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

DoubleFlyaway

macrumors 68000
Nov 16, 2017
1,620
2,526
I use 12.9 (2021) and 11 (2018). When I was in a long distance relationship, I needed this because I would work by Zoom teaching and drawing on white board on 12.9 and having the 11 for reference materials. Now I could get away with just the 12.9 because I don’t work while traveling much anymore. But having the 11 around is nice for certain things, like fitting in a smaller bag while running errands. Or browsing the web on the 11 while playing Civ 6 on my 12.9. :)
 

Mishabella

macrumors regular
Apr 2, 2011
127
146
Cali
I also use two iPads during my day. I use the iPad Pro 12.9 and the Mini 6. My Pro does all the heavy lifting, photos, videos, papers, and keeping up with numerous emails throughout the day. My mini is like my note pad that i keep in my pocket. I write everything down on it that I have to chart later in the day and look up things that need to be answered right away at a moments notice. I like the mini for this use but would consider using my iPhone if it had a stylus. This will never happen and i am ok with that. I love my mini.
 

Traverse

macrumors 604
Mar 11, 2013
7,711
4,491
Here
TL/DR: 12.9" iPad Pro and iPad mini 6 - but don't try to make them the same device.

Since 2012 I only ever had a single iPad (the middle-size class) and even when the original mini came out I couldn't think of any reason why I'd ever own two of "the same thing." In 2021 I upgraded from a 10.5" iPad Pro to a 12.9" iPad Pro due to the XDR screen. While I really liked this device I found that there were some uses that I missed the smaller device for. I was considering that the next cycle I would get an 11" when I realized I could get an iPad mini from my frim's appreciations store so I picked one up on a whim.

At first I felt guilt and anxiety over having two iPads when I really didn't have isolate specific uses, but I read similar forms where users like @rui no onna simply said that they don't try to balance their usage and simply use which device fits the use case. That's when it clicked to me not to try and mirror set ups. The iPad min has fewer apps, no notifications, and a different Home Screen. I finally settled on just using each device differently as needed.

  • iPad Pro: Main "personal computer" with Mac has home base. I use it for photos, musics, streaming, some writing, manga, drawing, etc.
  • iPad Mini: reader and general computing in contexts where a smaller device is nice (in floor with rabbit or quick google search).
My only issue is that I only got the 512 GB iPad Pro. I figured I'd save $400 but the will cost me a new device early as I'm out of space (I want my full photo library, music library, manga library, etc. on my personal computer). The iPad mini has no such requirement.
 
Last edited:

DaveOZ

macrumors 6502
May 13, 2008
398
317
Sad to admit that I have 4 iPads. I’ve worked hard and can afford it but I admit it is a luxury. I’m an architect and drawing on a tablet is important to me. I use an App called Morpholio Trace for sketching which is brilliant.

iPad Pro 12.9 2018 - Lives on my bedside table. Used for surfing and reading in bed. Watching F1 in the night nad general use upstairs.
iPad Pro 12.9 M1 - Typing on this now. Main iPad around the house and outside on the deck. Magic Keyboard attached. Used for sketching at home with pencil.
iPad Pro 11 M1 - Lives in my backpack. LTE for mobile use. Used at work for sketching and notes.
iPad Mini 6 - I tried to use this to replace my phone (I love the Samsung Note and Fold because I can draw on them. I still use the and love the Mini but something about it just doesn’t work for me. The 11 is a better size for drawing and the Mini is too big to replace the phone. I‘d be happy if I could use the Pencil on the iPhone.
 

VampyricGentleman

macrumors 6502
May 28, 2022
356
3,000
South Wales, UK
I have three iPads an iPad Pro 12.9 (2020 edition) and two iPad Mini 5. I use the pro for much of my job hunting, (which has hopefully yielded me a job starting next week) and stuff where I need a full size keyboard but isn’t enough to justify bringing out the MacBook. I have a mini that I use as a portable backup system for when I am out with a camera taking photos, reading and listening to music on my way to places. I have made it into a mini computer by adding the Brydge keyboard and a Magic Mouse 2. The other mini I use at home for similar things as I’ve set that up the same way but as it’s only Wi-Fi it stays at home. I use it as my alarm clock and also for browsing social media at home, email etc when I am not working and sometimes for FaceTime using my Apple Charging Dock as a stand in vertical mode. I wouldn’t be without any of them. They all have great usage.
 

kristalsoldier

macrumors 6502a
Aug 10, 2013
818
523
Sad to admit that I have 4 iPads. I’ve worked hard and can afford it but I admit it is a luxury. I’m an architect and drawing on a tablet is important to me. I use an App called Morpholio Trace for sketching which is brilliant.

iPad Pro 12.9 2018 - Lives on my bedside table. Used for surfing and reading in bed. Watching F1 in the night nad general use upstairs.
iPad Pro 12.9 M1 - Typing on this now. Main iPad around the house and outside on the deck. Magic Keyboard attached. Used for sketching at home with pencil.
iPad Pro 11 M1 - Lives in my backpack. LTE for mobile use. Used at work for sketching and notes.
iPad Mini 6 - I tried to use this to replace my phone (I love the Samsung Note and Fold because I can draw on them. I still use the and love the Mini but something about it just doesn’t work for me. The 11 is a better size for drawing and the Mini is too big to replace the phone. I‘d be happy if I could use the Pencil on the iPhone.
I also have the Mini 6, which I do like. But then again gain, I have the S22U with the integrated S Pen, which I use a lot. I was also considering the Fold (a form factor that I am really intrigued by), but I’m holding off till the S Pen can be integrated into it. At that point, I will have to reconsider my use of the Mini.
 

likethecity

macrumors newbie
Dec 13, 2013
2
0
Los Angeles
I use three iPads. One, an iPad Mini 2, is mounted in the kitchen - I use this for accessing recipes and making grocery lists on Anylist, playing music to the kitchen speaker, quick Google searches, and occasionally "watching" a show while I cook. It's slow, but having gotten rid of every app except the handful I need has made it quite serviceable. Next is my iPad Mini 5, which I mostly use to read in bed or when I'm commuting somewhere and I need to pack light. My third iPad is a 2021 11" iPad Pro, which I use for notes and general consumption. I was an early iPad adopter, and then defected to the Minis when they were first released. Sometime last year I realized that I missed a larger screen, so I bought the Pro. I think about selling my mini sometimes but I really love having both sizes, especially as they both (along with every iPad I've ever bought) have cell capabilities. Oh, and I also have a Kindle Paperwhite for when I really need to pack light, or am around water.
 
Last edited:

likethecity

macrumors newbie
Dec 13, 2013
2
0
Los Angeles
Sad to admit that I have 4 iPads. I’ve worked hard and can afford it but I admit it is a luxury. I’m an architect and drawing on a tablet is important to me. I use an App called Morpholio Trace for sketching which is brilliant.

iPad Pro 12.9 2018 - Lives on my bedside table. Used for surfing and reading in bed. Watching F1 in the night nad general use upstairs.
iPad Pro 12.9 M1 - Typing on this now. Main iPad around the house and outside on the deck. Magic Keyboard attached. Used for sketching at home with pencil.
iPad Pro 11 M1 - Lives in my backpack. LTE for mobile use. Used at work for sketching and notes.
iPad Mini 6 - I tried to use this to replace my phone (I love the Samsung Note and Fold because I can draw on them. I still use the and love the Mini but something about it just doesn’t work for me. The 11 is a better size for drawing and the Mini is too big to replace the phone. I‘d be happy if I could use the Pencil on the iPhone.
Morpholio Trace is such a great app.
 

Greenmeenie

macrumors 68020
Jan 14, 2013
2,122
3,305
I am an artist who travels a lot. I have an 11” iPad Pro to sketch with & to edit photos/videos on. But sometimes I like to travel really light. So I also have an iPad mini 6. It works with the Apple pencil two & makes the perfect light weight sketchbook for travel. Altho not as powerful as my 11” iPad Pro, it can also handle photo & video editing while on the go as well.
 

AVBeatMan

macrumors 603
Nov 10, 2010
5,968
3,849
I have and use 3 iPad's. My M1 12.9 Pro sits in my home office and is used mainly to watch TV on while working. I have an M1 11" that stays in the bedroom and I take a Mini 6 out and about with me. I tried to choose just the one iPad but found it impossible as I love all 3!
 

Aoligei

macrumors 65816
Jul 16, 2020
1,151
1,380
I have the iPad Pro 12.9 inch mainly for reading textbooks, magazines etc. I mainly use this with second generation Apple Pencil for drawing, annotating, because i dislike how first generation Apple Pencil charges.

I also have the iPad 7 with cellular which i got for $300, iPad 8th generation as gift.
 

shoppy

macrumors 65816
Mar 4, 2007
1,072
64
Hants
12.9 for slothing in bed watching content,
11 for watching content when flying and on public transport. Mini when I am out and about around the house and playing the odd game. Though I have a switch and have still not turned it on since last year.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AVBeatMan

antipodean

macrumors regular
May 2, 2014
198
145
2020 iPad Pro 12.9 and iPad mini 6th gen. The latter is a new addition because, while I like the iPad Pro, it mainly stays in the magic keyboard and seldom gets used "in hand". I have pencils for each. The complement each other nicely.

Truth be told, my iPhone (11 Pro Max, soon to be 14 Pro Max) and MBP (16" M1 Max) get more use than either of the iPads, but I'm happily immersed in the Apple ecosystem (also have M1 MBA, M1 mini, Studio Display, Apple Watch, various home pods, 2x Apple TVs, etc.)
 

Technerd108

macrumors 68040
Oct 24, 2021
3,062
4,313
I probably don't qualify but I have an 11" Samsung tab s8 because I got it cheap with a discount and a 5th generation iPad air. I like the air more for day to day use but sometimes streaming on the tab s8 is better. Both are great tablets but the air is so fast and just looks better. Even with quad speakers on the s8 the air has better stereo speakers with more bass.

I was considering an iPad pro but for now I like using both platforms.
 

redcarlsen

Suspended
May 22, 2014
122
204
I just got back from ten days overseas and brought my iPhone, 11" iPad Pro, and a Kindle Paperwhite with me. This worked quite well. The iPad was a fine laptop replacement, and the Kindle gave me access to books to read. I also have an iPad Mini and have gone back and forth between that and my Pro for a while now. The pro was needed on the trip, but having the mini instead of the kindle would have been nice. Does anyone use two iPads regularly? It seems a bit much at first, but I wonder if that would be a viable option? Does it work well for you?
if the mini's main purpose is for reading, I'd choose an e-ink device every single time. In fact as I get older I'm trying not to look at screens as much for the sake of my eyes. that's the obvious advantage of e-ink.
And even as much as I enjoy ipads, I have seriously considered giving it up and getting one of those e-ink tablets that run android.
All depends on your use-case of course... but for reading? kindle/kobo/nook/etc everytime (except for large PDF lol)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.