If the 2021 11” iPad PRO had the mini LED XDR screen I’d be on board without too much thought ( just have to decide on storage option upgrade ), but since it doesn't, and no telling when or if it will be available in the future, I have to ask myself the question... Can I get along with a larger size 12.9” iPad if the screen is that much better (?) and for the higher price is is worth it? Maybe for photo/video editing I can justify it?
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iPad IPad PRO 2021 12.9” Liquid Retina XDR thoughts?
- Thread starter elmarjazz
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I mean, you certainly can get along with a larger iPad…. But do you want to spend the extra money to use it. And at this point we don’t know how well this XDR display will perform on the iPad. All we can take from the display is that Apple took the concept from their own Pro Display XDR and I haven’t really seen negative reviews about it.
First off, you have to ask yourself… what will you use the iPad for? If you plan on doing plenty of photo/video editing… go for it. But if you doing photo/video editing occasionally… then go with your initial plan of the 11 inch model.
Thanks for those very reasonable thoughts Ludatyk. If the mini LED screen is that good, I could see using the 12.9” as my main photo editor, and for media home viewing, but it still has that biggness that makes it a bit too much just to take anywhere, or even hand holdable. This may take some time to decide, or I may just do it and see how it works out.
Jump the gun and do it. It's a very good iPad.
I am also super interested in the XDR screen but having not owned an iPad in years, I am pretty concerned that the 12.9" will be inconveniently large. I plan on using the iPad as a paper notebook replacement (w/ Apple Pencil), and a content consumption device, with some light photo editing. I do NOT plan on using it as a laptop replacement with the Magic Keyboard. Will the 12.9" screen be too large for my use cases? Is the 11" worth it without the new screen?
I went for the 2018 12.9 specifically for the larger screen for photo editing and have never looked back. Portability has not been an issue for me and I'll never buy an iPad with a smaller screen again (I previously had the Air 2 & 10.5 iPP).
Personally I use a gen 1 12.9” (so even bigger) just for casual iPad use. No dock or keyboard case, it’s just a nice size for content consumption and browsing IMO. I wouldn’t say I find it unwieldy, though it is heavy enough that I want to use it resting on something (lap, cushion, arm wrest) not held up in the air, which I suppose is a limitation, minor for me but ymmv. As they won’t be available until end of May I’ll probably upgrade to an XDR around Christmas time as a treat to myself. By then they should hopefully be back in stock even if the initial inventory runs out, and they will have bedded in and any issues come to light.
If you haven’t used an iPad in years, I wouldn’t recommend the 12.9” model, it is much larger than a standard model and is best used on a desk IMO. As a paper notebook replacement, get an iPad Pro 11” or even an iPad Air. IMO the best use case of the 12.9” model is a laptop replacement or a big desktop companion IOS tablet (which is basically how I use mine). For a more travel appropriate machine I recommend any of the iPad Pro 11”, iPad Air or iPad.
The 11 vs 12.9 debate has been going on since Apple introduced the 12.9. Fact is...it depends. On you. I, for one, prefer the larger screen. I am not crazy about the weight. But, for ME, screen size trumps weight. YMMV. This time around they’ve sweetened the 12.9 pot with that beautiful display. But the 11” display is no slouch. And the size/weight issues remain.
Me, I’m getting the biggest iPad they have. But if I didn’t already accept the extra weight, I don’t think the new screen would make me change my mind.
Me, I’m getting the biggest iPad they have. But if I didn’t already accept the extra weight, I don’t think the new screen would make me change my mind.
I had the same dilemma but I decided to go with the 11". I sized up my iPhone one year to the Max size and hated it. I value the portability more than the big screen. I am sure that screen will be amazing, but the 11" pro screen will still be better than the Air I have currently.
So here are my questions... what we know of as HDR is a set of standards for EXTRA meta-data to a video image that can or can not be used by a display. AND that more than one encoding exists, Dolby Vision being one, HDR 10+ being another one. As I understand it, XDR as the fruit identifies it "out specs" what an HDR image is. BUT doesn't seem to have any corresponding encoding standard. So streaming movie content can be delivered in standard and HDR (odd, they never specify which standard is being used). How does this relate to the fruits XDR idea? Far as I know, feed an iPad a non HDR video or the same video in HDR and they will display exactly the same. So IS XDR taking a regular, non encoded image and making it LIKE HDR (only better to listen to them)? The marketing for the 12.9 clearly uses the XDR terminology...