding yourself, and get the tablet for your use case now. I read a lot of could/would/should’s - Apple makes generational hardware. The 11” is up your alley and you know this. Come next gen, if your daily use case has changed, then reconsider the 12.9”

 

[Adelphos33]

After six weeks of work from home, my issue is becoming a bit different - my 12.9” is now associated so much with “work” that I am thinking I need a “tablet“ iPad, which could be an 11” iPad Pro or something like an Air.

I have gone a bit crazy recently - I am currently typing this on my 12.9” iPad Pro, which is sitting on a laptop stand - the iPad is in my Smart Keyboard Folio as a I was for my Magic Keyboard. I am using the iPad with a Bluetooth Magic Keyboard and a Magic Trackpad 2 - this combo actually provides a much more attractive “desktop” experience than the Smart Keyboard Folio and probably the Magic Keyboard. It is hard to imagine using an 11” in a similar setup...

 

[ct2k7]

After six weeks of work from home, my issue is becoming a bit different - my 12.9” is now associated so much with “work” that I am thinking I need a “tablet“ iPad, which could be an 11” iPad Pro or something like an Air.

I have gone a bit crazy recently - I am currently typing this on my 12.9” iPad Pro, which is sitting on a laptop stand - the iPad is in my Smart Keyboard Folio as a I was for my Magic Keyboard. I am using the iPad with a Bluetooth Magic Keyboard and a Magic Trackpad 2 - this combo actually provides a much more attractive “desktop” experience than the Smart Keyboard Folio and probably the Magic Keyboard. It is hard to imagine using an 11” in a similar setup...

I’m using my 11” as a laptop per se.. whilst in bed. It seems to work well so far. I can type quickly enough on it without serious mistakes that autocorrect doesn’t do its job. But I like the Magic Keyboard over the SKF for the simple reason that I can adjust the angle to a much finer degree than that of the SMF and without the MK.

 

[millydog]

Quit kidding yourself, and get the tablet for your use case now. I read a lot of could/would/should’s - Apple makes generational hardware. The 11” is up your alley and you know this. Come next gen, if your daily use case has changed, then reconsider the 12.9”

Thanks for keeping me grounded. The 11” does suit my current use case best. I am just not sure how I will go switching back to the smaller size after using my 12.9” as my main iPad. I don’t want to regret the switch and miss the big iPad screen.
I’m also considering that I don’t feel that the switch from the 2018 models to the 2020 models is justified, given that I already have the 1TB 12.9. So, I felt that it was best if I hold off upgrading until the next release. I’m working from home at the moment too due to covid-19, so I don’t need to take my iPad anywhere at present. This makes the size and weight for transportation of my iPad a non-issue for the present time being. I’m having an upgrade itch though and I thought that the MK would satisfy that until next release. But now my head is full of what if’s and should I’s. Maybe I should cancel my MK 12.9 order and wait until I’m settled on an iPad size for the coming years, not just the next year.

 

[ct2k7]

Thanks for keeping me grounded. The 11” does suit my current use case best. I am just not sure how I will go switching back to the smaller size after using my 12.9” as my main iPad. I don’t want to regret the switch and miss the big iPad screen.
I’m also considering that I don’t feel that the switch from the 2018 models to the 2020 models is justified, given that I already have the 1TB 12.9. So, I felt that it was best if I hold off upgrading until the next release. I’m working from home at the moment too due to covid-19, so I don’t need to take my iPad anywhere at present. This makes the size and weight for transportation of my iPad a non-issue for the present time being. I’m having an upgrade itch though and I thought that the MK would satisfy that until next release. But now my head is full of what if’s and should I’s. Maybe I should cancel my MK 12.9 order and wait until I’m settled on an iPad size for the coming years, not just the next year.

You have an extended time to check how it’s like. You can always return it after 14 days.

 

[millydog]

You have an extended time to check how it’s like. You can always return it after 14 days.

Yeah, true. I would prefer not to buy it just to try it though and have to go out and post it. We have the covid situation and I also have mobility issues and immunosuppressants due to rheumatoid arthritis. So I’d prefer to be certain of what iPad I will have going forward before buying the keyboard, to get maximum usage out of it. It costs $589 for the 12.9” MK in Australia, so I’d like to get more than 12 months out of it. So, I’ve cancelled it for now as that will give me more thinking time.

 

[Ghost31]

I had a 12.9” and I now have the 11”. The 11” sometimes feels too small, yet the 12.9” felt too big

We need a nice in between range one of these days. I feel like the 11inch is too small when i use my Smart Keyboard, but just right as a tablet. I feel like 12 inch would be absolutely perfect. or 11.5 or something. Just a TINY bit bigger and I wouldn’t have these feelings. Goldilocks zone
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I still struggle with this, deciding between the pro sizes.

I’ve had the 12.9” gen 1, 2 and 3. I’ve also had either the iPP 9.7” or 10.5” at the same time.
So my current Pros are the 10.5” and 12.9” 2018.

Initially, I thought that I’d keep the big iPad at home and take the smaller one everywhere with me. But I eventually got a bigger handbag and the bigger one goes to work with me, although I am presently working from home.
So, for a long time, I considered the 10.5” to be my favourite iPad ever. But the 12.9 creeped up and I use it the majority of the time now. I kind of have a wish that I had the 11” only and that I was happy with the one size for portability and use, out and about and at home. Only, I wonder if I could revert back to the smaller size now that I use the big one mostly. It’s just that I find the 12.9 awkward in a few situations, like going to the doctors, and just a bit heavy to take in my handbag.

I have ordered the US Magic Keyboard for the 12.9 and my delivery window is 5th May - 13th May. It’s still in processing. Anyway, I didn’t sleep well last night as my brain was overactive, wondering if I should cancel the MK and wait until the next iPad Pro release when I may decide to stick with the 12.9 size or switch to the 11” size.
This morning, I picked up the 10.5 as it’s close enough to the 11” that it should help me decide if I’d be able to use the 11” as my one and only iPad. I now wonder if I’d find it too small to use as my only iPad and if I’d miss the bigger one, at the same time, I’d love the portability.

Has anyone reverted to the smaller size after using the bigger one for 12+ months and found that they adjust again?
If I knew that would work for me, then I would cancel my MK order before it ships and I’m running out of time to decide as it could ship any moment now. Then I would just hold out until the next iPad release and buy both together then. I’m undecided.

me. I had the 12.9 (last gen) and liked it a lot at first. That “wow its so big!” Feeling was so cool but then it came time to actually use it and it just felt so comically large at times. Trying to use it in bed or on the couch and holding it up and over me i felt like i was gonna get knocked out if it fell. I found i always took it out to use less because i always thought about how big it was and in my head i was like ”sigh. I’m just looking at reddit. Do i wanna get that big thing out right now” and i’d use it way less.

I went down to the 11 inch last year and it felt just right. Sometimes i want it to be a little bigger when its on a desk or something and its farther away, but generally its nice to just be able to pick it up and use it. I use my ipad wayyyy more now than i used to because its not even a big deal to just pick it up and go. I say go for it and give the 11inch a try. Its a nice jump up from the 10.5 you have too

 

[millydog]

We need a nice in between range one of these days. I feel like the 11inch is too small when i use my Smart Keyboard, but just right as a tablet. I feel like 12 inch would be absolutely perfect. or 11.5 or something. Just a TINY bit bigger and I wouldn’t have these feelings. Goldilocks zone
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me. I had the 12.9 (last gen) and liked it a lot at first. That “wow its so big!” Feeling was so cool but then it came time to actually use it and it just felt so comically large at times. Trying to use it in bed or on the couch and holding it up and over me i felt like i was gonna get knocked out if it fell. I found i always took it out to use less because i always thought about how big it was and in my head i was like ”sigh. I’m just looking at reddit. Do i wanna get that big thing out right now” and i’d use it way less.

I went down to the 11 inch last year and it felt just right. Sometimes i want it to be a little bigger when its on a desk or something and its farther away, but generally its nice to just be able to pick it up and use it. I use my ipad wayyyy more now than i used to because its not even a big deal to just pick it up and go. I say go for it and give the 11inch a try. Its a nice jump up from the 10.5 you have too

I agree with you that an in between size, perhaps a 12”, would be perfect. My 12.9” is great to use at home and work, but not so great to take between or anywhere else. I enjoy the 12.9” for just browsing, so that parts fine. I also like it for the kind of games that I play. I find it too large when I’m at the doctors though or to just read a book, yet it’s good if I am to read a PDF.
I just had a play with my 10.5” with ASK and it felt too small. The screen felt small and the keyboard felt cramped. Yet, I tried my Brydge Pro with my 12.9” and it was great to type on and the perfect size. However, I find the Brydge cumbersome to insert and remove my my iPad and find that I don’t use it as much as I could due to that. I end up typing on the screen instead of getting it out. So then, already, I am second guessing my decision to cancel the MK for the 12.9”.
Would the MK be as cramped for the 11” as the ASK is for the 10.5”?
I can imagine the 11” being great as a portable tablet, but wonder about how small it would feel when using it with the MK.

 

[jaybar]

Got my new 12.9 IPP. it’s comfortable when naked. However, even with the simple smart folio, it begins to feel a bit heavy. Coming from the 11. Do you get accustomed to the weight? Love the larger screen.

 

[rkuo]

I agree with you that an in between size, perhaps a 12”, would be perfect. My 12.9” is great to use at home and work, but not so great to take between or anywhere else. I enjoy the 12.9” for just browsing, so that parts fine. I also like it for the kind of games that I play. I find it too large when I’m at the doctors though or to just read a book, yet it’s good if I am to read a PDF.
I just had a play with my 10.5” with ASK and it felt too small. The screen felt small and the keyboard felt cramped. Yet, I tried my Brydge Pro with my 12.9” and it was great to type on and the perfect size. However, I find the Brydge cumbersome to insert and remove my my iPad and find that I don’t use it as much as I could due to that. I end up typing on the screen instead of getting it out. So then, already, I am second guessing my decision to cancel the MK for the 12.9”.
Would the MK be as cramped for the 11” as the ASK is for the 10.5”?
I can imagine the 11” being great as a portable tablet, but wonder about how small it would feel when using it with the MK.

The magic keyboard on the 11” is better than the Smart Keyboard Folio ... not just in terms of the keys themselves, but also the spacing.

The Smart Keyboard Folio has an odd design where the keys are physically smaller than you would expect, so there’s a lot of wasted space between keys ... probably due to the waterproof fabric design. I’m guessing without the space between the keys, the fabric would come loose. Anyway, the Magic Keyboard has much more logical/normal size keys, so it doesn’t feel as cramped.

Of course, this also depends on how tall/big of a person you are. Bigger hands appreciate a bigger keyboard.

 

[millydog]

The magic keyboard on the 11” is better than the Smart Keyboard Folio ... not just in terms of the keys themselves, but also the spacing.

The Smart Keyboard Folio has an odd design where the keys are physically smaller than you would expect, so there’s a lot of wasted space between keys ... probably due to the waterproof fabric design. I’m guessing without the space between the keys, the fabric would come loose. Anyway, the Magic Keyboard has much more logical/normal size keys, so it doesn’t feel as cramped.

Of course, this also depends on how tall/big of a person you are. Bigger hands appreciate a bigger keyboard.

That’s interesting. Thank you for the info on the key sizes of the 11” MK. It is hard as I can’t try out the 11” or the 11” keyboard right now. Besides opinions, I can only use my 10.5” to gauge an idea of size. So my 10.5” feels very small, like a mini, now and typing felt cramped, while typing on the Brydge Pro 12.9” felt natural and fluid, I think because the width matches my work laptop keyboard width and my MacBook Pro keyboard with more closely.
Even with the ASK and a rear case, my 10.5” feels more bulky, as I’m used to it with just a Smart Cover. I imagine that the MK with the 12.9” is going to feel quite thick and heavy, although, I have the smart folio cover to use with it when I take it places, as that’s what I already use. Decisions!

 

[Carly G. Fleischmann]

with my life being what it is and me having many disabilities along with wanting to watch youtube I use the 12.9 Pro device paired with a mouse and keyboard from apple. I use a software called Snap Core First by a company called tobii dynavox to communicate, and it runs better on the larger display. If you're watching netflix or youtube or similar I say "go big or go home"

 

[Jamacfer]

In my experience the 11” is a better choice if you use the tablet for casual browsing, emailing, book reading even more if on the go and if already own a laptop. On the other side the 12.9 is better if you consider it as an “hybrid” between a laptop and a tablet (so you get both worlds in one device). Please consider also that the 11” is very similar to the 10.5 (it actually feels smaller).

 

[millydog]

In my experience the 11” is a better choice if you use the tablet for casual browsing, emailing, book reading even more if on the go and if already own a laptop. On the other side the 12.9 is better if you consider it as an “hybrid” between a laptop and a tablet (so you get both worlds in one device). Please consider also that the 11” is very similar to the 10.5 (it actually feels smaller).

Yes, that is the advice that I’d give someone coming to me and saying that is their main usage too. I used my 10.5” with ASK this afternoon and found the keyboard experience to be a bit cramped, yet that size tablet is great for holding in my hands and using it without a keyboard. So, I can tell that the 11” would be great for portability, but I am not sure about the keyboard experience. Others seem to like it though with the MK.
I guess that I do kind of think of my iPad as my laptop replacement and my laptop is more of a desktop replacement, if that makes sense. My MacBook Pro gets moved around the house sometimes, but is mostly on the desk, while my iPad is my main device and goes everywhere with me. In saying that, I am usually stationary, like either at work or at home. I could potentially go either way, so it has been hard to decide what I’d like to do.

 

[Dmacaussie]

So I have a duel iPad set up at home. 12.9 on desk with a stand to raise it and Magic Trackpad and a keyboard. I use this for heavy lifting, multitasking, “serious work”. It’s ergonomic, screen size is large enough and I get work done. For travel, couch, playing games, coffee shop work I kept my old 10.5 (similar form factor to the 11) with Smart Keyboard. It also sits next to my 12.9 on the desk and is a reference screen (calendar, control music, Things 3 to do list, etc) while I am working with the 12.9. I am doing an MBA part time online and use both iPads for watching lectures online on the 12.9 while taking notes on notability on the 10.5. I write assignments on the 12.9 but have written assignments on the 10.5 when assignments have been due when Ive been overseas for work or on a holiday with my family.

I am typing this on the 10.5 but that’s because I’m on the couch watching TV, if I was at my desk I would be doing it on the 12.9. Ultimately it depends on what you want the iPad to do for you. A second iPad (the cheaper Air or basic iPad) would be effective as a second “mobile” machine complimenting a 12.9 if you could justify the use of both devices. I don’t have a computer at home and loathe bringing my work laptop (a surface pro) home with me.

 

[nortonandreev]

I have the 11’ 2018 iPad Pro and I love it, but I am also thinking of getting the 12.9 one, when they release the update with mini-led screen. I am hoping that iPadOS 14 will bring even more changes to the iPad and, combined with the magic keyboard, I think that the 12.9 can become a useful device. It won’t replace my MacBook for sure, but can complement it. And I plan on keeping my 11’ one when portability is of an importance.

 

[Jamacfer]

My setup: iMac 27 at home and a new iPad 12.9 which I use both as a tablet for leisure (reading, browsing, emailing, photo editing etc) and as a laptop for work (mainly Word, Power Point/Keynote, .pdf reading)

 

[shoppy]

Got my new 12.9 IPP. it’s comfortable when naked. However, even with the simple smart folio, it begins to feel a bit heavy. Coming from the 11. Do you get accustomed to the weight? Love the larger screen.

Yes you do, I looked at my 11" that is been given to my son and its nice but I prefer the bigger real estate when browsing nd watching Netflix. I also aha various cases, dependant o what I am using the iPad for.

 

[Jamacfer]

Got my new 12.9 IPP. it’s comfortable when naked. However, even with the simple smart folio, it begins to feel a bit heavy. Coming from the 11. Do you get accustomed to the weight? Love the larger screen.

I come from a 10.5" then got a 11" but, after a week, I decided to return it and get a 12.9" to be used both as laptop (replacing an old MacBook Air 11") and a tablet (I also own an iMac 27" for heavy work). When I use it as a tablet (in bed, couch etc.) I remove the Smart Folio and enjoy naked so I feel it much more manageable.

 

[betaHall]

I come from 12.9 and now using a 11"

because I use mbp 16 as my primary and I want something more portable.

 

[Nikhil72]

The 12.9 is totally fine a lightweight tablet if you’re getting the MK; to use it in tablet mode, it will be totally naked, which is a very manageable size. It’s not like you’re holding the 11” hovering in the air unsupported for long periods of time without supporting it on your legs, etc. and it’s a fantastic work device with the keyboard. 3 pounds is still quite light...unless you’ve never carried a laptop before, I’m not sure why people keep claiming it’s excessively heavy feeling with the MK

 

[millydog]

Well I had thoughts today where I was second guessing my idea to get the new MK for the 12.9” in case I decided to upgrade to an 11” in a years time. But I’ve spent time working through it and chatting on here also to get my thoughts out. I now believe that I am in the 12.9 camp to stay. My iPad Pro 10.5” feels small to me now and the ASK feels a bit small too. It does feel nice and light to hold and travel with though. My 12.9 has a beautiful big screen which is great for many apps. The 12.9 is also great for multitasking, plus the on screen keyboard is better on the 12.9 as it has an extra row and better layout. I have been using the Brydge Pro with it and find that it is a great keyboard size. I don’t like attaching and removing the iPad from it though as it’s quite tight to do so. I have a clear skin on the back of my iPad and a glass screen protector on the front which wouldn’t be helping with that though. I find that I have less trouble switching between the Brydge Pro for the 12.9 and my other laptop keyboards though, where as it wasn’t as easy to switch to the 10.5” ASK today.
Anyway, I was just finding that my 10.5” felt too small today and I therefore think that the 11” would not be too far from that. My 12.9 no longer feels so large and I love the screen size. I guess that I just had thoughts that an 11” would be more portable, but I’ve now worked out that there would be different trade off for me and I’d prefer the 12.9 so as to not compromise on those. If I get an 11” down the track, it will be as a secondary device to my 12.9 (to replace my 10.5) and most likely used without a keyboard.
Thanks everyone who helped out today. It helped me to work this out and I feel better about going ahead with a MK order for my 12.9 now.

 

[hipnetic]

Just to throw a monkey wrench into this...I started playing around with my iPad mini (latest-gen) and if you use your iPad as a supplement to a MacBook, rather than a replacement for it, the iPad mini has a lot going for it. Pencil (1st-gen) support, and can still be configured to use an external keyboard and trackpad/mouse. Any all-in-one case/keyboard/trackpad that some 3rd party might develop for the mini would probably have a too-small keyboard and too-small trackpad, but you could just use a simple cover/stand and couple it with an external small, but full-size, keyboard and Magic Trackpad or Mouse.

I think an argument could be made that an iPad Pro mini (magnetic 2nd-gen Pencil, USB-C, edge-to-edge display) could be pretty sweet.

Some could argue that a large iPhone w/USB-C and Pencil support could take this even a step further, though I'd question how useful Pencil support on something smaller than an iPad mini would be.