I have noticed a lot of arguing in a lot of threads lately over what size iPad Pro is "ideal" or "best" or "most versatile" or whatever. I think there are a lot of people not getting a lot of help with their decision reading through those arguments because everyone is going to have their own personal reasons for wanting one size or the other. The problem is that the introduction of the Magic Keyboard seems to be causing a lot of people to reconsider what size iPad Pro is really best for them and are having trouble deciding now. I've even seen several people say they bought both and now can't figure out which to return!
I wanted to just tell my version of the story here to maybe give a little perspective. My iPad Pros have basically taken all tasks over from my Mac over the years, and with that in mind I decided to just throw caution to the wind and go with the 12.9" without really doing much real world testing or even having an open Apple Store to go and really spend some time comparing and contrasting between the two. I have NEVER owned a 12.9" model before now and never really wanted to, because I found them to be comically large and weird. So here's kind of how it went for me, in stages:
1. This thing is too big and heavy--I've made a huge mistake.
When I first got the 12.9" 2020 iPad Pro, I did not have my Magic Keyboard yet, just my dBrand skin that I had planned on putting on the back for protection, my screen protector, and my gen 2 Apple Pencil. I spent about 4 days using it with just these accessories and no other "case", and it felt slightly ridiculous to have such a large tablet. I wasn't used to handling such a large slab and constantly felt like I was going to whack it into something or drop it. I was also kind of dreading how much weight the Magic Keyboard was going to add and was thinking I might return it and get the Smart Keyboard Folio instead.
2. Why did I never use my 11" model this way?
After about two full days of using my 12.9" iPad "naked" I realized something key to the whole experience: this felt better than using the 11" iPad Pro with the Smart Keyboard Folio attached folded around back, which is how I ALWAYS did it when using the 11" as a tablet. This felt thinner, sleeker, lighter, and more seamless than having all that baggage stuck to the back. I started feeling silly for never having tried using my smaller iPads in this way. Also--the 12.9" started feeling, dare I say.....normal sized?
3. My Magic Keyboard arrives and I feel I've made a mistake again.
My Magic Keyboard arrived via UPS about 4 days later and I had started enjoying the iPad Pro so much that I wasn't really even thinking about it too much. When I unboxed it and attached it, I felt like I had just ruined the iPad. It was now twice as thick and much heavier and felt like my Macbook Pro. Definitely a nicer FEELING cover than the SKF as far as fit and finish and build quality, but just a lot bulkier. I was once again questioning my decision to size up.
4. Magic Keyboard finds its place.
I worked with the Magic Keyboard for a few days and stopped noticing the extra size/weight. I realized that just because I could carry the iPad all over the house with the Magic Keyboard doesn't mean that I have to. This was a completely different beast than what I was used to with the Smart Keyboard Folio, which was slightly more awkward to remove and leave behind due to its floppy-ness. Long story short: I usually store the iPad Pro on my desk. If I'm using it at my desk or at the kitchen table, it's on the Magic Keyboard. If I'm using it on the couch or in bed, the Magic Keyboard stays on my desk until I'm done using the iPad. (I started thinking about how I would want to transport this whole setup once it's safe to start leaving the house more, and decided on a TomToc sleeve.)
5. This is normal.
Going to a 12.9" iPad Pro AND adding on the Magic Keyboard all in one upgrade cycle was a HUGE change for me. It added a lot of screen size, weight, and bulk. But now it just seems like a normal sized iPad to me. It's also a good lesson in what happens when you add a "real" keyboard to a device like this. You have to be willing to accept what that entails. But all in all, I am REALLY enjoying using the 12.9" iPad Pro as just a tablet or as my full blown laptop. I can decide which, and it's incredibly easy to do. At this point, you couldn't pay me to go back down to the 11".
I think there's a reason some of you are hemming and hawing about the 12.9": it's because you know deep down that's probably the one you need. I just wanted to communicate that in my experience, it felt like my hesitation was confirmed, but it didn't take long for the 12.9" to feel like the iPad I've been waiting for since 2010.
