iPad Pro Miniled 12.9 M1 vs LCD 11 M1

[Jára Tyky]

Hello,

I have returned my iPad 12.9” M1 but yesterday I sold my 12.9” 2020 so I am gonna to buy iPad Pro 2021 again.
But right now I am thinking if I should not swap for 11”. Bigger size 12.9” always was too cucumber and when iPad Pro 2021 came out I did not think about 11” because no miniled display.

so my question is: is it big difference between miniled and LCD? Does LCD causes more eye strain?

I just do not like the idea buying again model that will get what I want next year.. as I bought 2020 before..

 

[Shirasaki]

I’d argue screen size should be the main consider factor instead of miniLED. This is technically first year mass production tech for Apple so there will be issues.

Personally when playing around in Apple Store, I just cant notice much difference between LCD and miniLED. The influence is certainly not as prominent as 120Hz vs 60Hz screen.

If you like big screen (which sounds like you don’t like much), go with 12.9” M1 iPad Pro 2021, otherwise go for 11”.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Had both side by side and tried them in a variety of ways. The mini LED screen on the 12.9" is nice, but it is not worth the trade off in size if the bigger size is an issue for you. The screen's improvements are only really noticeable in HDR content. For normal every day use or for non-HDR videos, I found the difference to be very slight. Better contrast but not life changing.

 

[Jára Tyky]

I had both 12.9 2020 and 12.9 M1. The first was much more grey and yellowish.
I do not agree that technology should not be an main factor especially when iPad is all about display.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I had both 12.9 2020 and 12.9 M1. The first was much more grey and yellowish.
I do not agree that technology should not be an main factor especially when iPad is all about display.

Yellowish? Hmm, are you sure that night shift wasn't enabled on one of them and not the other?

 

[Jára Tyky]

No ? Miniled display has much better white and contrast than LCD which seems to be yellow when comparing both side by side.

So, I went back for 12.9” M1 as I still have Folio case and 11” is really small and having 11” is like having bigger iPhone (no desktop multiwindows mode, less rows in apps etc.)

 

[calstanford]

I have both. The MiniLED is barely noticeable. Get the size that fits you the best (12.9 at home / 11 for more on the go)

 

[Jára Tyky]

Why are you writing this when I wrote that I have already bought 12.9”? ??‍♂️

 

[VaruLV]

Perhaps he was addressing wider audience, not just you?

 

[BigBlur]

… and 11” is really small and having 11” is like having bigger iPhone (no desktop multiwindows mode …

What do you mean by this? Most iPads can multitask or have multiple apps open at once. Does the 12.9” do something differently?

 

[Shirasaki]

What do you mean by this? Most iPads can multitask or have multiple apps open at once. Does the 12.9” do something differently?

He obviously mean something like this, not the janky and limited solution Apple has provided.

 

[Jára Tyky]

What do you mean by this? Most iPads can multitask or have multiple apps open at once. Does the 12.9” do something differently?

in shortcut:
iPad Pro 11” uses compact mode in multiwindows.
iPad Pro 12.9” uses full desktop mode.

so iPad Pro 11” is much more bigger iPhone. The same with diacritics where iPad Pro 12.9 has one more line while on iPad Pro 11” you have to hold letters to input diacritics.

 

[aevan]

I’d argue screen size should be the main consider factor instead of miniLED. This is technically first year mass production tech for Apple so there will be issues.

Personally when playing around in Apple Store, I just cant notice much difference between LCD and miniLED. The influence is certainly not as prominent as 120Hz vs 60Hz screen.

You will not notice it in the store with the store lights, but try looking at it in a dark room - it’s a MASSIVE difference, more pronounced than 60 vs 120.

Contrast is not even close, brightness in hdr photos and videos is quite better and colors are generally more rich. It’s a big leap, actually.

Here is a photo I took of my 2021 and 2018 iPad Pros last night, watching Lisey’s Story on TV+
Such an incredible difference.

 

[Shirasaki]

You will not notice it in the store with the store lights, but try looking at it in a dark room - it’s a MASSIVE difference, more pronounced than 60 vs 120.

Contrast is not even close, brightness in hdr photos and videos is quite better and colors are generally more rich. It’s a big leap, actually.

Here is a photo I took of my 2021 and 2018 iPad Pros last night, watching Lisey’s Story on TV+
Such an incredible difference.

View attachment 1807583

Alright I get the point.
Time to sell my current M1 iPad Pro 11” next year when miniLED one released then, maybe also a faster processor.

 

[aevan]

Alright I get the point.
Time to sell my current M1 iPad Pro 11” next year when miniLED one released then, maybe also a faster processor.

The 11” still has a beautiful screen, and if you prefer the form factor, that takes precedence. But if you can upgrade next generation, the rumors do say 11” will also have the Mini LED screen (I get that you already know this) so you could have the best of both worlds.

Also, it’s worth noting that during regular use, in a well-lit room, the difference is not that big. It is mostly noticeable in the dark, especially while watching DV/HDR videos and photos. The one noticeable difference in regular use (outside of dark viewing) is that the white seems a bit brighter and more “pure white”, and some colors are slightly more vibrant. But most people won’t care too much about that.

 

[Jára Tyky]

Alright I get the point.
Time to sell my current M1 iPad Pro 11” next year when miniLED one released then, maybe also a faster processor.

As Aevan is writing the difference is not as big as you can see in the picture. In reality side by side it is almost the same.

 

[Shirasaki]

You will not notice it in the store with the store lights, but try looking at it in a dark room - it’s a MASSIVE difference, more pronounced than 60 vs 120.

Contrast is not even close, brightness in hdr photos and videos is quite better and colors are generally more rich. It’s a big leap, actually.

Here is a photo I took of my 2021 and 2018 iPad Pros last night, watching Lisey’s Story on TV+
Such an incredible difference.

View attachment 1807583

Apparently I don’t think I need “comparison” per se as I can see greyer letter box on my 2021 11” iPad Pro, though it needs a bit of effort.

 

[aevan]

As Aevan is writing the difference is not as big as you can see in the picture. In reality side by side it is almost the same.

During the day or with lights on, yeah, the difference is not that big - you can see it for sure, but it’s close. But in very dark rooms (if you watch movies with lights off like I do) the difference is very much like on the photo.

So, the big difference is if you plan on using the iPad to watch stuff at night with the lights off or not Using screens in dark rooms is very much why people buy OLEDs, and this is close to an OLED in terms of black levels (and much brighter in highlights). That’s why I said the difference is massive - however, depending on your usage you might not even notice it. Same as comparing OLED and LCD iPhones - it really depends where and when you’re watching the screen

 

[aevan]

Apparently I don’t think I need “comparison” per se as I can see greyer letter box on my 2021 11” iPad Pro, though it needs a bit of effort.

Watch any LCD (and Apple has great ones) in pitch-dark environment, and the blacks are literally gray. However, you can only notice it in the dark. It’s how our eyes and brains work

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Also, it’s worth noting that during regular use, in a well-lit room, the difference is not that big.

Exactly and personally that's how I use my iPad the majority of the time. But I definitely see how it could be valuable to some people.

 

[aevan]

Yellowish? Hmm, are you sure that night shift wasn't enabled on one of them and not the other?

I too have noticed that previous iPad Pro was more warm (“yellowish” as the previous user said), especially with white backgrounds. And no, its not Night Shift. New iPads have a more “pure” white color, if that makes sense.