A Mini or a big phone are great but can't compare to a large screen tablet for me. I use a 12 Pro Max, Mini 6, 2021 12.9, and a laptop and each has a different use for me. May not work for you but it does for me.
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iPad Pro 12.9" M1 iPad Pro 5th Gen User Satisfaction 6 months in?
- Thread starter Aetherhole
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A Mini or a big phone are great but can't compare to a large screen tablet for me. I use a 12 Pro Max, Mini 6, 2021 12.9, and a laptop and each has a different use for me. May not work for you but it does for me.
Does it or do you just find excuses to use each device for one thing? Let me guess, you take the Mini to coffee shops or while commuting but I bet you have the Max in your pocket at the same time meaning you could definitely live without the Mini. I'm sure you use the 12.9" as a sidecar or dual monitor for the laptop but you could buy so many external monitors for the price of the 12.9". I find it extremely hard to believe you have a workflow that requires all those devices so unless you live in a mansion and have a device for each room then amount of devices you have overlap each other so much that you are literally finding use cases to justify your purchases.
I've been there, it's okay to acknowledge but realize you are a very tiny minority of users and you don't need half of your devices ha.
No, I want the larger size screen of the Mini 6 over the phone while out. I bought the 12PM because of the improved camera with OIS. I use a 4K monitor with my laptop at home and the 12.9 around the house. I don't need to invent use cases to justify the purchases nor can somebody from the outside looking in say that I don't need half of my devices.
You must be young, as that is what my kids under 23 have a MacBook Air/pro and iPhone, I prefer my 24" iMac, 12.9M1 iPad and my 13 max, I tried a MacBook Air was just redundant for me, average screen v the iPad M1 and too small v my iMac 24".
I don't sit in coffee shops staring at a 13" screen lol.
I don’t know why you have to stumble into a conversation about user satisfaction and start guessing why people have this or that and suspect them of finding excuses etc.
you do you and have fun with that. Others get the devices they want.
I work on my Macs, and when work is done I pick up an iOS or iPadOS device in my free time and enjoy that.
Couldn‘t have said it any better myself. We probably don’t strictly NEED half the things we own these days, but boy do they make life nicer. I could just go back to a flip phone and a desktop computer for everything I do. But I like having my iPhone, my Mac, my MacBook, my iPad. I use them all.
I've been buying iPads since there have been iPads. I've had them all (early adapter disease). But this one's different. It's all about the display. It's crisper, clearer, and more beautiful. I've read reviews that say don't buy it for the display because after a while it seems like pretty much any other display. That's not my experience. It dazzles me every time I use it. I'm buying one of the new 2021 MacBook Pros too - same type of display - I'm hooked.
P.S. I have a Brydge keyboard. It's good, but it's HEAVY. In my opinion Brydge should hog out a lot of that aluminum in the base to make it more comfortable to haul around with your iPad.
P.S. I have a Brydge keyboard. It's good, but it's HEAVY. In my opinion Brydge should hog out a lot of that aluminum in the base to make it more comfortable to haul around with your iPad.
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Base kinda needs to be heavy else it'll probably topple over because the iPad's too heavy.
I too absolutely notice the screen quality each and every time I use it. Almost tempted to get a new MBP for the screen alone.
I agree! Which is why after six months I decided to make this thread. Well, it's not just about the screen for me though; I skipped the 2020 generation and the 3rd gen 2018 and this is so, so much faster, still to this day.
The screen is beautiful, and even though the 2018 also had 120Hz, it's more noticeable on the 2021 probably because the processor/ram was causing a bit of a bottleneck. And the screen's image contrast, even in standard definition content, still impresses me. There's just more dimensionality to the image, even on the home screen.
Mine comes tomorrow. These happy words many of you are sharing are just so fun to read. 
Enjoy your new toy! Which configuration did you end up getting?Mine comes tomorrow. These happy words many of you are sharing are just so fun to read.
I haven’t had mine for 6 months (only 2 weeks in) as my 2018 12.9 completely died, but after getting used to blooming when viewing in darker rooms, I have been blown away by the display. It’s so vibrant, bright, and just really great to look at. Speed is noticeably faster in exporting and importing files which I do all the time for med school. Battery seems about the same for my usage. It works perfect with my Gen 1 Magic Keyboard…really scratching my head why Apple claims it doesn’t close as securely…? And of course Apple Pencil 2 which I already had, so at least I saved the cost in accessories this time around. All in all, I’m pumped to have it. I actually put a black dbrand skin on it to match my M1 Air. Nice complement to each other (Have to have macOS for exam proctoring software).
12.9 128gb silver wifi. I tutor and edit so I love the big screen. Haven’t needed wifi. Excited about twice as much storage. And yay that silver is still a choice for something at Apple. Just had a short time to play with it tonight. First impressions: it’s lovely.
…and dude does that processor go fast. Thanks for asking. What’s your new/old toy like?
I’ve had the 12.9 M1 1TB, Magic Keyboard and Pencil since early June 2021.
I’m very happy with the device as a laptop replacement for work, as a great note-taking device and also for gaming/movies. The 1TB should last me well over the next 4-5 years. I’m very happy with the 16GB RAM as my apps and browser tabs rarely refresh. The Mini LED screen is bright and the colours are vivid.
I’m very happy with the device as a laptop replacement for work, as a great note-taking device and also for gaming/movies. The 1TB should last me well over the next 4-5 years. I’m very happy with the 16GB RAM as my apps and browser tabs rarely refresh. The Mini LED screen is bright and the colours are vivid.
BTW, don’t know if this has been posted on the forums in the last 6 months, but this video is spectacular on the 12.9 XDR display.
12.9 128gb silver wifi. I tutor and edit so I love the big screen. Haven’t needed wifi. Excited about twice as much storage. And yay that silver is still a choice for something at Apple. Just had a short time to play with it tonight. First impressions: it’s lovely.
Thanks for asking. What’s your new/old toy like?
I've moved to space gray for most things that I purchase from Apple, when available of course; they are decidedly sleek for my taste. Glad you're enjoying it for the little time you've had it! The processor is fast!
I've been using it every day since I've got it and I've found as of recently that I am using it even more. Since picking up a game controller, I have played hours of Call of Duty Mobile and picked up a couple more games to play. The screen is lovely, but not only that, I've bumped everything up to the highest settings available and this device doesn't even flinch! Not only that, but having played Call of Duty Mobile for a 3-4 hours, I really thought the battery drain would have been much worse, but really it only went down a minimal amount (maybe 15-20% but don't quote me on that).
I do use it for everything though. Thankfully the 2018 Magic Keyboard still works for this device (despite what Apple says) so I didn't need to purchase another keyboard. It's also my main photo editing device and going from the 2018 to the this one it is noticeably much faster. Even 6 months later I still am surprised by its speed!
That is really surprising, because I find the battery life for me is quite good. It is just as good as my 2018 iPad Pro was. I guess it all depends on specific use cases.
I am so glad the Magic Keyboard still works, I held off on buying the new one because I didn't think it would be a problem... lo and behold, it works just fine! I do love the Apple Pencil 2. It's such a useful device and pretty much always stays on the side of my iPad, even when I throw it in my backpack.
I am loving my 12.9 M1 iPad in almost all aspects except for one. I watch a lot of media on this device and I have grown accustomed to having subtitles on so I can follow along a little better and don’t miss much. The blooming is actually quite horrendous. I won’t be returning it or complaining to Apple but watching movies with subtitles really shows off how much the display blooms. If I didn’t have subtitles on, I don’t think I’d ever really notice it.
It doesn't bother me during stuff like that, but for me on higher brightness I get this ugly whitish haze around people's faces in movies
I got a 12.9'' one.
I don't love it nor hate it. 120Hz is nice and the iPad is in fact very smooth. But the mini-LED screen ended up not being as wow as I was expecting. Also the battery life isn't as good as I thought it was going to be.
If knowing what I know now, if I had to buy this or a Mac for a similar price, I would go for a mac.
This being said, I do have an M1 13'' Pro for work, so this iPad ends up being used a lot as a 'second external monitor'.
If I had to buy my own Mac for work (the one I have was company provided), I would prefer to go with a 16'' and use it for all my use cases, rather than having a Macbook Pro 13 and this iPad.
I don't love it nor hate it. 120Hz is nice and the iPad is in fact very smooth. But the mini-LED screen ended up not being as wow as I was expecting. Also the battery life isn't as good as I thought it was going to be.
If knowing what I know now, if I had to buy this or a Mac for a similar price, I would go for a mac.
This being said, I do have an M1 13'' Pro for work, so this iPad ends up being used a lot as a 'second external monitor'.
If I had to buy my own Mac for work (the one I have was company provided), I would prefer to go with a 16'' and use it for all my use cases, rather than having a Macbook Pro 13 and this iPad.