iPad Pro Why I Went for the 13" M4 iPad Pro vs the 11" M4 iPad Pro

[Rangers94]

so, video is still bigger

100% this.

No one can deny that watching video, surfing the internet, multitasking and just for general viewing that the larger 13” iPad Pro is a more enjoyable eye pleasing experience. Now if you wanna talk about portability or which one is easier to hold etc…then that’s a different story.

For me, I don’t take my iPad out of my house much, I have my iPhone 15 Pro Max for that. Only scenario that I take my iPad out of my house is if I am going on vacation and even then the portability of it is fine. I never had any issues with my 12.9” on a planes tray table. lol

I would much rather sacrifice some portability for a much more pleasurable viewing experience of the 12.9” especially when I’m mostly using it in the comfort of my home. Like I said, outside the house my iPhone 15 Pro Max is more than good enough.

 

[blen]

'

100% this.

No one can deny that watching video, surfing the internet, multitasking and just for general viewing that the larger 13” iPad Pro is a more enjoyable eye pleasing experience. Now if you wanna talk about portability or which one is easier to hold etc…then that’s a different story.

For me, I don’t take my iPad out of my house much, I have my iPhone 15 Pro Max for that. Only scenario that I take my iPad out of my house is if I am going on vacation and even then the portability of it is fine. I never had any issues with my 12.9” on a planes tray table. lol

I would much rather sacrifice some portability for a much more pleasurable viewing experience of the 12.9” especially when I’m mostly using it in the comfort of my home. Like I said, outside the house my iPhone 15 Pro Max is more than good enough.

This is the trade-off I am making. I’m sacrificing being able to fit the 11 in my 6L camera sling sometimes vs. having the bigger/better 13 experience the vast majority of the time—home, work, travel, etc.

 

[Kahnforever]

I’m typing this with the MKB on my 13” M4 512 GB iPad Pro. I’ve been back and forth to the Apple Store so many times comparing the 11” to the 13” that I got to a point where the 11” was just not a consideration anymore. The 13” is better, for me. And the typing experience on the MKB is better as well since it’s bigger with actual decent size palm rests. The keys on this MKB actually feel like they have more travel than on the MacBooks and I’m really liking it.

One thing I can say about the new iPad Pro is the screen really shines. It’s better than I thought, and it keeps surprising me how rich and bright it is. Also, for the first time, I’ve just lapped this iPad with MKB and I’m typing fairly well. Not as good as a MacBook but it’s good nonetheless.

 

[ericwn]

Mini is the real iPad for size and portability. Otherwise wait and hope Apple comes out with a 27" ipad next

Oh sure what another great contribution. The smallest is the lightest? You don’t say!

 

[sparksd]

Oh sure what another great contribution. The smallest is the lightest? You don’t say!

More of the usual from him. Has never made a useful contribution, only complaints and his on-going diatribe against the new iPads.

 

[garethjs]

No one has mentioned sidecar. I’m using a 11 personally but if sidecar was important to me the 13 would be more appropriate a size

 

[Kahnforever]

M4 512 GB SSD M4 iPad Pro 13”. 20 tabs open in Safari. Stage Manager running with a few Apps. No heavy Apps opened.

 

[The Game 161]

100% this.

No one can deny that watching video, surfing the internet, multitasking and just for general viewing that the larger 13” iPad Pro is a more enjoyable eye pleasing experience. Now if you wanna talk about portability or which one is easier to hold etc…then that’s a different story.

For me, I don’t take my iPad out of my house much, I have my iPhone 15 Pro Max for that. Only scenario that I take my iPad out of my house is if I am going on vacation and even then the portability of it is fine. I never had any issues with my 12.9” on a planes tray table. lol

I would much rather sacrifice some portability for a much more pleasurable viewing experience of the 12.9” especially when I’m mostly using it in the comfort of my home. Like I said, outside the house my iPhone 15 Pro Max is more than good enough.

Would also argue iPad mini is what I call really portable

while 11 inch is more portable wouldn’t say it’s that portable

 

[eba]

Would also argue iPad mini is what I call really portable

while 11 inch is more portable wouldn’t say it’s that portable

For the daily train commute. Or airplanes. It’s definitely portable for those sorts of uses.

 

[Apple_Robert]

100% this.

No one can deny that watching video, surfing the internet, multitasking and just for general viewing that the larger 13” iPad Pro is a more enjoyable eye pleasing experience. Now if you wanna talk about portability or which one is easier to hold etc…then that’s a different story.

For me, I don’t take my iPad out of my house much, I have my iPhone 15 Pro Max for that. Only scenario that I take my iPad out of my house is if I am going on vacation and even then the portability of it is fine. I never had any issues with my 12.9” on a planes tray table. lol

I would much rather sacrifice some portability for a much more pleasurable viewing experience of the 12.9” especially when I’m mostly using it in the comfort of my home. Like I said, outside the house my iPhone 15 Pro Max is more than good enough.

If the window multitasking were comparable to the Mac, I could understand the shift many have to the 13" for that reason. However, it is sorely lacking on the iPad, in my opinion.

 

[nawoo]

What comics do you read? Do you d’load them from the app store? Sounds like something I may be interested in. Thx!

I read Marvel stuff, Image, DC, Fables, the works of Ed Brubaker's Daredevil. Older X-men stuff, Star wars, Asterix the Gaul, lol everything that i used to read when I was growing up. I used to have alot of comics but as you know, with time the pages turn yellow, and it's just so much more convenient to read them on the ipad.

I download them from https://getcomics.org/, then use the app called Panels to read them. It's very easy, just drag and drop onto the ipad

Panels - The new home for your comics

Panels is the ultimate DRM-free comic reader. Enjoy a beautifully organized library and a seamless, immersive reading experience.

panels.app

The 11 inch ipad is just too small to read comics and appreciate the glory of their artwork. Especially the full double page spreads.

13in, once i rotate to Landscape mode, you can really view those double page spreads just like how you read them in your actual comic books

 

[Ludatyk]

If the window multitasking were comparable to the Mac, I could understand the shift many have to the 13" for that reason. However, it is sorely lacking on the iPad, in my opinion.

But not once did they mention multitasking being comparable on the Mac… only discussing the screen real estate between the 11“ and 13” iPads.

So, what does the Mac have to do with anything? And it’s reasonable to assume… if you have a bigger screen, more content will be shown which leads to a better multitasking environment.

 

[Apple_Robert]

But not once did they mention multitasking being comparable on the Mac… only discussing the screen real estate between the 11“ and 13” iPads.

So, what does the Mac have to do with anything? And it’s reasonable to assume… if you have a bigger screen, more content will be shown which leads to a better multitasking environment.

I didn't say the previous poster said anything about the Mac. I was merely posting my experience and personal opinion with an iPad Pro as it relates to more seamless multi-tasking. Many here keep talking about how great 13" is for tasking and my point was that it isn't really that great given the current iPadOS. And given many here also use a Mac, mentioning Mac tasking merely gave a known reference point.

There is no doubt a 13" OLED screen is nice but, when the overall use is often hampered by the restraint of the current OS with simple tasks compared to the Mac, I think people here need to think long and hard about spending such money on the new Pro and not allow themselves get caught up in the forum hype, as is often the case.

 

[Ludatyk]

I didn't say the previous poster said anything about the Mac. I was merely posting my experience and personal opinion with an iPad Pro as it relates to more seamless multi-tasking. Many here keep talking about how great 13" is for tasking and my point was that it isn't really that great given the current iPadOS. And given many here also use a Mac, mentioning Mac tasking merely gave a known reference point.

Because it is great to them.

There is no doubt a 13" OLED screen is nice but, when the overall use is often hampered by the restraint of the current OS with simple tasks compared to the Mac, I think people here need to think long and hard about spending such money on the new Pro and not allow themselves get caught up in the forum hype, as is often the case.

But we are not discussing the restraints of the current OS, merely the different experiences compared to the 11" and 13 iPads.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Because it is great to them.


But we are not discussing the restraints of the current OS, merely the different experiences compared to the 11" and 13 iPads.

I know what the subject of the thread is. I can read just like you. It is a subject that falls within said thread subject is screen size and use, which I spoke about as it relates to the iPad Pro in general. I am not here to argue over every single thing I say with you. There are a lot of people who have never owned an iPad who read this site and may be tempted to purchase and are looking at posts.

There is no right or wrong answer as to who uses the 11" or the 13". It is all subjective. Again, for those who may be more familiar with a Mac than an iPad and wondering about a purchase, I made a brief point of saying one is definitely different than the other. If you still take exception to my comments, then I suggest you move on. I don't owe you any more explanation in posting my personal opinion based on usage.

 

[pdoherty]

On the 13, most websites actually render in their desktop version vs. their tablet/mobile design, which personally I find infinitely better.

Two people mentioning this but my 10.5 Pro, with Safari set to prefer desktop versions of websites, seems to do exactly that. And I own a 12.9 M1 Pro as well.

 

[azpekt]

The biggest advantage of the 11 used to be weight, But now, .98 vs 1.28 lbs, the weight difference with the M4 is negligible.

that‘s 30% - it’s hardly what can be called “negligible”

 

[madat42]

that‘s 30% - it’s hardly what can be called “negligible”

Plus if you pair a Magic Keyboard with the 13 you get a 2.7 pound machine. The 11” with MK is 2.2 pounds. That’s half a pound and definitely not negligible. 2.2 pounds verges on the weight of the old 12” MB, still the most perfect form factor in my book. 2 or even 2.2 pounds is that sweet spot for me where I almost don’t feel it in my back pack at all.

 

[rkuo]

Plus if you pair a Magic Keyboard with the 13 you get a 2.7 pound machine. The 11” with MK is 2.2 pounds. That’s half a pound and definitely not negligible. 2.2 pounds verges on the weight of the old 12” MB, still the most perfect form factor in my book. 2 or even 2.2 pounds is that sweet spot for me where I almost don’t feel it in my back pack at all.

And meanwhile the 11” with Smart Keyboard Folio is just 1.67 lbs. Almost like carrying a pad of paper.

 

[Kahnforever]

And meanwhile the 11” with Smart Keyboard Folio is just 1.67 lbs. Almost like carrying a pad of paper.

Aside from all this pedantic discourse, the gap between the 13” and 11” is narrowed. I’ve been using the new M4 iPad 13” Pro for a few days and the reduced weight and reduced thickness has reached an inflection point for me. No longer do I really get hand fatigue holding it and I can hold it with one hand for several minutes and not get fatigued.

The 13” is also actually thinner than the 11”. I’ve done research studies on tablets including the iPad and it only takes a small amount of weight and a small amount of extra thickness to significantly increase the amount of torque exerted at each joint that is part of the levers affected by holding the iPad. Mainly that’s the wrist/carpals and metacarpals, elbow and various muscles and ligaments around these areas.

 

[erasr]

It’s the size of the screen on the 13” that is a negative to me.

It may be easier to hold but it feels weird having to reach high or far to press buttons on screen or swipe.

I don’t need all websites to render perfectly. Some are actually better in 11” portrait!! Such as The Verge. Check out their ads all over the screen on 13” vs 11” where they are better hidden.

Browsing is easier on 11”, imo.

 

[Kahnforever]

It’s the size of the screen on the 13” that is a negative to me.

It may be easier to hold but it feels weird having to reach high or far to press buttons on screen or swipe.

I don’t need all websites to render perfectly. Some are actually better in 11” portrait!! Such as The Verge. Check out their ads all over the screen on 13” vs 11” where they are better hidden.

Browsing is easier on 11”, imo.

That is true about reaching.

 

[madat42]

That is true about reaching.

Along with that, the 11” presents some content in a more digestible way that allows me to focus. On the 12.9” it always feels odd when some apps and their content are full-screen, like too much information at once, or too much white-space even. I end up having to resize the app via StageMan which does make it more readable but then the app is running at an 11” or even Mini screen size. It’s nice having choices as folks work differently, and even their brains are wired differently.

 

[Kahnforever]

Along with that, the 11” presents some content in a more digestible way that allows me to focus. On the 12.9” it always feels odd when some apps and their content are full-screen, like too much information at once, or too much white-space even. I end up having to resize the app via StageMan which does make it more readable but then the app is running at an 11” or even Mini screen size. It’s nice having choices as folks work differently, and even their brains are wired differently.

Good points and I agree with them. However the 13" is just more versatile and for things that do look good on the 13" it's tough to beat.

 

[madat42]

Good points and I agree with them. However the 13" is just more versatile and for things that do look good on the 13" it's tough to beat.

For you, sure. Others would say the exact same thing about the 11” and Mini. Heck I’d even say 11.5 would be king if Apple made one.