You are a student and will have debt and be living on a budget. Get the the smaller less expensive device. Saving money is not a crime.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Pro 10.5 or 12.9?
- Thread starter Starcrowl
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I've been in the same dilemma as you for the entire summer and made 100+ Posts asking people for advice.
Last Monday I decided to order the 12.9, and I feel at peace with my decision! Coming from the original Air, I thought to myself "Stop worrying about the "if's". You deserve the best!" Another member gave me great advice telling me that life is short and not deprive yourself of what you want. If it's too big then it's only ONE issue. If it's too small it's MANY issues such as lack of screen, cramped keyboard both on-screen and ASK, limited multitasking. I also notice that my eyes are hurting from having a smaller screen and I tend to squint and pull it close to my face. Not because text/pictures looks smaller, but psychologically I feel claustrophobic when having a smaller device further away from me. By holding it closer I'm tricking myself into thinking the screen is larger and my eyes can easier move around (but that's unhealthy for my eyes). By getting a bigger screen I hopefully won't have to put it close to my eyes and can keep a good distance without feeling like the screen is too small.
Now, the iPhone plus is another story. I used to have a plus and downgraded, but that's because it couldn't fit in my pocket. An iPad is not meant for the pocket, but backpack which has room Regardless the size - It IS portable. I think some people are using portability as an excuse because they are uncomfortable with the attention you'll get from strangers. Be proud of your badass iPad
Last Monday I decided to order the 12.9, and I feel at peace with my decision! Coming from the original Air, I thought to myself "Stop worrying about the "if's". You deserve the best!" Another member gave me great advice telling me that life is short and not deprive yourself of what you want. If it's too big then it's only ONE issue. If it's too small it's MANY issues such as lack of screen, cramped keyboard both on-screen and ASK, limited multitasking. I also notice that my eyes are hurting from having a smaller screen and I tend to squint and pull it close to my face. Not because text/pictures looks smaller, but psychologically I feel claustrophobic when having a smaller device further away from me. By holding it closer I'm tricking myself into thinking the screen is larger and my eyes can easier move around (but that's unhealthy for my eyes). By getting a bigger screen I hopefully won't have to put it close to my eyes and can keep a good distance without feeling like the screen is too small.
Now, the iPhone plus is another story. I used to have a plus and downgraded, but that's because it couldn't fit in my pocket. An iPad is not meant for the pocket, but backpack which has room Regardless the size - It IS portable. I think some people are using portability as an excuse because they are uncomfortable with the attention you'll get from strangers. Be proud of your badass iPad
Last edited:
I’ve used both side-by-side and I’m partial to the 10.5.
The 12.9 is great but unwieldy. Half a pound doesn’t seem like a big difference but the weight is noticible when using for an extended period of time. I do a lot of reading on my iPad and I’ve noticed I have been using all sorts of weird positions to brace the iPad when I’m using the large one for an extended period of time.
Larger screen is nicer for multitasking I suppose but I’ve had no issues running the browser while writing papers on pages and listening to music. Using the UI for various apps hasn’t really been an issue on the smaller iPad either. The device is smart enough to know what I’m trying to press.
The 12.9 is great but unwieldy. Half a pound doesn’t seem like a big difference but the weight is noticible when using for an extended period of time. I do a lot of reading on my iPad and I’ve noticed I have been using all sorts of weird positions to brace the iPad when I’m using the large one for an extended period of time.
Larger screen is nicer for multitasking I suppose but I’ve had no issues running the browser while writing papers on pages and listening to music. Using the UI for various apps hasn’t really been an issue on the smaller iPad either. The device is smart enough to know what I’m trying to press.
I recently bought an iPP 12.9 and also just registered here so I could share my experience. I agonised for a month over this issue, watched as many videos on YT as I could find and read dozens of reviews and articles. But first more about my setup: I have an iMac, MBpro, iPhone X, Apple Watch and needed an iPad to complete the lineup. Since I already have a laptop, I thought for portability reasons, I was leaning more towards purchasing the 10.5 iPad, especially since I could get the iPad and ASK for the price of the larger model.
Once in Apple shop, I played with both models for almost an hour, comparing them side by side, opening same applications on both, trying to make a final decision. BTW, I really disliked both ASKs - luckily, I should say, since in my view, iPad as a mobile device, should primarily be used with your hands (being a pro mdel or not). Once the ASK was out of the picture, it was easier to make a decision. The bigger really is better - it just felt right to have that large screen, use it with both hands, enjoy split screen apps and yes - that gorgeous onscreen keyboard, which I just used to write this piece. Using it is just so immersive and hands on that although typing this on my laptop would have probably been much easier, there is just that element of pure fun when I have the iPad propped up in my lap while laying on the sofa, typing away. Also, there is no heft to this model; it is still way easier to carry around than my MBP.
I bought the white model in the end (yet another issue I pondered forever), although all my previous Apple purchases ended up being space gray. White just looked better to me this time, blending in with the white background of gorgeously looking websites on this large screen. I thought the white bezels might bother me for when watching videos, but it ended up being a non issue, once the lights were off - again maybe because this screen is so much larger than on other iPads, that you eyes are really focused on the content and the bezels sort of disappear.
I guess by now you realised that I am very happy with my choice and have no regrets. Choosing the smaller model, I am sure now, would’ve been a mistake in my case. Yes, I also bought the pencil and leather Smart Cover. I recently started taking German lessons, so having the textbook open in PDF on one side (to highlight text and fill in blanks) and Notability on the other to write down lesson notes even now puts a smile on my face
Once in Apple shop, I played with both models for almost an hour, comparing them side by side, opening same applications on both, trying to make a final decision. BTW, I really disliked both ASKs - luckily, I should say, since in my view, iPad as a mobile device, should primarily be used with your hands (being a pro mdel or not). Once the ASK was out of the picture, it was easier to make a decision. The bigger really is better - it just felt right to have that large screen, use it with both hands, enjoy split screen apps and yes - that gorgeous onscreen keyboard, which I just used to write this piece. Using it is just so immersive and hands on that although typing this on my laptop would have probably been much easier, there is just that element of pure fun when I have the iPad propped up in my lap while laying on the sofa, typing away. Also, there is no heft to this model; it is still way easier to carry around than my MBP.
I bought the white model in the end (yet another issue I pondered forever), although all my previous Apple purchases ended up being space gray. White just looked better to me this time, blending in with the white background of gorgeously looking websites on this large screen. I thought the white bezels might bother me for when watching videos, but it ended up being a non issue, once the lights were off - again maybe because this screen is so much larger than on other iPads, that you eyes are really focused on the content and the bezels sort of disappear.
I guess by now you realised that I am very happy with my choice and have no regrets. Choosing the smaller model, I am sure now, would’ve been a mistake in my case. Yes, I also bought the pencil and leather Smart Cover. I recently started taking German lessons, so having the textbook open in PDF on one side (to highlight text and fill in blanks) and Notability on the other to write down lesson notes even now puts a smile on my face
Girl, you may be wrong on that. Let me explain the Size of iPads:
1. iPad Mini 1-4 is 6.32 x 4.79 = 30.27 SQUARE INCH = iPhone XS Max and iPhone 8 Plus Combined. (Still iPad Mini has slightly square inch left big enough to fit another apple watch! Thats 3 device inside iPad Mini (See even the smallest iPad still has more room left to fit another device what more the bigger iPads..
2. iPad 9.7" is 7.76 inch x 5.82" = 45.16 Sqi = About TWO 7 inch Nexus tablet (20.70 Square inch) can fit, and an iPhone SE (5.5 sqi)
3. iPad Pro 10.5" = 8.4 x 6.30 = 52.92 = About Two 7 inch Nexus tablet can fit inside Plus a regular iPhone 8, and about four apple watch can fit inside to fill the entire screen... Wait theres more: Not just iPad Pro 10.5" can fit two iPhone, but a small tablet 7 inch! and can fit another small phone like SE.
4. iPad Pro 11" = 9.02 x 6.30 = 56.83 = About 3 iPhone 6.5" XS Max and another iPhone SE can fit inside.
5. iPad Pro 12.9" = 10.32 x 7.74 = 79.87 sqi = Hmm the iPad 9.7" has a 45.16 square inch, i don't think another 45" can fit inside. Maybe you mean iPad Mini and iPad 9.7 which can fill completely the iPad Pro 12.9" (but iPad Mini is a small iPad not a regular iPad which is also discontinued Girl..