iPad Anyone went from a 12.9 to 10.9 screen?

[MrMister111]

Wife has an old 1st gen 12.9 iPad. Now although it’s a pro she only uses it at home for basic web browsing, playing a few basic games and shopping sites. Nothing in uses for a “pro” no camera use, no apps apart from a few shopping ones etc. She doesn’t use any other computer at home now, just her iPhone.

I’m thinking of getting a Air 4 as Xmas pressy. She’d live the colours and it’ll be a new one with better battery.

The obvious difference is the screen size. I’m wondering if anyone went from a 12.9 to a 10.9? I know there is a difference but wonder if it’s a massive downgrade in size wise.

As say the 12.9 pro is too much for what uses are, I bought the original 12.9 later off eBay so want new and again it was purely as it’s her only device I thought I’d go as large a screen as possible.

 

[1BadManVan]

Wife has an old 1st gen 12.9 iPad. Now although it’s a pro she only uses it at home for basic web browsing, playing a few basic games and shopping sites. Nothing in uses for a “pro” no camera use, no apps apart from a few shopping ones etc. She doesn’t use any other computer at home now, just her iPhone.

I’m thinking of getting a Air 4 as Xmas pressy. She’d live the colours and it’ll be a new one with better battery.

The obvious difference is the screen size. I’m wondering if anyone went from a 12.9 to a 10.9? I know there is a difference but wonder if it’s a massive downgrade in size wise.

As say the 12.9 pro is too much for what uses are, I bought the original 12.9 later off eBay so want new and again it was purely as it’s her only device I thought I’d go as large a screen as possible.

If she enjoys the 12.9 screen, it’s definitely a huge difference to drop down to that 10.9. If she’s complained it’s a bit much then she might be ok.

Really comes down to personal preference. Especially being a first gen 12.9 under the old design, that’s HUGE iPad lol. Even the newer 12.9 iPads feel quite a bit smaller then that gen

 

[ericwn]

It really comes down to user preference. The smaller screen is workable but if you like the screen real estate there’s no replacement but a newer one of the same size. To some two inches extra mean a lot.

 

[1BadManVan]

Just get her the new 12.9 and be husband of the year. Gets the same screen real estate but in a sleeker body that’s easier to hold.

Plus if she’s using it for anything media wise, the speaker downgrade will be pretty noticeable going from 4 to 2

 

[MrMister111]

Honestly if I could get the cheapest iPad could she’d be over the moon as it’s nothing to do with specs, so the pro would be meaningless to her.

Doesn’t watch any media it’s literally a web browsing machine, just loves the convenience of pickup and touch, so a laptop is pointless.

I would get the 12.9 but as say it’s a waste really, I won’t have time I think to go and look in a store to see the difference in “real life” as such.

 

[Chaparral02]

I would get the 12.9 but as say it’s a waste really,

It far from a waste if it makes your wife really happy

 

[1BadManVan]

Honestly if I could get the cheapest iPad could she’d be over the moon as it’s nothing to do with specs, so the pro would be meaningless to her.

Doesn’t watch any media it’s literally a web browsing machine, just loves the convenience of pickup and touch, so a laptop is pointless.

I would get the 12.9 but as say it’s a waste really, I won’t have time I think to go and look in a store to see the difference in “real life” as such.

Well why not get the 9th gen? Why pay more for the air if she doesn’t need it?

Either way, you know your wife better then any strangers on here lol. Unfortunately the 12.9 is a huge difference in screen size. So depends on whether you think she’ll miss it or not.

 

[MrMister111]

Either way, you know your wife better then any strangers on here lol.

Hope so!!

Unfortunately the 12.9 is a huge difference in screen size. So depends on whether you think she’ll miss it or not.

Compared to the Air 10.9 you mean?

Well why not get the 9th gen? Why pay more for the air if she doesn’t need it?

The 9th gen is 10.2” though so another step down in screen size, and no colour option really.

With a discount I can get, standard iPad is £300, and Air £535. I know it’s a lot of difference and the standard iPad is more than enough spec wise, I’m purely thinking of the screen size.

 

[joey0]

I have the iPad Air 4. It is such a perfect dimension size, and perfectly usable with one handed use unlike the pro.

One MAJOR downside is with multitasking, if your wife multitasks often, the screen real estate is cumbersome in split screen.

 

[1BadManVan]

Hope so!!
Compared to the Air 10.9 you mean?

The 9th gen is 10.2” though so another step down in screen size, and no colour option really.

With a discount I can get, standard iPad is £300, and Air £535. I know it’s a lot of difference and the standard iPad is more than enough spec wise, I’m purely thinking of the screen size.

compared to any other standard size iPad the 12.9 is huge. The difference between the air and regular iPad isn’t nearly as noticeable of a difference. I have a 9.7 6th gen, 10.5 Air 3 and an 11 pro. I dont find much difference for the screen size, I appreciate the design difference of the pro though which you would get with the air.

The airs are nice but I feel a bit overpriced compared to the regular iPad seeing as you don’t really gain many features with the air. I used that as an excuse to go to a pro though lol. i also have all my iPads in cases so the colour doesn’t really mean much to me.

I would just go with the Air, seems you have your heart set on it and it’s a happy medium between the pro and the base model. It might take her a bit to adjust to the smaller screen, worse case, you can always exchange it

 

[svendobbelaere]

I have the iPad Air 4. It is such a perfect dimension size, and perfectly usable with one handed use unlike the pro.

One MAJOR downside is with multitasking, if your wife multitasks often, the screen real estate is cumbersome in split screen.

I bolded the above for emphasis, because it needs repeating. Does your wife use splitscreen, e.g. using two browser windows side by side, then on the 12.9 the two windows will be sort of full-sized, whereas on the smaller iPads they'll have the iPhone layout. If she doesn't use this feature then it shouldn't be a big problem I guess.

 

[MrMister111]

I bolded the above for emphasis, because it needs repeating. Does your wife use splitscreen, e.g. using two browser windows side by side, then on the 12.9 the two windows will be sort of full-sized, whereas on the smaller iPads they'll have the iPhone layout. If she doesn't use this feature then it shouldn't be a big problem I guess.

The 1st gen 12.9 is a big old unit definitely, but again it’s only ever used in house.

Wouldn’t have a clue on multi tasking! Literally she uses the absolute basic on it I’m not joking.

Doesn’t do any media, music, video, YT, probably got 3 apps on if that!

It’s just the convenience of it over a laptop, and knows iOS as has an iPhone (which also is so under used for anything!), to take around house and instant on etc.

The standard iPad would be great, over specced for what she’d need, it’s just the screen size as it’s only device she uses.

 

[darkslide29]

If she likes the current screen size of the 12.9, you should just stick to the 12.9. She will appreciate the smaller bezels/outside casing, while still having the same screen size. Going down to a 10.9 will be very noticeable, especially if she likes the size of the screen now.

Personally, I tried both sizes of the iPad Pro. The smaller one works great as a tablet on the couch, but not as comfortable on a table as a laptop replacement. The larger one felt clunky on the couch as a tablet, but was wonderful to use on a table as a laptop replacement. I wish they had a 12” size, right in the middle. I chose the smaller one for myself because I also have a MacBook, and mainly use it as a tablet. However, since this is her only device, going 12.9 makes sense in that regard also.

If by chance she finds the 12.9 to be clunky to hold sometimes, maybe she would want to go down in size. Would save you some money, lol. Take her to the Apple store, and sneakily geek out at the iPad Air asking if she likes the smaller bezels, show off the Touch ID on the side, and ask if she could see using that instead.

 

[sparksd]

Everyone has a personal preference but for me, after owning the Air 2, 10.5, the 2018 and now the 2021 12.9, I'll never buy another "large" iPad smaller than the 12.9 (I also own the 5G Mini 6 as a complementary mobile device).

 

[MisterSavage]

I don't know if this counts, but I returned by 12.9 iPad to get an 11" one with no regrets.

 

[HiVolt]

I bought a 12.9" iPad Pro 2017 for my mom a number of years ago as a refurb from Apple. It's her main day to day computing device. She really doesn't need any of the "Pro" features, certainly not the level of performance as the M1 iPad Pro offers, at a crazy cost.

It's too bad that Apple does not offer a similarly sized iPad without some of the expensive Pro features, for people that just want a bigger display.

I guess If it craps out or is no longer supported, I'll hopefully be able to buy a refurbished 2018 or 2020 12.9 Pro at a reasonable price then.

 

[trhoffmann]

If it were me I would just ask her. Surprises are over-rated.

 

[Bandaman]

Surprises are over-rated.

They are not.

 

[pianostar9]

I came from a first-gen iPad Pro as well, and went up to the iPad Air 4 this year. If you're worried that 11" is too small for light tasks like web browsing, let me assure you that it isn't. (Consider that Apple makes 11" laptops!)

I see where you're going with the only device argument, but holding it up to my 13" MacBook Pro, I think the size of the device to hold should be the major factor in your decision, especially given that we're not talking about multitasking here.

Is your wife holding it like a tablet or like a computer? I think the 11" is the perfect size for the former.

(Disclaimer: It was the 9.7-inch, not the 12.9-inch, iPad Pro. Even the 9.7" was fine for browsing and movies! However, it was quite tough to perform any multitasking on it with little real estate.)

 

[ericwn]

If it were me I would just ask her. Surprises are over-rated.

Same thoughts here. It could all be so simple.

 

[halfapie]

I switched from my 2gen 12.9 to the 3rd gen (new slim style) 11 pro.
I do not miss the 12.9 at all. I still have my old 12.9 but I have never once reached for it for web browsing. I have occasionally used the larger one for watching movies with other people but when I watch netflix for myself the extra size is not necessary.
I find Web browsing is easier on the 11 pro because it is easier to hold and honestly easier to scroll since I don’t have to reach very far. The 12.9 is too big to be swiping across all the time. On the 11 it’s more of a wrist flick movement.

There are virtually ZERO websites that actually use the full width of a 12.9 screen anyway. It’s all white space and ads.

Just FYI, the on-screen keyboard on the 11 does not include separate number rows. So typing on the desk is slightly different but still okay.

 

[George Dawes]

I’d go for the 12.9 if you’re attempting work , for surfing and gaming get the 11

Tbh I end up doing real stuff on my iMac as iOS so frustratingly limited still …

 

[gollum]

12.9" Pro 2020 Refurb is $749 from Apple. Comes w/ new battery, outer shell, new AC. The End.

 

[robertosh]

I would definitely ask her, maybe even the current model it's enough for her needs (which it seems so) and prefers something else. I had the same question regarding the laptop of my wife (MBP 2013), wanted to gift here a M1 iMac and she said that the current laptop was ok for her needs. Maybe is just a side-effect of being "techy", that we want to buy new stuff even if it is not for us. I'm not saying that she won't enjoy the new toy, probably she will, but maybe there is something else that she would prefer (specially moving that range of prices).

Good luck!

 

[perezr10]

Ooh! I wouldn’t go down in size. If she’s already used to the ginormous gen 1 iPad Pro, she’ll be delighted with the new smaller lighter 12.9 form factor.