iPad Pro Yet another 11" vs 13" thread (M5 edition)

[ManuCH]

Well, I'm one of the millions of people who can't decide between an 11" and a 13" iPad Pro.

So hear me out: I've always had 11" iPads (well, 10.5" before they became 11"). Upgrading every 2-3 years or so. And I was rocking an 11" iPad Pro M4 until a few days ago.

Then, buy-itis hit me, so I went and got a 13" iPad Pro M5, because I got the feeling that the 11" started to get cramped, as I really wanted to enjoy the new windowed multitasking. Also I noticed the extended holiday return period, so I thought myself: why not give it a try? I have around 6 weeks to decide.

I'm loving the 13", the screen is amazing and I can do basically anything I need with it with almost no restrictions (I always use it docked to a Magic Keyboard). I feel like I'm using it as a laptop replacement (I also have a 13" MacBook Air M2) and I just feel like it's... more fun to use. It feels less like work, if that makes sense. Maybe just how iPadOS feels compared to macOS.

Now, it's clear to me that everyone has their own use cases and fellow Internet strangers can't take the decision for me, but I still am curious: has anyone here switched from 11" to 13" (or vice-versa) and regretted it? And why? I would love to hear your stories.

So far, the positives of the switch to 13" outweigh the negatives. My only "negative" so far: it can feel a bit large on some train tables (I travel around by train quite a bit - located in Europe). But other things I was worried about (like feeling the extra weight in my backpack) didn't happen, as the ~200g difference are barely noticeable.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I've owned every iPad size, and between the 11" and 13", neither really solves anything for me.

11" – It's small but not actually portable. One-hand use, typing, and viewing are all awkward, and I usually end up just using my phone or my MacBook instead. It’s too cramped to feel like a laptop and too big to feel like a phone replacement.

13" – Feels like a laptop, but once you add a keyboard or folio it becomes heavy, expensive, and still less useful than a MacBook. I found myself doing everything on my phone anyway, and whenever I needed a full OS, I just grabbed my MacBook making the 13" redundant.

Overall – iPadOS doesn’t offer anything the iPhone or MacBook don’t already do better. iOS is great for mobile apps, macOS for real software, but iPadOS ends up being the worst of both worlds.

 

[Abazigal]

For context, I am a teacher in an elementary school. I started with the 13" 2018 iPad Pro, but quickly found it too big to use comfortably in the classroom (I like to walk around the room with iPad in hand). I ended up trading it for the 11" model, which fit me just nicely. I can comfortability hold it in landscape mode with one hand while writing with the other, all while standing next to my students and ensuring they remain on task.

It's a bit of a shame though, because the larger iPad was amazing for reading documents (eyesight's not as good these days), as well as running apps in split-screen mode. Like running two instances of Notability side-by-side is starting to feel too cramped for me. But portability eventually won out for me. I am on the 11" M4 iPad Pro now, and I feel it's still what works best for me. Be it on the go, or on the sofa, sometimes, bigger isn't always better.

 

[leifp]

Most of my iPads have been of the 9.7”-11” variety. I toyed with the minis (too many quality of life inconveniences, e.g. screen quality) and the 12.9” (twice; A12X, M2) and I can confidently say none are ideal for me. That’s why I’m sticking with my 11” M4 until it cannot do what I need from it. In many ways, that’s already: so while I hate laptops, they will remain a part of my life indefinitely.

Assuming no major changes to the lineup, my next iPad will be the 13” Pro. This one should have been the 13” but I balked at the price, which was a mistake. I’ve been using this almost since launch and the larger size would have been beneficial for how I use the device… and those few hundreds of dollars would not really have been missed.

 

[stanza.richi]

I’m a neurosurgeon: I bought iPad 12.9 2018 before my fellowship in Japan in October 2019, switched to 11 M4 in October 2024.

I made the switch because I wanted something more portable: less weight to carry in my backpack, more comfortable to hold with one hand while writing with apple pencil, easier to take with me in the hospital.

Both have their MK and I find that I can write easy also with 11 MK: and, again, it’s lighter and smaller.

So, one year later, I’m still happy of my decision. And I think that the next one, in 2029 or 2030, could be again 11 or equivalent.

 

[bellflyer14]

I started with he 11” IPP M5 but it felt too cramped. I absolutely love my 13” IPP. Leave it docked in the Magic Keyboard. Yeah a 13” MBA would be cheaper, but the oled screen is glorious and I much prefer the iPad OS user experience

 

[MacDevil7334]

This is really the age-old question isn’t it? You will find opinions on this split about 60/40 in favor of the 11” based on what I have read, though I would be interested to see if that has changed much since the lighter design of the M4/M5 13” and the windowing system added in iPadOS 26.

Here’s what it came down to for me: while the 11” is lighter, it’s still not quite light enough that I can really hold it one handed for long periods of time. I still find myself using 2 hands or resting it on my leg after a couple minutes. I have to do that too with the 13”, just sooner. Once I realized that I use them both about the same in tablet mode, the 13” became a no brainer. It’s better in literally every other way. More space for multitasking, more comfortable to hand write on, better keyboard and speakers etc.

Ultimately, though, it comes down to personal preference. Which do you prefer using? Everyone will give you an opinion. But pick the one that you enjoy most and go with it.

 

[sparksd]

After moving to the 12.9" from the 10.5 and now with the 13" (M4, now M5), I'll never again buy a smaller screen size. Just my preference.

 

[deeddawg]

I started with the 13" 2018 iPad Pro, but quickly found it too big to use comfortably in the classroom (I like to walk around the room with iPad in hand). I ended up trading it for the 11" model, which fit me just nicely. I can comfortability hold it in landscape mode with one hand while writing with the other, all while standing next to my students and ensuring they remain on task.

It's a bit of a shame though, because the larger iPad was amazing for reading documents (eyesight's not as good these days), as well as running apps in split-screen mode.

Thanks for the comments and context - your posts have always been helpful in the various threads I've seen you.

As someone who also has found age impacts eyesight, any thoughts about armchair usage with a pen - main use cases are Internet sites (reading/searching info) where multiple windows would be more helpful (Safari + Notes), and the other is culling/rating photos in Lightroom, with some minor editing.

I've found my three year old 11" Air is getting a little cramped for above purposes, and I have an unopened 13" Air from Target waiting to see if a better deal shows up later this week. So yes I'll probably just open and try it myself, but curious as to your (and others) thoughts since @ManuCH so conveniently started the thread.

 

[Dominican]

The biggest problem with the 13 not portable in other hand the 11 is portable … if we had mini pro that’s another story

 

[sparksd]

The biggest problem with the 13 not portable in other hand the 11 is portable … if we had mini pro that’s another story

I haven’t had a problem with portability with the 13” Pro.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I have mostly given up on iPad. Between the MacBook Pro and an iPhone Pro Max, I have used the tablet form less and less. An iPad Mini Pro might change my mind, but the current Mini does not cut it for me. The 13" iPad Pro is so expensive I would never buy one, since I far prefer Mac OS to iPad OS.

 

[Abazigal]

Thanks for the comments and context - your posts have always been helpful in the various threads I've seen you.

As someone who also has found age impacts eyesight, any thoughts about armchair usage with a pen - main use cases are Internet sites (reading/searching info) where multiple windows would be more helpful (Safari + Notes), and the other is culling/rating photos in Lightroom, with some minor editing.

I've found my three year old 11" Air is getting a little cramped for above purposes, and I have an unopened 13" Air from Target waiting to see if a better deal shows up later this week. So yes I'll probably just open and try it myself, but curious as to your (and others) thoughts since @ManuCH so conveniently started the thread.

I feel that so long as portability is not a concern, the 13” iPad will prove to be fine in normal everyday usage. I still remember the week with my 13” iPad Pro. In portrait mode, it mirrors an A4 piece of paper perfectly. Resting the iPad on my lap while reclining on the sofa was pretty comfortable as well. It will allow for an amazing writing experience because you have so much more room to work with.

The main concerns will be with weight and size. For a while, I went back to university for a course and brought my MBA and 11” iPad Pro to and fro daily. The weight overall was very manageable. Not sure if it were a larger iPad, but maybe you are made of sterner stuff than me.

If your iPad largely stays at home, and money isn’t a concern, you won’t go wrong with the larger model, IMO.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Why do so many on here have such a compulsion in making typical buying decisions into mental gymnastics? Asking others is wasting time and rather meaningless. Buy one of the 2 iPads and test it for 10 days. If you are unhappy with the use of the iPad as it solely relates to size, return and buy the other iPad to test for 10 days.

 

[sparksd]

Why do so many on here have such a compulsion in making typical buying decisions into mental gymnastics? Asking others is wasting time and rather meaningless. Buy one of the 2 iPads and test it for 10 days. If you are unhappy with the use of the iPad as it solely relates to size, return and buy the other iPad to test for 10 days.

Very true. It's a personal preference thing where other people's experience really doesn't matter.

 

[deeddawg]

Very true. It's a personal preference thing where other people's experience really doesn't matter.

While others experiences shouldn’t dictate our choices, they can still inform.

Particularly when those experiences come from longer term ownership than the typical return window.

 

[deeddawg]

I feel that so long as portability is not a concern, the 13” iPad will prove to be fine in normal everyday usage. I still remember the week with my 13” iPad Pro. In portrait mode, it mirrors an A4 piece of paper perfectly. Resting the iPad on my lap while reclining on the sofa was pretty comfortable as well. It will allow for an amazing writing experience because you have so much more room to work with.

The main concerns will be with weight and size. For a while, I went back to university for a course and brought my MBA and 11” iPad Pro to and fro daily. The weight overall was very manageable. Not sure if it were a larger iPad, but maybe you are made of sterner stuff than me.

If your iPad largely stays at home, and money isn’t a concern, you won’t go wrong with the larger model, IMO.

Thank you. Yes, at one point I also returned to uni three days a week while working, and understand the portability aspect.

I’ll transport it a couple times a week by car at most, along with larger work laptop so not much difference from what I do now. mostly it will sit next to my living room chair when not in use.

I appreciate your insights.

 

[grammatica]

I had the 13" iPad Pro once. I liked the big screen but the Magic Keyboard make it heavy and cumbersome to use on small surfaces. My friend had the 11" and I was always eyeing it. I am thinking about getting the 11" because of its smaller size and aspect ratio (more rectangle vs square).

 

[BigMcGuire]

My reasoning was ... the 13' iPad was so big and heavy that ... I could just use a laptop at that point. So I went with the 11' iPad. The mini was just too small when I owned a Pro Max so 11' was perfect for me.

 

[Ctrlos]

I often feel that a 13" tablet, too big to really use as a tablet and thus doomed to just serving as a screen would have been better purchased as a laptop. 11" is the perfect size for the iPad Pro, large enough to accommodate a few apps on screen at once but small enough to uncouple and use as a magazine. I ditched the iPad Mini because it was too small for my needs; a 13" screen may as well just be a Mac.

 

[Simacca]

M4 if you dont suffer from fomo.

 

[DeepSix]

Buy both, not the 11" and 13" but two of the 11" or two of the 13".

 

[ManuCH]

Why do so many on here have such a compulsion in making typical buying decisions into mental gymnastics? Asking others is wasting time and rather meaningless. Buy one of the 2 iPads and test it for 10 days. If you are unhappy with the use of the iPad as it solely relates to size, return and buy the other iPad to test for 10 days.

Well, I actually enjoy these kinds of exchanged and thoughts. The mental gymnastics may appear to be a useless waste of time to some, but it can be a nice way of pondering on stuff for others. To each their own, right?

But yes, that's what I'm doing: I am trying out both and I have until the 8. of January to give the new 13" back (thanks to the extended return window for the holidays).

 

[DeepSix]

I have mostly given up on iPad. Between the MacBook Pro and an iPhone Pro Max, I have used the tablet form less and less. An iPad Mini Pro might change my mind, but the current Mini does not cut it for me. The 13" iPad Pro is so expensive I would never buy one, since I far prefer Mac OS to iPad OS.

iPad is not needed once you have a MacBook Pro and Galaxy tablets.

I would love to get M5 Pro to see what all the hype is about but the deal breaker for me is that it can't manually adjust to 1,000 nit's brightness. Can only get 1000 nits if it's on auto brightness which is complete BS if you ask me. Besides auto brightness on any device never works properly. I always have my screens on my Galaxy tabs at max brightness because like my eye doctor told me it's better for your eyes.

Like on my Galaxy tabs, I have a one button widget on the home screen that instantly go from 50% to 100% brightness and vice versa. Don't have to swipe down, up, circular and star shaped 25 times to do that like on a ipad. And at 100% brightness I get 800 nits sustained. If my $400 entry level Galaxy tablet can do it then a $2,000 iPad Pro should be able to.

 

[RevTEG]

I have mostly given up on iPad. Between the MacBook Pro and an iPhone Pro Max, I have used the tablet form less and less. An iPad Mini Pro might change my mind, but the current Mini does not cut it for me. The 13" iPad Pro is so expensive I would never buy one, since I far prefer Mac OS to iPad OS.

I could say the same, but my MacBook would need built-in data and a rear camera before it could ever replace my iPad Pro. My use case is a bit unique. I use my iPad to go live on location, show work progress, and highlight current needs in areas where we do relief work. I can livestream directly to our board and sponsors so they can see everything in real time, while still having a large enough screen to work from. If I had to rely on my phone for a hotspot, it would drain the battery quickly. Plus, for me, my iPhone's screen is to small except for quick FaceTime/Zoom calls. As it stands, my M4 MacBook Air just can’t do what my iPad does. My workflow habits are iPad OS based.