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I agree gen 1 12.9 was a poor seller (especially after the 9.7 pro came out)

It's always difficult to ask people to spend that much money for a 32GB tablet without any other means of offline storage (since the 256GB version sold out) or ask them to travel all around the globe to find the top of the line.
 
The iPad mini has not been updated, which could be due to its small size. I had a mini for very short time years ago, because it was not good at anything.

I think the 10.5" balance things wrong. It is slightly heavier than the 9.7" and Air 2 without bringing something useful. I find the 12.9" is easier to hold and handle.

Im the exact opposite. I love the mini, and wished Apple would release a mini pro. The iphone 7 plus may have a big screen, but it's still not the best websurfing device. But the mini just hit that sweet spot of portability and with a screen big enough to surf the web comfortably. If Apple released a mini pro, i'd get that for when i travel and a 12.9" ipad pro for content creation and media consumption at home.

But since that ain't happening anytime soon if ever, i will go for the 10.5" ipad pro. It strikes that perfect balance between portability and viewability. I compared both the 10.5" and 12.9" at the Apple Store, and for me the 10.5" was so much easier to hold in one hand. I could hold it in two hands and type comfortably on the virtual keypad. I couldnt do that with the 12.9". And i am 6'4" tall with Big hands! It's just too large for hand held use. It's really a table top device. And thats great. I love the extra screen space, and can see the allure.

It is tempting...But i'm leaning towards the 10.5" since i travel alot, and like to sketch with the ipad pro while standing and holding it in one hand.
 
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I have the 1st gen 12.9 and also had the 9.7" Pro. I originally ordered the 2nd gen 12.9 to replace my 1st gen, but was made to feel guilty about it by my husband. He couldn't understand why I wanted to upgrade the big one when he sees the smaller one as the ideal size. Yes, I could have stuck to my decision, but I ended up cancelling that order and ordered the 10.5 instead. I love the 10.5 and the 9.7 now seems small with huge borders. My husband got my 9.7 Pro and I still have both sizes. I love them both. The portability of the 10.5 is awesome, but I love the size of the 12.9 screen. I now feel somewhat like the OP was feeling, some buyers remorse over getting the 10.5, but perhaps it's a case of grass is always greener on the other side. I'm not sure. I would have liked to have purchased the 12.9 with 512GB, I could do with the extra storage, and would have loved the true tone display on it. Anyway, I do love the 10.5 and find it best for portability and also reading in bed. But when I'm otherwise at home (table, desk or couch) or at work then I prefer the 12.9 most of the time. I shouldn't complain, I have both. What I plan on doing is to just keep on using the set up that I currently have and making the 12.9 my upgrade when gen 3 is released. By then, I'll be so excited for it and will feel that the wait was worth while. Until then, the wait feels hard and I keep reading about everyone loving their gen 2 12.9's and I wish that it was me too. It's a first world issue and I'm lucky enough to have the two iPads that I have though.
 
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, I do love the 10.5 and find it best for portability and also reading in bed. But when I'm otherwise at home (table, desk or couch) or at work then I prefer the 12.9 most of the time.
My usage is traveling/commuting, and also mostly holding it. The iPad rarely sits on my desk while being used, so with that in mind the smaller iPad is looking to be a better fit. If perhaps the iPad was to replace my desktop computer, I'd be leaning more towards the 12.9 then the 10.5, but the iPad is complementing my computing needs, not replacing it :)
 
My usage is traveling/commuting, and also mostly holding it. The iPad rarely sits on my desk while being used, so with that in mind the smaller iPad is looking to be a better fit. If perhaps the iPad was to replace my desktop computer, I'd be leaning more towards the 12.9 then the 10.5, but the iPad is complementing my computing needs, not replacing it :)
Yeah, a smaller iPad is better in that regard. That's why I'm keeping my 9.7. The 12.9 just supplements it for use when I'm mostly stationary.
 
Im the exact opposite. I love the mini, and wished Apple would release a mini pro. The iphone 7 plus may have a big screen, but it's still not the best websurfing device. But the mini just hit that sweet spot of portability and with a screen big enough to surf the web comfortably.

Just goes to show that to each his own. I had the iPad 2 and used it a ton. Then when the iPad mini 2 came out I jumped on it because I thought it would be much better for portability/reading/laying in bed. I used it for a bit, but then started to shy away from it right around the time I got my 6 Plus (likely a causal relationship there, but it wasn't a conscious one). I just found that the mini was too small/cramped for anything significant and too unwieldy for small quick tasks, especially when I always had my 6 plus on me anyway. It was around this time that the iPad market was dying and I figured that iPads just weren't for me (and apparently weren't for many people) being squeezed on both sides by smartphones and ultrabooks.

However, whenever I used my old iPad 2 (that I gave to my mom), I realized I appreciated that size much more. So with lots of traveling scheduled, I decided to jump on a refurbished 9.7 pro several months back for like $380. Combined with the ASK I find it nearly the perfect device/size. I use it all the time now. It's a great compromise between screen size and portability.
 
So I bought the 12.9 2nd gen and sold my 9.7 pro. I use a lot around the house. Extremely happy! For me I really like for productivity. I do travel but have a backpack for laptop so adding this size iPad isn't an issue. It is more cumbersome laying in bed but I will adjust.

Now to find the right case solution...
 
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I have the 1st gen 12.9 and also had the 9.7" Pro. I originally ordered the 2nd gen 12.9 to replace my 1st gen, but was made to feel guilty about it by my husband. He couldn't understand why I wanted to upgrade the big one when he sees the smaller one as the ideal size. Yes, I could have stuck to my decision, but I ended up cancelling that order and ordered the 10.5 instead. I love the 10.5 and the 9.7 now seems small with huge borders. My husband got my 9.7 Pro and I still have both sizes. I love them both. The portability of the 10.5 is awesome, but I love the size of the 12.9 screen. I now feel somewhat like the OP was feeling, some buyers remorse over getting the 10.5, but perhaps it's a case of grass is always greener on the other side. I'm not sure. I would have liked to have purchased the 12.9 with 512GB, I could do with the extra storage, and would have loved the true tone display on it. Anyway, I do love the 10.5 and find it best for portability and also reading in bed. But when I'm otherwise at home (table, desk or couch) or at work then I prefer the 12.9 most of the time. I shouldn't complain, I have both. What I plan on doing is to just keep on using the set up that I currently have and making the 12.9 my upgrade when gen 3 is released. By then, I'll be so excited for it and will feel that the wait was worth while. Until then, the wait feels hard and I keep reading about everyone loving their gen 2 12.9's and I wish that it was me too. It's a first world issue and I'm lucky enough to have the two iPads that I have though.

It's interesting reading how the various iPads are perceived and used by owners. I appreciate your sharing your observations.

I presently have an iPad Air that I'm replacing, and I'm trying out a 9.7 Pro that I bought at Best Buy's one-day clear out sale last Saturday. I really like the Pro 9.7 and may keep it. I love a great value.

I also have an Best Buy open-box 10.5 Pro that USPS is taking its time about delivering. I'll set it up like the Pro 9.7 and compare "Apple to Apple." Either the 9.7 to the 10.5 will be returned. I am a little skittish about the open-box 10.5, though. It was described as "excellent" and "like new," but so was a 10.5 ASK that has already arrived. I took one look at the ASK and put it back in its box. It's going back to Best Buy. It's got cat or dog hair all over it. Unbelievable.

Last, I had the opportunity to replace my 2012 rMBP with a new MBP but have about decided instead to continue with the older laptop (it runs just fine) and get a 2nd gen 256GB 12.9 Pro instead. Having a smaller iPad Pro (9.7 or 10.5) and the larger 12.9, as well as my MBP, should cover all the bases. I'm especially anticipating the 12.9 Pro for sheet music and other PDFs.
 
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Great post! Love reading these stories while I'm still trying to figure out what size I'm going to buy. Honestly, Apple made a big mistake by not offering "try-out" iPads running iOS 11 beta to tech stores. It's not fun playing with iPads running iOS 10 on them.
Well I have had a 12.9 inch iPad Pro since the launch all those years ago.
When the 10.5 came out I thought. "..more power, great screen, I still can get a full size keyboard.." so I got one.
Strangely, after a few weeks, I realised that I just keep using the 12.9
The 10.5 is great but somehow the 12.9 feels more productive. Only issue is that the screen always feels washed out compare to the 10.5 inch one.
If the price jump wasn't what it is, I probably should have bought the new gen 12.9 instead.
 
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