Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Broadus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 26, 2011
1,108
649
Upstate SC
I typically read non-fiction on my iPad and was wondering how the experience is relative to previous iterations of the iPad Pro.

If you work a lot with text (research/writing, PDF’s, reading for pleasure), what are your thoughts having had the 12.9” M1/XDR for a few days?

Thanks.
 

sparksd

macrumors G4
Jun 7, 2015
10,013
34,356
Seattle WA
I have the 2021 12.9 and had the 2018 12.9. I read for some hours/day on it, primarily non-fiction Kindle books. I wouldn't say that there is much difference in the newer model over the old in terms or text reading. Maybe slightly better contrast with black text on white background (I never use the inverse).
 

JSteele

macrumors regular
Mar 19, 2021
110
107
No problem reading on the iPP 2021 12.9, I've been doing some text documents and signing PDFs without issue :D

I don't think its wildly different then reading PDF's on say my MBP but it does get pretty bright and contrasty if you need it to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: phill85 and Broadus

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I'm coming from a 10.5 and one of my concerns was hand fatigue, I was worried the 12.9 would be just too big of a tablet holding as I read. Hell, I have a small paperwhite kindle, which looks diminutive in comparison to the 12.9. With that said, I've been pleasantly pleased that I'm able to hold and use the iPad for reading for extended periods of time problem free. Having a larger tablet also provides the benefit of larger text, which is good for an old person as myself :)
 

sparksd

macrumors G4
Jun 7, 2015
10,013
34,356
Seattle WA
I'm coming from a 10.5 and one of my concerns was hand fatigue, I was worried the 12.9 would be just too big of a tablet holding as I read. Hell, I have a small paperwhite kindle, which looks diminutive in comparison to the 12.9. With that said, I've been pleasantly pleased that I'm able to hold and use the iPad for reading for extended periods of time problem free. Having a larger tablet also provides the benefit of larger text, which is good for an old person as myself :)

I have a Kindle Oasis but always use my 12.9 for reading, even in bed. I like the large page size as I read fast and dislike the constant page turning on a smaller screen. Can't beat the Kindle for portability, battery life, or reading in the sun, though.
 

Broadus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 26, 2011
1,108
649
Upstate SC
I'm coming from a 10.5 and one of my concerns was hand fatigue, I was worried the 12.9 would be just too big of a tablet holding as I read. Hell, I have a small paperwhite kindle, which looks diminutive in comparison to the 12.9. With that said, I've been pleasantly pleased that I'm able to hold and use the iPad for reading for extended periods of time problem free. Having a larger tablet also provides the benefit of larger text, which is good for an old person as myself :)
I guess that I’m in the “old” category myself . . . my wife and I celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary today. ?

And I’ve second-guessed myself about moving from a 10.5 iPP to the 12.9, so I’m glad to read your experience.

Thanks much.
 

Broadus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 26, 2011
1,108
649
Upstate SC
I have a Kindle Oasis but always use my 12.9 for reading, even in bed. I like the large page size as I read fast and dislike the constant page turning on a smaller screen. Can't beat the Kindle for portability, battery life, or reading in the sun, though.

I love e-ink and agree about the small page sizes. I wish that Amazon had maintained that larger Kindle. And it’s good to hear your take on the 12.9‘s versatility. Reading in bed is often used as a negative against the 12.9.

One thing that I was thinking in the 12.9’s favor is that, in landscape, it seems that using two columns would be similar to two pages of an opened book.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jazz1 and Momof9

sparksd

macrumors G4
Jun 7, 2015
10,013
34,356
Seattle WA
I love e-ink and agree about the small page sizes. I wish that Amazon had maintained that larger Kindle. And it’s good to hear your take on the 12.9‘s versatility. Reading in bed is often used as a negative against the 12.9.

One thing that I was thinking in the 12.9’s favor is that, in landscape, it seems that using two columns would be similar to two pages of an opened book.

It is similar to a paperback book with the two columns (my preference is one column but having different layout choices is nice).

My one gripe about the Kindle app on the iPad is that they removed the dark theme option - but it remains on the iPhone version.
 

Jára Tyky

macrumors 6502
Apr 9, 2020
355
231
There is big difference between 11” and 12.9” multitasking. 11” use in split view 1 desktop view and 1 mobile view, 12.9 use both windows in desktop mode. That was the main reason why I returned 11”. It was like having bigger iPhone.

On 12.9” I can open book in 1 view and next view for notes. Yes it is working with 11” as well but not so comfortly.
 

sparksd

macrumors G4
Jun 7, 2015
10,013
34,356
Seattle WA
I guess that I’m in the “old” category myself . . . my wife and I celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary today. 🙂

And I’ve second-guessed myself about moving from a 10.5 iPP to the 12.9, so I’m glad to read your experience.

Thanks much.

And I too am in the "old" category - and retired. Congrats on the anniversary - our 41st is coming up.
 

Broadus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 26, 2011
1,108
649
Upstate SC
It is similar to a paperback book with the two columns (my preference is one column but having different layout choices is nice).

My one gripe about the Kindle app on the iPad is that they removed the dark theme option - but it remains on the iPhone version.
I don't understand. Was theirs a dark theme on the Kindle app that wasn't the black that's on mine (as far as a 10.5 iPP shows black)? I had read where some do not like the white letters against black on the 2021 12.9.

There is big difference between 11” and 12.9” multitasking. 11” use in split view 1 desktop view and 1 mobile view, 12.9 use both windows in desktop mode. That was the main reason why I returned 11”. It was like having bigger iPhone.

On 12.9” I can open book in 1 view and next view for notes. Yes it is working with 11” as well but not so comfortly.

That's a good point about multitasking and size. I doubt that I would do much on an iPad (I have a MacBook Pro), but it's nice to have when needed.
 
Last edited:

sparksd

macrumors G4
Jun 7, 2015
10,013
34,356
Seattle WA
I don't understand. Was their a dark theme on the Kindle app that wasn't the black that's on mine (as far as a 10.5 iPP shows black)? I had read where some do not like the white letters against black on the 2021 12.9.



That's a good point about multitasking and size. I doubt that I would do much on an iPad (I have a MacBook Pro), but it's nice to have when needed.

It still supports whit text on black background, I meant the background when viewing the library.
 

AutomaticApple

Suspended
Nov 28, 2018
7,401
3,378
Massachusetts
I typically read non-fiction on my iPad and was wondering how the experience is relative to previous iterations of the iPad Pro.

If you work a lot with text (research/writing, PDF’s, reading for pleasure), what are your thoughts having had the 12.9” M1/XDR for a few days?

Thanks.
I assume the slightly darker blacks for text wouldn't make much of a major impact.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Broadus
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.