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All iPads Best iPad for reading ?

A

Abaganov

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 30, 2016
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Tried kindle but I really prefer reading on an iPad , now I’m thinking which one to get, the 11 pro , the air 3 , the iPad gen 7 and also the mini. I know a lot love the mini form factor for reading but I actually prefer the 10/11 size screen for that as I sometime like to use a split screen while reading to research stuff and the mini is tad too small for that from my experience.
I also know the 11 pro is a total over kill for just reading but let’s say money is not an issue. Would love to get your guys input on which iPad gives the best reading experience from the available options ?
 
This really boils down to personal preference.

In general:

iPad mini
best for single-handed use

iPad/iPad Air/iPad Pro 11
if you need larger fonts or if you read in 2-column landscape

iPad Pro 12.9
if you need really large fonts

Personally, the 10-11" class in 2-col landscape is my preferred reading mode (when not on a Kindle).

I find the 12.9 too big for reading novels even in 2-col landscape. My brain can only comfortably process so many words per line. Hence, I actually find myself increasing font sizes and/or margins on the 12.9 to match around the same number of words per line as on the Kindle and 9.7-10.5" iPads.
 
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Abaganov said:
Tried kindle but I really prefer reading on an iPad , now I’m thinking which one to get, the 11 pro , the air 3 , the iPad gen 7 and also the mini. I know a lot love the mini form factor for reading but I actually prefer the 10/11 size screen for that as I sometime like to use a split screen while reading to research stuff and the mini is tad too small for that from my experience.
I also know the 11 pro is a total over kill for just reading but let’s say money is not an issue. Would love to get your guys input on which iPad gives the best reading experience from the available options ?
Click to expand...
The iPad mini is definitely offers the best reading experience.
 
I have used 7" android tablets and then my iPad mini 4 for reading Kindle books and they all worked good. I have since switched to reading on my iPad 11 Pro. Yes it's a little bigger/heavier than the Mini but easier for me to read. I f I know that I'm going somewhere that I will be sitting/waiting for a while, I will take the Mini with me.
 
I've loved iPad for reading since the first generation. I think the iPad mini is the ideal – I've thought of it as the first true real-life Star Trek PADD. (Even without the official app.) It sort of bears the size and weight of a light book.

But I currently just use my 11" Pro for reading. You hold it with two hands and rest it on your lap or knee or table, and the Smart Cover adds a noticeable amount of weight, but it's still quite nice.
 
I LOVE iPads for reading. I've read a handful of books on my iPads. I'm 34 years old and I'm just now starting to use "computer" glasses (I'm nearsighted) because reading small font is getting "difficult" for the first time ever.

I tried getting a Mini 5 late last year and ... found the text just too small to read - but the device was a PERFECT form factor. I just couldn't get used to the font size and lack of screen space for hours and hours of reading.

I've read most of my books on a 10.5 and Air 3 iPad. Now I have an iPad Pro 11' and it is amazing. Looking forward to reading many more books over the next 2-3 years.

I find the 11' just perfect for material on screen - I prefer reading with the iPad nekkid propped up on a few pillows. I can read for 4+ hours non-stop this way. I use the smart cover when not reading on my iPad.

In the past, I've found just reading on my iPhone 11 Pro Max (previously Xs Max) to be very acceptable on long flights to DC from CA (and back) - for whatever reason my eyes just couldn't do the Mini. Personal preference.


For me - the 11' = I can do the Apple Pencil and read for hours and hours with little to no fatigue. Win win.
 
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BigMcGuire said:
I LOVE iPads for reading. I've read a handful of books on my iPads. I'm 34 years old and I'm just now starting to use "computer" glasses (I'm nearsighted) because reading small font is getting "difficult" for the first time ever.

I tried getting a Mini 5 late last year and ... found the text just too small to read - but the device was a PERFECT form factor. I just couldn't get used to the font size and lack of screen space for hours and hours of reading.

I've read most of my books on a 10.5 and Air 3 iPad. Now I have an iPad Pro 11' and it is amazing. Looking forward to reading many more books over the next 2-3 years.

I find the 11' just perfect for material on screen - I prefer reading with the iPad nekkid propped up on a few pillows. I can read for 4+ hours non-stop this way. I use the smart cover when not reading on my iPad.

In the past, I've found just reading on my iPhone 11 Pro Max (previously Xs Max) to be very acceptable on long flights to DC from CA (and back) - for whatever reason my eyes just couldn't do the Mini. Personal preference.


For me - the 11' = I can do the Apple Pencil and read for hours and hours with little to no fatigue. Win win.
Click to expand...
What platform do you use on the iPad Pro -- Kindle, Libby, Books (Apple)?
 
My very first iPad was the Mini 2 which I used a lot for reading and not much else. Then I had the iPad Pro 10.5” for the same purpose and now I have the iPad Pro 11” that I use for reading and for pretty much everything else. I definitely like the more real estate for reading on this iPad compared to the previous two, especially from the Mini 2. I feel like the 11” is perfect for portability as well as ease of reading.
 
If one of my primary use cases was reading, and using the iPad as a "notebook alternative" wasn't extremely high on my priorities, then an iPadPro 11" would be __awesome__. It's a fantastic device as it is, but the slightly lower weight, slightly better size for casual on-the-sofa/in-bed use, would make it better vs. the iPP 12.9 (since this is not budget limited, considering the two Pro models). The 12.9 is better for more general computing, art/design, etc., and both of the iPPs are killer for high performance tasks, like video/photo editing. gaming, the Pencil 2 is fantastic for creation.

Now, when I think "reading" I'm including things like comics/graphic novels, so if that use is mostly for text only, then just for pure "handiness", an iPad Mini is superb (but of course doesn't support the P2, smart KBs, doesn't have 120Hz display, etc.)
 
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zinacef said:
What platform do you use on the iPad Pro -- Kindle, Libby, Books (Apple)?
Click to expand...

All 3. I have a lot of books on Kindle, quite a few on Apple's iBooks and I use Libby a lot. I prefer the continuous scrolling on iBooks the most. A lot of times I'll read on Libby to support my local library then buy the book on iBooks if I like it and finish reading it there.
 
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What will you read? If it's regular novels or "paperback" books, then a iPad mini would work fine. If it's comic books or technical documents, then get an iPad Pro, especially if you're taking notes.
 
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I use my kindle exclusively for reading regular size novel books, as often use Libby as my platform. However, if I’m reading magazines, articles relating to my work I pick up my 10.5 iPP as like reading magazines as much one realistically can with color and two pages.
 
apolkowski said:
new Mini works with Pencil too, so you don't need Pro for making notes.
Click to expand...

Yes, the new Mini 5 works very well with the Apple Pencil 1. The only problem is if you, like me, come from a 10.5 or an Air 3... the screen is just tiny. So if you use the Apple Pencil a LOT and you've used a larger iPad, it's gunna be a negative.

But if you're fortunate enough not to have used the 10.5 or Air 3 -- I highly recommend mini 5. Great great iPad and works very well with the Apple Pencil.

I do wish that had been me. :p
 
rui no onna said:
Neither. I use Marvin.

I buy from Kindle or Kobo and disinfect the purchased ebooks and convert to ePub with Calibre.
Click to expand...

I used to do this back in the day - but found every time I chose an ebook reader app the support for it was gone or either on its way out the door. Sad to see Marvin's last update 2 years ago.

I HATE the idea that I'm buying all these books and when X company dies then all my books won't be accessible. Now, I don't think Amazon or Apple will be on their way out anytime soon but... I remember life before Amazon --- I remember the old Yahoo and Compaq a.... yeah.

Still the idea of having my books accessible in the future independent of DRM is very attractive.

Basically, I got lazy and love the ability to pick up my book on one device, then pick it up on another where I left off.
 
BigMcGuire said:
I used to do this back in the day - but found every time I chose an ebook reader app the support for it was gone or either on its way out the door. Sad to see Marvin's last update 2 years ago.
Click to expand...
Sadly, I just don't think there's enough money to be made with 3rd party readers. I'm just grateful Marvin still works on iOS 13 just the same as it used to (bugs and all) on already supported resolution. Not gonna lie, Marvin's one of the reasons I decided on Pro 10.5 and Air 3 instead of iPad Pro 11. I believe Marvin's pillarboxed in landscape on 11".

I HATE the idea that I'm buying all these books and when X company dies then all my books won't be accessible. Now, I don't think Amazon or Apple will be on their way out anytime soon but... I remember life before Amazon --- I remember the old Yahoo and Compaq a.... yeah.

Still the idea of having my books accessible in the future independent of DRM is very attractive.

Basically, I got lazy and love the ability to pick up my book on one device, then pick it up on another where I left off.
Click to expand...
I used to buy ebooks in Microsoft Reader format. If I hadn't made DRM-free backups of those, I'd have totally lost access to the books by now. I've switched PCs multiple times and Microsoft shut down their activation servers years ago not to mention the ebook sellers I bought from had gone defunct before then.

If the Kindle app was better, I probably would've gotten lazy and just used the Kindle. However, inability to tap on both sides for next page and to disable page turn animations (Kindle app slides in pages) are major dealbreakers for me.

iBooks is a definite no-go as far as book purchases are concerned. I'm on PC not Mac plus I have e-ink readers (Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra H2O) so I need to be able to read my purchased ebooks on multiple platforms.
 
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