I just bought the M2 iPad Pro, which is my first iPad Pro, and the viewing experience is quite underwhelming. The aspect ratio is 4:3 which means most films and TV shows will have massive black bars and the picture will look small and squeezed. Although the Mini-LED display is vastly superior to my M1 MacBook Air in terms of black levels, the Mac with its aspect ratio (16:10) is superior for for viewing content. It's a lot more immersive. I am surprised that more people aren't talking about this huge downside of the 12.9 iPad Pro's.
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iPad Pro The 12.9" iPad Pro screen size is not great for watching movies and TV shows
- Thread starter Retskrad
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It seems the main reasoning for the aspect ratio is that the iPad is primarily designed to be used in portrait orientation.
I can guarantee you, though, that your 12.9" iPad movie experience is FAR better than on a smaller iPad or an iPhone! Even if it were 16:9, everyone knows that if you really want a great, immersive movie experience, you want a far larger screen anyway (meaning TVs or projectors). Mobile viewing is always a compromise.
The bars and ratio don't bother me in the least - I very much like watching movies, etc. on my M1 12.9.
I’m still trying to figure out what lifestyle people have that forces them/actually wants to watch movies on an iPad. Arguably people with $$$$ iPads would have a tv so unless you NEED to watch a movie immediately just wait for the tv experience.
When you have kids it all makes sense. Wife or son takes up the big tv, iPad is your Personal device + AirPod pros so you can relax while coco melon or the Mickey Mouse club house is playing etc.
Sometimes it's just convenient - there is no forcing function.
I make extravagant meals and like to watch stuff while I cook. I don't have a TV in my kitchen.
My husband is a dedicated news-watcher, and this time of year all the commercials are ridiculous political ads, so if I want to watch something (movies or tv or whatever) I'll toss in my headphones and watch on my iPad.
I'm sharing my screen in the world's most boring zoom meeting. I've got a movie playing on my iPad to keep myself awake - it's on the iPad so I don't accidentally select the wrong monitor on my computer and share the movie instead of the spreadsheet/deck.
I'm sure there are more cases, but these are the ones that come to mind. I'd have even more if I had kids, they tend to monopolize the big screen.
I use my iPad all the time for watching movies and tv shows. However, when I watch something it's typically something i've seen before so if i miss a key moment it's not a big deal. It's not about forcing myself to watch anything on the iPad. It's more about background noise hence watching content i've seen before. I'll play something when doing laundry, washing dishes, working in the kitchen and doing mindless data entry at work. These are just a few of the examples.
Exactly! With two kids, I get my "personal" time after they go to bed. At that time, I do not want the sound of TV distracting them from sleeping so that's when my iPad comes into play. Also, unlike TV, you can watch movies/videos anywhere in the house (ex: cooking, relaxing on the patio, etc.). For movies where I prefer big screen, or on weekends, I use my media room with almost a 180" projection.
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I don’t want to spend any money for a device that’s made with only one purpose in mind, and I live in a small flat where I don’t want to waste more space than I have to. This way I can get a general-purpose device I can use in my bed or on the desk during the day and pair it with my AirPods Pro so I don’t disturb others around me.
Also, I spend quite a bit of time in airports and on airplanes because I travel for work and I like being able to bring my PDFs and TV shows with me in a convenient portable device I can use on multiple hour flights.
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Not talking about movies here, but for example last night when I turned on my television to watch a show, there was just a black screen and the message to check cable signal.... I went through all the usual procedures and still got the same message. The TV wasn't going to be able to display the TV show I wanted to watch. 2018 12.9" iPad Pro to the rescue! So I put the iPad Pro on a stand, pulled up a chair and watched the show I wanted to see.....and today called the cable company to deal with the situation affecting my television reception.
Sometimes if im working i use it as background noise as I dont have a tv at my desk lol
I agree that for movies, it is a shame to have some much of the screen unused. In all other aspects, the ratio makes much more sense though so it is a worthwhile tradeoff. Would be interesting to see the rumored 16“ iPad in 16:9 though.
This is the answer right here. Also sometimes I just don’t want to get the home theater rumbling. Shows and what not look great on my 11 2020 pro, family guy / the Simpsons in particular look amazingly crisp. Also when I get in bed and hold my Xs max up to watch something it fills my vision and it’s OLED, looks amazing. I can watch something while in the comfort of bed while my wife sleeps.
I enjoy mine for watching movies and tv shows very much so
Lmao. The iPad has been 4:3 for 12 years. And I use it everyday for watching video.
I have a MBP that costs more than a $$$$ iPad but do not have a TV. I do not want to be forced to sit in only one part of a room while watching something.
The black bars have NEVER bothered me.....🤪
I am used to them from the days of watching my widescreen Laserdisc's on a 4:3 TV (while everyone was stuck with VHS).
The only truly immersive experience is within VR.
Watching a flat TV screen is not.
As others above, I am not bothered at all by black bar, but since tablets are my main video/TV/movie watching devices (I am not interested in big TV sets), I want it as big as possible. That's why I bought the Tab S8 ultra. But I would actually prefer if it had the 4:3 aspect ratio, for me it's not something less, but something more, since in addition to watching movies I can also use it in portrait mode.
What's more something most don't know is that a more square aspect ratio will make the tablet feel lighter in landscape mode (because of "leverage"). My Surface Book 15 is bigger and almost 100 grams heavier than my tab S8 ultra, but feels lighter because there is less leverage.
What's more something most don't know is that a more square aspect ratio will make the tablet feel lighter in landscape mode (because of "leverage"). My Surface Book 15 is bigger and almost 100 grams heavier than my tab S8 ultra, but feels lighter because there is less leverage.
Hmm, can't relate to that. I have a very comfy recliner in the TV room and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else if I'm watching something. But even if that weren't the case, I'll take a 60" TV over a 13" iPad any day when it comes to a choice on which screen to watch. No contest!
Same here. I don't want to be stuck in the same place when I watch something. That's why I don't want a TV, nothing to do with budget. While I find a phone too small to watch a video, let alone a movie, anything 12-13in and up is fine and I like to be able to watch while doing other things in different rooms. But I would love a 15-16in tablet if Apple makes it. I am ready to pay big $$$ for that.
And they will vary depending upon the aspect ratio of the media (e.g., Avatar is 1.78:1, Lawrence of Arabia is 2.20:1).