iPad Pro The 12.9" iPad Pro screen size is not great for watching movies and TV shows

[Greenmeenie]

It’s funny, but when I was buying my first iPad Pro in 2018, I was torn between the 11” & 12.9” Pro. One of the main reasons I went with the 11” besides the fact that I travel a lot is that when I was comparing them side by side at the Apple Store, I noticed that there was not much of a difference in viewing movies on them at all. The black bars seemed much larger on the 12.9” ipad pro. So much so that the size of the movie playing were almost equal. I am glad I went with the 11”. The screen is plenty big yet it is more comfortable to hold for long periods than the 12.9”. Not knocking the 12.9”. This is just my experience. My 2018 11” iPad Pro still does everything I need from editing photos & videos to consuming media. I will upgrade when the 11” finally gets a mini LED screen like the 12.9”… or better yet an OLED screen which is rumored for 2023 or 2024.

 

[sparksd]

On XDR, the bars effectively disappear.

The XDR display would make my wallet disappear!

 

[lordhamster]

It’s funny, but when I was buying my first iPad Pro in 2018, I was torn between the 11” & 12.9” Pro. One of the main reasons I went with the 11” besides the fact that I travel a lot is that when I was comparing them side by side at the Apple Store, I noticed that there was not much of a difference in viewing movies on them at all. The black bars seemed much larger on the 12.9” ipad pro. So much so that the size of the movie playing were almost equal. I am glad I went with the 11”. The screen is plenty big yet it is more comfortable to hold for long periods than the 12.9”. Not knocking the 12.9”. This is just my experience. My 2018 11” iPad Pro still does everything I need from editing photos & videos to consuming media. I will upgrade when the 11” finally gets a mini LED screen like the 12.9”… or better yet an OLED screen which is rumored for 2023 or 2024.

I picked up the M2 11 inch on Oct 28th, and returned it tomorrow. As a traveler weight and size of the 11 was attractive to me. As an old guy, I realized my arms are slightly too short to comfortably read the 11 inch. After returning the 11, went with the 12.9 and for now it keeps me from having to use reading glasses. The added weight will be annoying through as I'm a onebagger.

 

[blkjedi954]

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.

Excellent rebuttal. It’s not rocket science. It’s practical when life happens.

 

[blkjedi954]

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.

Or in the bathroom birthing an egg! 🤣

 

[Rafterman]

It’s funny, but when I was buying my first iPad Pro in 2018, I was torn between the 11” & 12.9” Pro. One of the main reasons I went with the 11” besides the fact that I travel a lot is that when I was comparing them side by side at the Apple Store, I noticed that there was not much of a difference in viewing movies on them at all. The black bars seemed much larger on the 12.9” ipad pro. So much so that the size of the movie playing were almost equal. I am glad I went with the 11”. The screen is plenty big yet it is more comfortable to hold for long periods than the 12.9”. Not knocking the 12.9”. This is just my experience. My 2018 11” iPad Pro still does everything I need from editing photos & videos to consuming media. I will upgrade when the 11” finally gets a mini LED screen like the 12.9”… or better yet an OLED screen which is rumored for 2023 or 2024.

I've had both 12.9 and 11. I currently have an M2 11. I use it 75 percent docked, 25 percent mobile. The 12.9 not only was half a pound heavier (it doesn't sound like much, but it matters), but it also seemed awkward to hold when your face is only one foot away. The 11 seems more like a true mobile device, not a laptop.

Which makes me wonder who the supposed 16 inch iPad Pro is going to appeal to. Artists or a portable editing station? I can't imagine it being useful as a handheld device.

 

[rui no onna]

I've had both 12.9 and 11. I currently have an M2 11. I use it 75 percent docked, 25 percent mobile. The 12.9 not only was half a pound heavier (it doesn't sound like much, but it matters), but it also seemed awkward to hold when your face is only one foot away. The 11 seems more like a true mobile device, not a laptop.

I use the 11" 100% mobile and the 12.9" 80% docked. I agree with 11" feeling more like a mobile device.

The 11" is also a lot less painful when it falls on your face. The 11" usually just grazes my chin. The 12.9" falls flat on my nose.

 

[jagolden]

It doesn’t “squeeze” the video.
So you are saying the aspect ratio of your tv matches every movie and show you watch on it? No black bars?
This seems like buyers remorse for not doing due diligence and checking this out in person before buying.
Return it.

 

[jagolden]

I've had both 12.9 and 11. I currently have an M2 11. I use it 75 percent docked, 25 percent mobile. The 12.9 not only was half a pound heavier (it doesn't sound like much, but it matters), but it also seemed awkward to hold when your face is only one foot away. The 11 seems more like a true mobile device, not a laptop.

Which makes me wonder who the supposed 16 inch iPad Pro is going to appeal to. Artists or a portable editing station? I can't imagine it being useful as a handheld device.

I would find it very useful. As most of my time spent doing creative work. It would sit fine in my lap and let me create away. Frankly, the 12.9 was not built to be a hand held device.

 

[F23]

On XDR, the bars effectively disappear.

not exactly, in a dark room the mini LED blooming seeps into the black bars & creates a halo effect so the bars are no longer black along the edges of the content, but rather glowing with colors which becomes distracting. this is on my M2 12.9”. Waiting for OLED to solve this

 

[Shanghaichica]

I think the only thing I would appreciate about the 12.9 inch pro is the screen for watching videos and movies. It’s too big and cumbersome for anything else though. I think that one you get bigger than 11 inches the weight and size outweighs any benefits and I would just watch on the TV. I don’t really use my MacBook Air for videos, because it’s not really convenient.

 

[sparksd]

I think the only thing I would appreciate about the 12.9 inch pro is the screen for watching videos and movies. It’s too big and cumbersome for anything else though. I think that one you get bigger than 11 inches the weight and size outweighs any benefits and I would just watch on the TV. I don’t really use my MacBook Air for videos, because it’s not really convenient.

Really a matter of individual preference. I had the 10.5 and now the M1 12.9 and I'll never go back to a smaller size. I don't find it to be at all cumbersome.

 

[neutrino17]

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.

On an airplane, in a hotel room, in bed at home. Many cases I can’t use the large screen TV. Sometimes I just want the personal experience of using the iPad.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Really a matter of individual preference. I had the 10.5 and now the M1 12.9 and I'll never go back to a smaller size. I don't find it to be at all cumbersome.

Definitely preference. I just have this thing about 11 inches it’s kind of my sweet spot. I loved my old 11 inch MBA. I find my 13 inch MBA to be a bit annoying as it’s a tad too big. I wish they would bring back the 12 inch MacBook.

 

[teh_hunterer]

This is one of the main reasons I returned the 12.9" I bought. I just couldn't stand the aspect ratio compared to my 11" iPad Pro and my 14" MacBook Pro. I'll consider a bigger iPad again if the aspect ratio is changed. Otherwise, I'm just not interested.

It's not that the black bars themselves are an issue - it's the useless extra weight and size, which matters for such a portable device.

 

[Nhwhazup]

My cellular iPad comes in super handy for watching movies and shows when the cable and/or power is out.

 

[MarkC426]

I just couldn't stand the aspect ratio compared to my 11" iPad Pro and my 14" MacBook Pro. I'll consider a bigger iPad again if the aspect ratio is changed. Otherwise, I'm just not interested.

The problem is, not all films are in the same aspect ratio.
I have recently been having a retro phase, watching twilight zone/outer limits/amazing stories.
These are all 4:3, so bars left and right.....🤪

This doesn't bother me one bit, as I used to watch widescreen laserdiscs back in the day on my 4:3 tv.

There will never be a perfect iPad screen ratio for everything.

 

[abell2454]

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.

I don’t own a television.

 

[Yebubbleman]

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.

You're comparing the experience to that on a Mac. Most people will find the experience better than watching that same video on a smaller iPad. If a Mac is convenient for where you are viewing, obviously that's preferable and there's no reason not to just always do that. However, a 12.9-inch iPad Pro fits in more scenarios than a Mac traditionally would. You're also usually closer to the screen of a 12.9-inch iPad than you are to the screen of a 13-inch MacBook. It's still not that bad of an experience, though.

 

[Nhwhazup]

On an airplane, in a hotel room, in bed at home. Many cases I can’t use the large screen TV. Sometimes I just want the personal experience of using the iPad.

I am very myopic and need glasses to see a TV. I usually watch a show in bed on my iPad without my glasses to fall asleep to. I know, I know the blue light is not conducive to sleep but I have mine changed to night mode and the warm setting.