I had a 10.5-inch iPad Pro back in the day and when the M1 iPad Pros came out, I jumped up to the 13 inch. It was awesome, but it just felt too big to hold. I returned it and got the 11-inch M1 iPad Pro, and it was the perfect size for me. It does just what I want and I’m very happy with the size.
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iPad Pro Yet another 11" vs 13" thread (M5 edition)
- Thread starter ManuCH
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Yesterday I replaced my iPad(5th gen) 9.7". I bought an iPad Pro M5 13" with cellular and nano texture display. I think my new iPad Pro is awesome and I really like the 13" screen.
I've historically preferred the 11" iPad Pro because it felt more portable and comfortable for lounging around the house. At the time, my primary computer was a 14" MacBook Pro, so I always had that for more screen-intensive tasks.
Last year, I sold my MacBook and switched to a Mac Studio as my primary machine. I soon found the 11" iPad screen a bit limiting as my only portable device. With the new iPadOS windowing features and other improvements, I decided to upgrade to the 13" M4 iPad Pro as a laptop replacement. While it's not my primary machine, I use it for web browsing, email, spreadsheets, documents, and media consumption. The 13" iPad with the Magic Keyboard has become the perfect companion to my Mac Studio.
TL;DR: If you have a MacBook Pro, the 11" iPad is a great companion since you already have a larger, more powerful portable screen. However, if you rely on a desktop or want to use the iPad as a laptop replacement, the 13" model is the more compelling choice.
Last year, I sold my MacBook and switched to a Mac Studio as my primary machine. I soon found the 11" iPad screen a bit limiting as my only portable device. With the new iPadOS windowing features and other improvements, I decided to upgrade to the 13" M4 iPad Pro as a laptop replacement. While it's not my primary machine, I use it for web browsing, email, spreadsheets, documents, and media consumption. The 13" iPad with the Magic Keyboard has become the perfect companion to my Mac Studio.
TL;DR: If you have a MacBook Pro, the 11" iPad is a great companion since you already have a larger, more powerful portable screen. However, if you rely on a desktop or want to use the iPad as a laptop replacement, the 13" model is the more compelling choice.
Exactly plus the fact that Apple gimps its performance in gaming makes even less sense.
Apple should put out a 10.9" iPad Pro. After using a 10.9" tablet, I thought it would be too small but I prefer it even over 11". The extra 1/4" smaller gives it even more portability. 10.9 is the sweet spot for portable use. It's the perfect size for in car use, in hand use and can fit in pockets.
Apologies if this is lengthly, but I've gone back and forth on this for years so figured I'd share my thoughts. Of course, all of the usual caveats exists - depends on your workflow, what you want to do with the device, everyone is difference, etc. etc.
TL/DR - The 11" iPad Pro is the safer bet for an all-around usable device. With display scaling you can get almost to the same usable space as the 13" (but it's small). The 11" iPad is a tablet that can scale up to a so-so laptop if needed, the 13" is a so-so laptop that can scale down to a so-so tablet. That being said, you seem to really want to experience the 13" which is why I think you should get that one and use it for a bit. I'm normally not a fan of arbitrary returns, but if you don't get the 13" you will always be wondering if you should have gotten the 13" so you need to experience it.
Expanded Answer: Historically I always had the smaller Pro models (the 9.7" and 10.5"). With the M1 I wanted the new screen and bought into the entire iPad productive narrative and went all in with the Magic Keyboard and Pencil. I even affixed my 10.5" to construction paper for a week leading up to pre-orders to approximate using a device of that size - ha! The 12.9" iPad Pro was an impressive device and for the first month or so I used it extensively, however I noticed that over time the size (not just weight - which has been improved - but the overall dimensions) made it a bit awkward for more casual things - sitting in the floor with my rabbits, reading a book on the cough, etc. Again, some people swear by it, but I found it cumbersome. I even bought a small metal stand from Amazon which worked great, but then I was lugging around an iPad and a metal stand everywhere which was lackluster.
Fast forward several months and I ended up getting a 6th generation iPad mini at a steep discount. I decided to pick it up to be an eReader since the 12.9" was so clumsy with that. What I found over the next 6 months was that without even thinking I began using my iPhone or iPad mini in nearly all instances - even when it wasn't optimal. I'd rather reference material on my phone then get up and lug in the large iPad. The 12.9" became a glorified TV for eating and treadmill use which felt awful given the price.
In May 2024 I decided to consolidate the mini and Pro into a single 11" M4 iPad Pro expecting it to the best of both worlds. And in many ways it was, but as @MacDevil7334 points out - the 11" is actually a bit of an awkward size. I definitely reach for it more often than I did with my larger Pro, but it was still kind of big to just grab and go or toss round. Reading books and manga was fine - but it was still a bit fatiguing after a wile and with manga I felt like one-page portrait was too big, but two-page landscape was a tad small. I also got into classic handheld emulation with Detla and I find the iPad mini is perfect form factors. Large enough to have 3x screen scaling but still have room for controls and old Pokemon games and related ROM hacks are easy to play without a controller. These are a bit large and awkward on the 11" which also isn't very comfortable to hold up in your hands for long periods of time.
All this to say, that for non-productivity traditional personal computer stuff I find that I gravitate towards an iPad mini, or at most 11" iPad Pro, because I want something light and easy to pick up. If I could only have a single iPad it would be the 11" iPad Pro because the hardware is so much better, but if the mini gets the rumored sizable updates I could see the Pro line just getting priced out of my interest unless my artistic hobbies ever grow sizable enough where I could maybe see getting a wifi only home-only larger iPad Pro in many years - but it would be a niche device and not a general personal computer.
As for productivity, meh - this goes by the person. Personally I find even a 13" screen cramped. You can maybe have two usable split screen windows, but the experience is not night-and-day better than the 11". Even with iPadOS 26 I just find productivity on iPad awkward - like I'm using the device with mittens. Window controls and menu bars hide on hover, winding just feels clumsy and app scaling is inconsistent. Honestly the more they push the Mac-like multitasking the less I enjoy it. I feel like the old style was fine for my light usage.
TL/DR - The 11" iPad Pro is the safer bet for an all-around usable device. With display scaling you can get almost to the same usable space as the 13" (but it's small). The 11" iPad is a tablet that can scale up to a so-so laptop if needed, the 13" is a so-so laptop that can scale down to a so-so tablet. That being said, you seem to really want to experience the 13" which is why I think you should get that one and use it for a bit. I'm normally not a fan of arbitrary returns, but if you don't get the 13" you will always be wondering if you should have gotten the 13" so you need to experience it.
Expanded Answer: Historically I always had the smaller Pro models (the 9.7" and 10.5"). With the M1 I wanted the new screen and bought into the entire iPad productive narrative and went all in with the Magic Keyboard and Pencil. I even affixed my 10.5" to construction paper for a week leading up to pre-orders to approximate using a device of that size - ha! The 12.9" iPad Pro was an impressive device and for the first month or so I used it extensively, however I noticed that over time the size (not just weight - which has been improved - but the overall dimensions) made it a bit awkward for more casual things - sitting in the floor with my rabbits, reading a book on the cough, etc. Again, some people swear by it, but I found it cumbersome. I even bought a small metal stand from Amazon which worked great, but then I was lugging around an iPad and a metal stand everywhere which was lackluster.
Fast forward several months and I ended up getting a 6th generation iPad mini at a steep discount. I decided to pick it up to be an eReader since the 12.9" was so clumsy with that. What I found over the next 6 months was that without even thinking I began using my iPhone or iPad mini in nearly all instances - even when it wasn't optimal. I'd rather reference material on my phone then get up and lug in the large iPad. The 12.9" became a glorified TV for eating and treadmill use which felt awful given the price.
In May 2024 I decided to consolidate the mini and Pro into a single 11" M4 iPad Pro expecting it to the best of both worlds. And in many ways it was, but as @MacDevil7334 points out - the 11" is actually a bit of an awkward size. I definitely reach for it more often than I did with my larger Pro, but it was still kind of big to just grab and go or toss round. Reading books and manga was fine - but it was still a bit fatiguing after a wile and with manga I felt like one-page portrait was too big, but two-page landscape was a tad small. I also got into classic handheld emulation with Detla and I find the iPad mini is perfect form factors. Large enough to have 3x screen scaling but still have room for controls and old Pokemon games and related ROM hacks are easy to play without a controller. These are a bit large and awkward on the 11" which also isn't very comfortable to hold up in your hands for long periods of time.
All this to say, that for non-productivity traditional personal computer stuff I find that I gravitate towards an iPad mini, or at most 11" iPad Pro, because I want something light and easy to pick up. If I could only have a single iPad it would be the 11" iPad Pro because the hardware is so much better, but if the mini gets the rumored sizable updates I could see the Pro line just getting priced out of my interest unless my artistic hobbies ever grow sizable enough where I could maybe see getting a wifi only home-only larger iPad Pro in many years - but it would be a niche device and not a general personal computer.
As for productivity, meh - this goes by the person. Personally I find even a 13" screen cramped. You can maybe have two usable split screen windows, but the experience is not night-and-day better than the 11". Even with iPadOS 26 I just find productivity on iPad awkward - like I'm using the device with mittens. Window controls and menu bars hide on hover, winding just feels clumsy and app scaling is inconsistent. Honestly the more they push the Mac-like multitasking the less I enjoy it. I feel like the old style was fine for my light usage.
Aspect ratio is a big thing here. I feel like there is a lot of support for the 4:3 ratio on the larger iPad but in my opinion it's more awkward. I don't want true wide-screen, but the 11" iPad Pro has a near 3:2 ratio (and the iPad mini is exactly 3:2) and it's much better. It gives apps more room in side-by-side split view. Honestly, I find Split View on the 12.9" to be lackluster. you get two somewhat skinny constrained apps.
Just me? I tried out the 13' iPad and found most of the websites I frequented would default to super small text so I was always resizing to make it fit the screen. The 11' iPad - most sites would fill out the screen perfectly.
That's why I think a 10.9" tablet is the best for portable use. It's a lot more portable than a 11". 11" I would say is pushing the limits for using it one handed. It also won't fit in your pocket like a 10.9 does. And there's zero need for a Mini when my phone has the same size screen and it's much better quality and way brighter. Apple should release a Mini MacBook with a 8" screen instead as that would appeal to people a lot more.
I set up my 13" Air (m3) a couple days ago and don't see what you're seeing AFAIK. Sites fill the width of the screen whether in portrait or landscape.
I'm puzzled. iPad 10.9 is listed at 9.79 x 7.07 vs ipad Pro / Air 11 at 9.75 x 7.03" and 9.74 x 7.02" respectively.
And I'm curious what clothing you have with 7" wide pockets?
As for mini vs phone - which phone do you carry with an 8.3" display and 7.69 x 5.3" dimensions? pro max is 6.9" display and 6.43 x 3.07" dimensions.
I prefer the larger display as I'm generally sat with it for content consumption and I find it more immersive, the portability matters less. I do sometimes wonder whether a 12" would offer the best of both worlds, being more compact than the 13", but offering that little extra display area than the 11" can, or if it would be the oppsite, and not satisfyingly compact or immersive to use.
Yes, @Falhófnir, I think you’re right about use case vs size.
I’ve had an 11 inch air for three years, and it's been great for most things. Recently I’ve started reviewing/editing photos (hobbiest) on iPad while sitting in the family room, and the 11 inch was feeling pretty cramped. 13 inch air is much much better so far, but it’s also noticeably heavier and may not be what I grab to take a quick look at emails and websites. Using my MacBook Pro well in my easy chair never was very comfortable … no place for my elbows when on the keyboard and trackpad.
I waited until Black Friday deals to purchase, so I would have an extended return period to really try out the 13. So far I like it, but it will probably be for certain purposes and I’ll keep my 11 inch air for the greater portability around the house.
Presumably, to get back to topic, the size choice among the pro models would similarly depend upon use cases.
I’ve had an 11 inch air for three years, and it's been great for most things. Recently I’ve started reviewing/editing photos (hobbiest) on iPad while sitting in the family room, and the 11 inch was feeling pretty cramped. 13 inch air is much much better so far, but it’s also noticeably heavier and may not be what I grab to take a quick look at emails and websites. Using my MacBook Pro well in my easy chair never was very comfortable … no place for my elbows when on the keyboard and trackpad.
I waited until Black Friday deals to purchase, so I would have an extended return period to really try out the 13. So far I like it, but it will probably be for certain purposes and I’ll keep my 11 inch air for the greater portability around the house.
Presumably, to get back to topic, the size choice among the pro models would similarly depend upon use cases.
In think this
One nice perk of the 13” pro is that its weight is so much closer to the 11 than with the air models
Really?
When I look at Apple.com the Pro 12.9 is 25% heavier than Air 11, and 6% lighter than Air 13.
579g, 460g, and 616g respectively
But the iPad Pro 11” is a smaller device than the 10.9” pro, so your post doesn’t really make any sense.
Also what pockets can fit a 10.9” pro iPad??
Please don’t get him the time of day. Best to not even acknowledge