iPad Pro Anyone else feel like the 11” is a ‘tweener’?

[rui no onna]

Exactly what I’m saying. I prefer not to make sacrifices and have the best experience at both extremes. There is literally nothing that the 11 can do that can’t be done better on either the 12.9 or the Mini.

If you can have only one iPad, make it 11. But if you can have more than one, then 12.9 + Mini is the best of all worlds.

For you, sure. However, your experience and preferences aren’t the same as everyone else’s.

I actually do own multiple iPads including an iPad mini 4. My current active rotation is: 2021 12.9, 2020 Air 4 & 2017 Pro 10.5.

For me, the mini is a compromise. Not light enough and the tiny bezels aren’t particularly ergonomic for me for holding one-handed portrait while the display is too small for comfort for web browsing. When the mini 5 was released, I didn’t bother buying that one because I simply don’t have a use for it. And this is speaking as someone who keeps two nearly identical iPads in the 10-11” size class so I can alternate when one is charging.

For reading, I much prefer the sub-200g Kindle Paperwhite/Oasis or Kobo Libra H2O. For everything else, I’d rather have the 10-11” or 13” iPads.

 

[pdoherty]

People who are preferring a laptop to an iPad because it’s more capable miss the fact that there are LOTS more apps for the iPad than for Mac OS.

 

[boss.king]

Exactly what I’m saying. I prefer not to make sacrifices and have the best experience at both extremes. There is literally nothing that the 11 can do that can’t be done better on either the 12.9 or the Mini.

If you can have only one iPad, make it 11. But if you can have more than one, then 12.9 + Mini is the best of all worlds.

Not having to have multiple iPads is in itself a massive benefit.

 

[MrEcted]

People who are preferring a laptop to an iPad because it’s more capable miss the fact that there are LOTS more apps for the iPad than for Mac OS.

Let me know when I can develop real actual software on an iPad without huge limitations or crazy workarounds, with full compatibility and modern tooling.

Quantity doesn’t always equal quality. There could be a million fart apps on the app store but that doesn’t make it any more useful.

 

[LibbyLA]

People who are preferring a laptop to an iPad because it’s more capable miss the fact that there are LOTS more apps for the iPad than for Mac OS.

Number of apps doesn’t matter because the vast majority of them aren’t ones you’ll use. Different people use different sets of apps and different numbers of apps but what’s important is which platform has the apps/programs you need.

 

[LibbyLA]

Not having to have multiple iPads is in itself a massive benefit.

Some of us like having multiples and use them at the same time. When I’m grading papers, I use three.

 

[boss.king]

Some of us like having multiples and use them at the same time. When I’m grading papers, I use three.

It sounds like you might need a more capable device.

 

[rui no onna]

It sounds like you might need a more capable device.

I've had to markup two PDFs at the same time. I found using two iPads with the same Logitech Crayon is nicer/easier than doing it on a computer with multi-monitors and mouse.

 

[leifp]

Just to throw something in here that’s simply my use case and likely no more than a handful more people on planet earth…

To start, a caveat: I’m waiting on WWDC to hear whether Apple is finally moving iPadOS capabilities more in line with what an M1 iPad should be capable of.

Gigantic IF: I would like to use an iPad as my portable computer when I travel, which I do a lot (okay, did a lot… but that will be the case again). At home I’m a desktop guy, with no caveats. I dislike laptops and always have. For me, they are the tweener device. But I digress. So here’s my ideal situation…

32” iMac at home (I’m actually finding my 27” too cramped but dislike multiple display setups - I’ve tried, several times) and the 11” on the road. in locations where I spend a lot of time, I would buy a monitor turning the tiny 11” into a 32” behemoth.

Flame away!

 

[Jamacfer]

I own both and prefer the 11“ since the 12,9” is the real “tweener” beeing not a real laptop and not a real tablet…

 

[Devin Breeding]

For my use, my 11” Air replaces my computer basically 100% and all things computing can be done on my phone or tablet. My wife, needing a bit more capable machine for work uses a full desktop with dual 22” monitors and the larger iPad pro for creating content. Point is, it is dependent on the user. I do wish iPad OS was more MacOs like than iPhone however.

 

[haruhiko]

I’ve been using the 10 inch / 11 inch iPads for many years despite having used a first gen 12.9 inch for about a year. I love the 11-inch size and how it’s portable, but with the 2018 redesign now the 12.9 inch is smaller than the first 2 generations and much more portable now. With the new screen I switched to 12.9 inch again in this generation.

 

[haruhiko]

For you, sure. However, your experience and preferences aren’t the same as everyone else’s.

I actually do own multiple iPads including an iPad mini 4. My current active rotation is: 2021 12.9, 2020 Air 4 & 2017 Pro 10.5.

For me, the mini is a compromise. Not light enough and the tiny bezels aren’t particularly ergonomic for me for holding one-handed portrait while the display is too small for comfort for web browsing. When the mini 5 was released, I didn’t bother buying that one because I simply don’t have a use for it. And this is speaking as someone who keeps two nearly identical iPads in the 10-11” size class so I can alternate when one is charging.

For reading, I much prefer the sub-200g Kindle Paperwhite/Oasis or Kobo Libra H2O. For everything else, I’d rather have the 10-11” or 13” iPads.

I bought the 2019 mini for carrying in a small messenger bag when I went to short trips.
But due to COVID, trips are no longer possible so the mini has been sitting on a shelf for a while. I repurposed it to be an Apple TV remote but now the new remote is out the only remaining use is gone.
I don’t know what to do about it and want to sell it.

 

[TheColtr]

I love the 11” iPad Pro. I got the original 12.9 because it was the only pro at the time. Once the 10.5 i switched to that, and then to the 11 inch. But Im also the person who liked the 11 inch MacBook Air and 12 inch MacBook. I love ultra portable computers.

 

[xxBlack]

I ordered the 11" but still curious if a 12.9 is better. I'm not watching a lot on my ipad. Maybe just gameplay youtube videos but honestly 98% on my TV. Movies just in vaccations but not as much. Using the iPad for browsing , watching youtube videos (not much), reading books , reading news, trying Affinity Designer and maybe Pixelmator Pro (but have the mac app too)

 

[The Game 161]

Very tempted to keep both the 11 inch and 12.9 hmmm

 

[MacModMachine]

having both in hand 512g models , ill be keeping the 12.9. much better battery life , stays cooler under load , size is not much different than the 11.

 

[slplss]

12.9 on the desk with the desktop computer. Its a fantastic desktop companion device, but I cannot stand it for more than 5 minutes off the desk [bed, sofa etc]

11 in the bag with the laptop. Ultimate work from anywhere set up [laptop will be a 14"M MBP once released most likely but depends on the GPU's]

both do what they need to do and I dont see it is as one or the other. Expensive though..............

Dude, I keep hearing this all the time. In bed, on lap, get one of these https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ipad+pillow . With Logi Combo touch, it's pretty comfortable on lap, because you can make the pillow hold the screen with keyboard laid in front of you. Very stable.
For bed, the pillow is indispensable as the last thing you want is the 12.9 iPP to headbang you. Very comfortable too, you can easily fall asleep with it.