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blairh

macrumors 603
Dec 11, 2007
5,972
4,472
so wrong. plenty use the 13" with just a folio for the bigger screen, no keyboard or pencil needed.
Nothing I said was wrong. The 11" is better in-hand. I never said nobody uses the 13" iPP without a keyboard. I said it works best in one.
 
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Simmias

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 22, 2010
165
492
I can't believe I just read this. I was settled on the 11" and now this... which is all stuff I had thought of. Now I'm on the fence again and not sure whether to go with the 11" or 13".
To be honest, I had a similar experience. I was basically settled on the 11”, and then I showed both of them side by side to my girlfriend and asked her opinion. She immediately picked the 13”. I could see what she was thinking, since for better or worse the 11” looks like a toy next the 13”. Even though she didn’t say anything I hadn’t already considered, her reaction caused me to reconsider everything lol.
 

Simmias

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 22, 2010
165
492
You didn’t say if you’re using it as your main computer….

Thats a pretty big point to consider.
Agree that your other devices are a big factor. Here’s my current device lineup:
  • Mac Mini M2 Pro w/ Pro Display XDR - this is my main computer for working from home. This is what I use when I need to get heavy work done or sit in front of a screen for 8+ hours at my day job.
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max - I always preferred smaller phones and even had an iPhone Mini. The weight reduction of the Titanium Pro Max caused me to get the big phone for the first time. While I used to only use my phone on the go, I enjoy using the Pro Max at home for reading books and light tasks like online shopping.
  • MacBook Pro M1 Pro (company machine) - this is the laptop issued by my job. It’s great, but it stays at the office and I don’t consider it part of my personal device lineup.
  • Apple Vision Pro - this was the real wildcard that made my decision even harder. I have no idea how the Vision Pro will change my iPad usage over time. It seems like Vision Pro fits between the Mac Mini and iPad Pro. It’s powerful, especially when used as a Mac display, but a lot less portable than an iPad.
Ultimately, I feel the 13” iPad Pro fits really well between my 6.7” Pro Max and my 32” Pro Display XDR. And of course, I can now use the iPad with the Pro Display as well and am hoping they add support for clamshell mode this year.

In general, Apple displays have gotten larger, including the Watch, Phone, iPad, and Mac, and while I resisted the trend especially with phones, I now embrace the trend toward larger screens especially as Apple has been able to make the devices lighter.
 
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Simmias

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 22, 2010
165
492
Definitely a personal preference. I, too, prefer the larger displays and went with the 13" Pro (from a 12.9).

An old saying I stand by… I bought the M4 iPad Pro 13in 512GB.

”Go BIG or go HOME”

I upgraded from an Air 4 to a 13 Pro. Enough said I think

I had the 2018 11” and upgraded to the 13” for the OLED screen. Initially I thought I’d made a mistake, but I got over it. Now I think it was the right choice. Give it a chance.

Coming form the 12.9 M2 iPad, there was no doubt on me getting the 13". I have a 11" iPad Pro and both mini's so the 13" was a natural.

I decided to return my 11 and get the 13. I realized that portability is not even an option with my 11 since I don’t carry bags that large in my daily life. That is what my mini is for. The 13 will be a laptop replacement for me and a place to display my guitar music with zooming and squinting.
Yes! I’m glad to see all this love for the 13”. I feel like Team 11” was starting to dominate the forums.

By the way, my stoking on the 11” vs. 13” rivalry is a bit tongue in cheek. They’re both great products with different use cases. But clearly this thread has touched a nerve with proponents of each…
 

myllian

macrumors member
Nov 14, 2017
87
98
I went with the 11" because I find the 13" too bulky in most scenarios I'm using a tablet. For serious work I use a PC with a 27"monitor anyway.
I also prefers the 11inch's aspect ratio which is slightly closer to 16:9 than the 13". (16:11.2 vs 16:12)
4:3 just looks awkward on a tablet imo. I wish Apple would just make them 16:10.
 

erasr

macrumors 6502a
Sep 18, 2007
743
644
OP: you didn’t touch nerves, you just said that one is the choice above the other, which is wrong. The 13” shouldn’t be the default choice either.

Both are awesome and everyone’s got individual needs or preferences.

Anyway, going back to another comment, the keyboard on 11” really is great to type on. Obviously smaller but takes a few minutes to adjust. My problem is that I don’t know where to leave it in the house!
 

SpanishAppleNerd

macrumors regular
Dec 7, 2023
234
191
Badajoz
Yes! I’m glad to see all this love for the 13”. I feel like Team 11” was starting to dominate the forums.

By the way, my stoking on the 11” vs. 13” rivalry is a bit tongue in cheek. They’re both great products with different use cases. But clearly this thread has touched a nerve with proponents of each…
I like my tech big, if I hadn't got the 14 Pro Max I would definitely upgrade to a 6.9 16 Pro Max...
 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,641
4,469
I went with the 11" because I find the 13" too bulky in most scenarios I'm using a tablet. For serious work I use a PC with a 27"monitor anyway.
I also prefers the 11inch's aspect ratio which is slightly closer to 16:9 than the 13". (16:11.2 vs 16:12)
4:3 just looks awkward on a tablet imo. I wish Apple would just make them 16:10.
the 11" is half way between 3:2 and 4:3, pretty far from 16:10, 3:2 would be wider but still resonably good for portrait use
 

ApplesAreSweet&Sour

macrumors 68020
Sep 18, 2018
2,287
4,235
13" M4 iPad Pro is not that more portable or compact than a MBA. And the latter is mountains more capable and a lot better value/$ than the former.

I'd say the 11" iPad Pro M4 is the way to go for portability and ergonomics if one insists on getting an iPad.

Well, unless your use-case for a tablet is just having the biggest and best display for entertainment, games and video consumption on-the-go. Which I gather is actually the biggest draw for most getting an M4 iPad Pro. Then definitely go for the 13".

And artists who mostly use iPad as a big canvas that they mostly draw on at home should probably also go for the 13".
 
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ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,114
10,906
so wrong. plenty use the 13" with just a folio for the bigger screen, no keyboard or pencil needed.

Fair point but blairh made no absolute statements and I think just wanted to paint a big picture rather than an in depth analysis.
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,114
10,906
13" M4 iPad Pro is not that more portable or compact than a MBA. And the latter is mountains more capable and a lot better value/$ than the former.

I'd say the 11" iPad Pro M4 is the way to go for portability and ergonomics if one insists on getting an iPad.

Well, unless your use-case for a tablet is just having the biggest and best display for entertainment, games and video consumption on-the-go. Which I gather is actually the biggest draw for most getting an M4 iPad Pro. Then definitely go for the 13".

And artists who mostly use iPad as a big canvas that they mostly draw on at home should probably also go for the 13".

It’s a totally different kind of computer and the use cases for MBA and iPP are not necessarily the same. We all have to decide on the value proposition ourselves, some will find the iPad way more capable than a Mac, and vice versa.
 
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LaterWolf

Suspended
Oct 17, 2022
250
154
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Guys
Instead of arguing with random people on the interwebs about 2 inches of screen size
Just go to an apple store or authorized reseller, try them, and choose what you want.
As simple as that
 

Gaprofitt

macrumors 6502
Jul 30, 2009
322
475
Obviously people should get what meets there needs. That being said I think the following:

If you're using it for productivity over entertainment I think the 13 inch is the way to go, if it's largely an entertainment device the 11" is much more manageable. My personal view is I want to get as far away from the size of my phone, Iphone 15 pro max otherwise I might as well use my phone. Photo editing, Outlook, etc is a lot different experience on the 13 vs 11..
 

erkanasu

macrumors 6502a
Jan 11, 2006
727
652
I purchased both agreed for this gen 13" is the ideal choice. Solves all the issues of the last gen when it was too heavy. easy to hold now in the hands. and more fun to use than the 11" IMO
 
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macphoto861

macrumors 6502
May 20, 2021
496
444
Many scientific studies show that larger displays tend to be significantly more productive. In one study of University of Utah it was shown that increased display from 18 inch to 24 inch reduced the time to finish tasks in 50%.
I wonder if that holds true with tablets, where the screen is not just for viewing the work but is also an input device. I'm currently on an 11", but had a 12.9" for a year or so... editing photos, I found that I was slowed down when moving my hand from the editing controls on the right-hand side over to the other side of the screen to add a mask, drag a crop handle, etc... there's comparatively "a lot" more distance to cover in that motion with the 13", and when it's over and over again x1000 images, it adds up.

Might be canceled out by the positive aspects of the larger screen, but it would be interesting to do a test to see for certain.
 
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richpjr

macrumors 68040
May 9, 2006
3,763
2,594
What would be interesting to see is how many 11” and 13” iPads have been sold by Apple to date. I’m sure it will be the 11” solely due to price.

I have both an M2 11”” and an M1 12.9 and use them for different things. Will likely upgrade the 12.9“ and possibly the 11” after seeing what, if anything, compelling is announced next month.
 
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m0nkeyb0y

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2009
168
119
I've read these all (and the other threads), and I'll chime in. I do a ton of reading and writing for work (historian, archival sources, occasionally handwritten), so a better screen and a BIGGER screen are just better.
I've been using a m1 11", and it's fantastic. But my workflow just works so much better with more real estate. At home I run a 16" M1 MBP connected to 2x32" 4k monitors, and occasionally a third 27" in portrait. My phone is a 14 Pro Max. I travel about a quarter of the year, and so have the iPad as a second monitor.

So I've been on the fence, gone to the Apple Store twice to play with the different sizes. I'm going to order a 13 and try it with my workflow for a few days. With the weight reduction, I think it'll be great in the hand, and definitely liking the extra 20% larger screen when used as a second monitor on the road. And if after a few days it's too unwieldy, I'll return it for an 11".
Also going to pick up a Pencil and see how well it works with the apps I cycle through, none of which are on demo at the Apple Store.
 
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