iPad Pro iPad Pro 11 vs 12.9 (for those who are not sure which to get)

[James Godfrey]

Hi all

Thought I would post here to help others deciding between the 11” and 12.9” iPad Pro.

As a few on here are aware I was stuck between 11” and 12.9” iPP and went back and too between both before deciding to take the plunge on the 12.9.

Firstly my use case for the iPP was to replace my 13” MacBook Pro and my iPad Air 3rd Gen into one single device, I intended from the start on getting the Magic Keyboard to use with my iPP.

Initially I was immediately drawn to the 12.9 and really thought it was for me immediately, however, after consideration of the portability factor something was still drawing me towards the 11.

I searched high and low online for pros and cons for both, and even now I have the 12.9 and I do really love it there is still part of me wishing I got the 11.

So what makes me wish I got the 11, only one single thing PORTABILITY!

There is just something about the 12.9 which makes it really clunky to take off the magic keyboard and use as an iPad and in general the 12.9 is designed to be used primarily with the Magic Keyboard 100% with the odd use as a handheld iPad when required.

With saying that, the screen size of the 12.9 is fantastic, and is well worth it for that laptop type experience and the sound out of the 12.9 is also awesome!

BUT for anyone looking to buy the iPad Pro to replace both an iPad and MacBook into one single device... please think long and hard about how much you use both devices day to day.

If you use your iPad a lot more than your MacBook/Laptop 100% go with the iPP 11, if you use your MacBook/Laptop a lot more than your iPad 100% go with the iPP 12.9.

If you use both devices evenly, I would probably favour the 12.9, but you will definitely will miss the portability factor, so if that’s a big deal to you go with the 11.

The lack of portability may be something I will get used to over time (only time will tell), but at this point I do feel that the 12.9 is just marginally too big and I think if Apple came out with a 12 inch size in the future that would be an ideal size for me.

Hope this helps anyone in the market for the iPP at the moment in the same situation I was in.

 

[Moakesy]

Agreed. 10% of me wishes for the 11”, but the 12.9 is better suited for all other times. I can’t see me ever going back to a smaller screen.

I don’t have the magic keyboard yet, just the standard case/keyboard. All the reviews I’ve seen have it being used at a desk, which I just don’t do. How would you say the magic keyboard is for sofa use (and sitting in bed)?

 

[sparksd]

I feel differently about it. I went from the 10.5 Pro to the 2018 12.9 Pro and have never felt it was not portable. I am even comfortable with it reading in bed, hand-held. I still have the 10.5 but never reach for it over the 12.9 for any use. Portability is very subjective, with no universal answer.

 

[James Godfrey]

Agreed. 10% of me wishes for the 11”, but the 12.9 is better suited for all other times. I can’t see me ever going back to a smaller screen.

I don’t have the magic keyboard yet, just the standard case/keyboard. All the reviews I’ve seen have it being used at a desk, which I just don’t do. How would you say the magic keyboard is for sofa use (and sitting in bed)?

Personally I do think you need to use it at a desk, table or coffee table... perhaps it would be fine to use on the sofa with some sort of sofa tray maybe or a foldable table... personally I can’t see me using it on a sofa or in bed.

But that’s what is great about the keyboard case is it’s really easy to take it off and use as an iPad, I just feel the 12.9 is a little clunky when removing it from the keyboard case.

I think I recall a reviewer saying that the keyboard case is fantastic as a charging dock for the iPad, with the added keyboard as a benefit, having it open and ready to go on your desk plugged in when your iPad either needs charging or you need to do some serious typing

 

[darngooddesign]

This advice applies to all manner of "Which should I buy" questions.

Apple has a very generous, 15-day no questions asked, return policy. Put both on a card, try them out for a week or so, and keep the one you like the most. If you cant do that, buy one and try it for a week, then return it and try the second; if you get what you suspect is the correct one second then it will already be in your hands should your intuition prove correct.

 

[sparksd]

This advice applies to all manner of "Which should I buy" questions.

Apple has a very generous, 15-day no questions asked, return policy. Put both on a card, try them out for a week or so, and keep the one you like the most. If you cant do that, buy one and try it for a week, then return it and try the second; if you get what you suspect is the correct one second then it will already be in your hands should your intuition prove correct.

I strongly agree with this as so many of the decision points are subjective. Good for me may be bad for you and vice versa.

 

[muzzy996]

I strongly agree with this as so many of the decision points are subjective. Good for me may be bad for you and vice versa.

Yup. Both camps are full of people when it comes to which form factor is best which is why the variants exist in the first place. Appreciate OP sharing their experience even if it doesn’t apply to me.

 

[sparksd]

Yup. Both camps are full of people when it comes to which form factor is best which is why the variants exist in the first place. Appreciate OP sharing their experience even if it doesn’t apply to me.

Agree with OP sharing. Threads like this may not tell you what to buy but can help you think about different aspects of a product that may not initially come to mind, that "Oh yeah, hadn't thought about that" effect.

 

[AutomaticApple]

This advice applies to all manner of "Which should I buy" questions.

Apple has a very generous, 15-day no questions asked, return policy. Put both on a card, try them out for a week or so, and keep the one you like the most. If you cant do that, buy one and try it for a week, then return it and try the second; if you get what you suspect is the correct one second then it will already be in your hands should your intuition prove correct.

Yes, exactly! Just chose one and return it if you don't like it.

 

[doboy]

I currently have 10.5", 11" (2020 to replace 10.5") and 12.9 Pro gen 1. I really like the new 11" size, but nothing beats 12.9" when working from a desk. I plan to upgrade my 12.9" when the 2021 comes out.

 

[iex]

Hello!

I join this topic because I feel that it fit to my situation right now.
For 2 months ago I have started to think to by an ipad, my first tablet.
I read a lot here and there, watch all the reviews 11" vs 12, went each weeks to a shops to try and think all the time about which size could be the right for me.

I agree with you: portability and size are very subjective therefore is not possible to tell someone what the best is for him or her.
The way to go is to use the 2 weeks and try in your well known environment and check if it fit our needs.
- Nothing replace experimentation -
Each device have pros and cons and only you can sort them by priority / importance and maybe to find the right solution for you.

In my case, I never own a tablet, therefore I don't know really now the use cases, I just can imagine...
At home I have a desktop with 2 big displayed (I am developer) and don't have a laptop (maybe I get one later).

My first thought was I would like to have a tablet to write it down my ideas, my notes, drawing on the go then I got more idea about what I can do with it. Therefore it was natural to start to look at the 11". Then I thought I can do a lot of creative stuff... and I have started to check the bigger ipad. It's very comfortable to do stuff on it. The only downside for myself is that as I was at the store to try it I feel that it was too big. I need my two hands and after a while I need to put it on a desk. To use the bigger iPad in Portrait mode doesn't seems to be an option to me if I'm not seating. With the magic keyboard I feel too heavy for me and I don't plan to use a keyboard. The first thought was I want to use the Apple-Pencil most of the time. If keyboard then only to write occasionally an E-Mail.

I know I can't have everything (I agree that maybe the perfect size could be 12"), I have to compromise that's very difficult. So I took a "step back" and think about how is my workflow now and what I really need... I love to take pictures, to move and would like to have my tablet all the time with me and I don't want to think 2 times if I can take my tablet with me or not (regarding the weight)
I like sketching, I'm not an artist. I like to paint also. Maybe I plan to edit some photos too (I never did with my desktop computer). On the bigger one is clear, the space is really good but for me I don't know why (maybe a trauma from school...) sometimes when I see a big white page, I feel uncomfortable. I have the feeling that I must produce something and I will not success to do it.
Another point : I use most of the time "small" notice book and not in the size of an a4.

So I'm going to buy and try the 11" and if I feel the 11" too small I will give a chance to the bigger one.

 

[Mikeeee]

This advice applies to all manner of "Which should I buy" questions.

Apple has a very generous, 15-day no questions asked, return policy. Put both on a card, try them out for a week or so, and keep the one you like the most. If you cant do that, buy one and try it for a week, then return it and try the second; if you get what you suspect is the correct one second then it will already be in your hands should your intuition prove correct.

I’m doing this right now. I have both 12.9 and 11. I originally got the 12.9 ten days ago and decided I better try the 11” before fully committing to the 12.9. So I picked up the 11 yesterday.

My use case is plenty of media consumption, web browsing, Twitter, email, messaging and a variety of apps. Mostly at home on desk with daily bedtime usage. My other device is a recently purchased iMac 27.

My findings:

Sound - 12.9 is louder and seems to have a fuller sound

Video - the larger videos on the 12.9 make for a far superior video watching experience.

Apps and reading - again larger screen makes for a superior experience on the 12.9

multitasking - same as above 12.9

Portability - this is the only category 11 beats 12.9. In my case it’s mostly a small fraction of my usage. 30 minutes or so in bed at night. The 12.9 is not a disaster though. Just bulkier.

So I tried the 11 inch for 1 day. Returning it this afternoon and the 12.9 will will remain the undefeated champion. ?

 

[satchmo]

I would almost always use my iPad with a keyboard like a laptop. So the larger iPad seems like the better choice.

However, how do people find it when in use carrying the 12.9 from room to room with case attached?

I may not even go for the magic keyboard but rather the Logitech one which is even heavier and bulkier.

 

[Cosmo M3]

I’ve had both 11” and 12.9” (both with Magic Keyboard) and while I agree with everyone that said that portability is subjective, I feel that the needle moves more towards the 12.9” (regardless of your reasons) once you have a Magic Keyboard - MacBook as your primary device be damned.

 

[muzzy996]

I would almost always use my iPad with a keyboard like a laptop. So the larger iPad seems like the better choice.

However, how do people find it when in use carrying the 12.9 from room to room with case attached?

I may not even go for the magic keyboard but rather the Logitech one which is even heavier and bulkier.

I’m using a gen 2 12.9 so I believe it’s less bulky with the Smart Keyboard than the newer generations with the folio designs and easier to remove the keyboard as well (heck it practically falls off lol). All of that said I don’t find carrying it around too cumbersome especially around the house or office. Only times that I wish for smaller is when contemplating having an iPad with me when going to a social event in case I want to refer to something or show something to others.

I own laptops so using an iPad as one isn’t for me but I get the appreciation for the capability.

 

[KittyKatta]

Agreed. 10% of me wishes for the 11”, but the 12.9 is better suited for all other times. I can’t see me ever going back to a smaller screen.

Its funny because I’m the opposite. 10% of the time I like my 12.9 but 90% of the time I wish I had the 11.

As useful as a 12.9 screen can be, whenever I “borrow” a family members 9.7Pro or 11 then they‘re just so comfortable. Those sizes just feel like “iPads”.

 

[slooksterPSV]

If XCode and VSCode were available on iPadOS sure. I would go for the 11 but alas they’re not nor probably will ever be due to apples app guidelines.

 

[Moakesy]

Its funny because I’m the opposite. 10% of the time I like my 12.9 but 90% of the time I wish I had the 11.

As useful as a 12.9 screen can be, whenever I “borrow” a family members 9.7Pro or 11 then they‘re just so comfortable. Those sizes just feel like “iPads”.

Funny, and just goes to show how subjective this all is.

If I still commuted by train every day, I think my 10% would increase, but now I’m home based the smaller form factor of the 11” would give me a poorer experience.

 

[ayuchan]

My first product is iPad Air 2, then I upgraded to iPad Mini 5, then changed to iPad Pro 11" 2020. To me, the Pro-Motion is the main factor that attracts me.

 

[mailman199]

I tried both too at the same time. I think the 11" is the better tablet only device and the 12.9" is the better laptop/landscape device. To me the 11" is more specialize and will please a smaller group of people (not please them less, just a smaller group). I kept the 12.9". I would also note that it does not yet replace a laptop; creation workflow is still not there.

 

[George Dawes]

You can always vote on my poll if you like

11 or 12.9 Pro ?

I can't decide which one to get - can you help me make up my mind ? Thx :)

forums.macrumors.com

I went with the 12.9 but from what I’ve read the 11 is a lot more portable round the house etc

 

[MisterSavage]

You can always vote on my poll if you like

11 or 12.9 Pro ?

I can't decide which one to get - can you help me make up my mind ? Thx :)

forums.macrumors.com

I went with the 12.9 but from what I’ve read the 11 is a lot more portable round the house etc

Best poll ever. 18,000+ votes and it's pretty much split down the middle. It really depends on the person. I have zero regrets exchanging my 12.9 for an 11 but there's people that did the opposite!

 

[sparksd]

You can always vote on my poll if you like

11 or 12.9 Pro ?

I can't decide which one to get - can you help me make up my mind ? Thx :)

forums.macrumors.com

I went with the 12.9 but from what I’ve read the 11 is a lot more portable round the house etc

Depends on who you ask. Totally subjective. I have no issues with the 12.9 anywhere.

 

[retta283]

I think the 12.9" is portable enough. The tradeoff for extra screen space is totally worth it. If you can afford it, go with the larger size.

 

[KittyKatta]

Funny, and just goes to show how subjective this all is.

If I still commuted by train every day, I think my 10% would increase, but now I’m home based the smaller form factor of the 11” would give me a poorer experience.

iPads have been my primary machine for years and my 12.9 became such a portable and powerful tool for both work and entertainment. But being at home then a big iPad screen lost its benefits. For Movies/TV then I have a big TV. And for work then I have an MBP with “real” full featured software.

I still prefer using the iPad over any other device but, for me at home, that big screen feels excessive and awkward and now I kinda want to get an Air or Mini.