iPad 11 vs 13 and why

[throAU]

I use my iPad purely as a tablet. No keyboard, and held in my hands. It’s a device that supplements my main computer, not replaces it.
As such, I think that 13” would be too cumbersome. I’ve even considered going back to a mini at times. (my first iPad was a Mini 4)

Similar use case to the person I know who discovered 13" is too big.

 

[Madmic23]

I’m an artist, and since 2018, I have always felt the 11” iPad Pro is the perfect size tablet. For me, tablets were meant to be held, and in that regard, the 11” is perfect. Not too big. Not too small. I also have an iPad mini 7 for when I really wanna travel light. To me it’s the perfect size digital sketchbook when on the go for quick doodles. Now I want to add a 13” iPad Air to the collection for those times I crave a slightly larger drawing area. The 11” iPad Pro will always be my main content creation & media consumption device… so that is why I decided to go with the 13” iPad Air & not the 13” iPad Pro to save some $. Plus with 12gb of ram the M4 iPad Air has as much memory now as the base iPad Pros. 👍🏼 I know some may say 3 iPads is overkill, but I don’t own a laptop or computer anymore. I do everything on iPads. And traditional artists usually have multiple sized paper sketchbooks… so i don’t think having 3 different sized iPads is too much. 😉

What app do you prefer for sketching? I'm not an artist, but I like to draw from time to time, and I'm curious what other people think is best.

 

[PandaPunch]

What app do you prefer for sketching? I'm not an artist, but I like to draw from time to time, and I'm curious what other people think is best.

If you want a free app, there's sketchbook. Then you can pay about $3 for premium. I have used this app, it's pretty nice.

Sketchbook - For everyone who loves to draw

SketchBook is sketching, painting, and illustration software for all platforms and devices. With professional-grade drawing tools in a beautiful interface, Sketchbook is easy to use for anyone who wants to explore and express their ideas.

www.sketchbook.com

I'm not a professional artist or anything, but I hear a lot about the app Procreate. That's about $13 for a one time purchase without a free trial. I'm tempted to get this app myself just for art for therapeutic reasons.

Procreate — Creative apps designed for iPad

Powerful and easy-to-use drawing and animation apps, made for both creative professionals and aspiring artists. Pay once. No subscription.

procreate.com

 

[Yandawg]

I have a 13" M5 for the couch. I have a 11" M4 for the bedroom because I wear a CPAP mask and when I am about to go to sleep, I surf the web on my back holding the 11" ipad up above me. The little added weight of the 13" is just a lil' more than I want to hold in the air for 15-20 minutes.

 

[Meedoss]

11" is best all rounder big iphone

 

[actcyclist]

I have tried the 13” and found it more cumbersome when typing on my lap (on a cushion). I typically need to rest a finger on top to steady it. Also the 11” seems to have a lower centre of gravity so it’s less liable to topple backwards.
The extra weight of the 13” is OK, but the 11l is just easier to carry, or put into a bag.

 

[Greenmeenie]

What app do you prefer for sketching? I'm not an artist, but I like to draw from time to time, and I'm curious what other people think is best.

Well, Procreate has been the reigning favorite for awhile now. But there are many others like Paper, Sketchbook & Concepts. You can also doodle on the notes app included on your iPad. ✍🏼 👍🏼

 

[drmeatball]

My rational was 13” for sheet music readability. I’m not disappointed and quite happy with the size for most apps. I did have to learn to hold the 13” differently as it could become quickly uncomfortable. No intention of downsizing when the time comes to replace.

Also 13" for sheet music.

 

[bapegg]

It's going to depend on personal preferences and what you actually do on your iPad. Some will prefer the 11" while others prefer the 13". All I can say is to check both out and see.

I've had the iPad mini , 11" and 13" versions and I find the 11" to be the sweet spot for me. But I also have a Mac mini and a MacBook to use.

 

[SoYoung]

Depends what you want to do with it. I have the M4 11' and the M5 13' one and I don't use them for the same purposes. M4 is more for casual web browsing, mails etc, the 13' is when I want to watch shows, YouTube, editing photos, anything that a bigger screen is very important to me and the OLED 13' screen is simply amazing.

But if I have to chose only one I'd probably chose the 11' one for the portability and more comfortable to hold on the long run. The 13' one is more like a luxury thing for me.

 

[Zazoh]

The beauty of the 11 is I’m slouching on the sofa and typing with my thumbs on the 11. Can’t do it with a 13. I tried. Bigger isn’t better. Would you carry and 11 iPhone?

A tablet sweet spot is 11. Some find the mini better for them and some the 13 but peak tablet size is an 11 for most.

 

[jsmith1]

The beauty of the 11 is I’m slouching on the sofa and typing with my thumbs on the 11. Can’t do it with a 13. I tried. Bigger isn’t better. Would you carry and 11 iPhone?

A tablet sweet spot is 11. Some find the mini better for them and some the 13 but peak tablet size is an 11 for most.

Agreed, if I had no laptop I might have gotten 13 but to stay in one location while taking 11 mobile

 

[mac4good84]

I too was debating this as I bought an iPad recently. I tried out the 13 inch in the store and while the extra screen is very nice indeed in terms of opening of the use of the app windows, multitasking and watching videos, the 11 inch is simply easier to hold and use and for my own case uses it was more than adequate for my needs. We also have a MacBook Pro M3 14 inch we use so it was overkill to have the larger screen.

 

[Zea74]

We have the three sizes at home - Mini 6, bought as an e-reader, iPad Pro 11” (2018), intentionally bought as my main device, and an iPad Pro 12.9” (2020), gifted by my wife’s work. Basically, whenever I hold one of the two larger devices, I have the feeling that this is the best size, until I pick up the other one. But as a previous poster stated - the 11” IS easier to hold as a tablet, and for the use cases where you’d want more screen estate, with the current M chips external display support seems perfectly useable, AND the smaller size is 350€ cheaper. So when replacement time is there, I think I’ll opt for the 11” size as my main device. I’d also prefer to ditch the two other devices, for simplicity reasons.

 

[HouseLannister]

I like them both for different use cases.

11" for portrait use in bed to read comics, kindle, and the web. A device for idle activity when a laptop is inconvenient.
13" for landscape use with a keyboard attached. Split screen apps and other productivity-focused use cases. Laptop replacement.

 

[thadoggfather]

had a 2017 12.9" iPad Pro, 2021 M1 11" iPad Pro with keyboard. Most recently 11" M4 with nano+cellular.

keyboard experience was way better on 12.9", as a tablet experience way better with 11"

I prioritize the latter, so 11" all the way for me. Not even sure I'm going to get the keyboard this go round.

 

[Pug72]

Definitely agree with the theme here of 13" if using also as laptop with keyboard, 11" if using as tablet.

If you have a MacBook, then a 11" iPad compliments it beautifully.

 

[Aquarium2now]

13'' for the win, used for reading sheet music during performance. Readability and legibility are markedly better, affording plenty of space for revisions and notations. Placed on an iPad stand, audience cannot tell the difference between sizes. Won't ever go back to smaller screen, although still carry smaller, older model for backup, which has not been needed (knocks on wood).

 

[bapegg]

13'' for the win, used for reading sheet music during performance. Readability and legibility are markedly better, affording plenty of space for revisions and notations. Placed on an iPad stand, audience cannot tell the difference between sizes. Won't ever go back to smaller screen, although still carry smaller, older model for backup, which has not been needed (knocks on wood).

Everyone's use case is different and will have a different preference to screen size. In your case, it makes sense to go with a 13" iPad.

If you need to bigger screen size for what you are doing and generally leave the iPad on a table or stand then the 13" wins. The 11" makes more sense for those that generally hold their iPads in their hands.

I personally found the iPad mini to be too small at times even for general reading and web content. But others love the size of the iPad mini.

It seems to be the general consensus that the 11" is the sweet spot for most people that hold an iPad in their hands.

 

[Dominican]

Only reason they didn’t get a 13 is MacBook Neo but gonna end up getting 11 pro

 

[RevTEG]

I've only owned the 12.9/13 pro since it was released in 2015. I love the size. It did take me around two weeks to adjust to the size. But that was years ago now. I travel for work. For me, the 13 inch is no different than carrying a MacBook Air. People have been traveling with laptops for many years. So is the 13 in iPad to big? Simple answer is no. But there are some things to be considered. Do you fly a lot? The 13 in with the keyboard is a hard fit on a tray table in economy, even on international Long haul flights. Works great in exit rows and in business class. For me, the hours I spend flying are minimal compared to my other usage. The size for study, research and teaching from has been perfect for me. I "looks" a little large for me when speaking at weddings. I those cases I use my wife's mini. Overall, the 13 works great for the majority of my needs.