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Phone, if I had to choose, as I expect low latency when using it in a mobile environment. The tablet, on the other hand, is used more in an environment where some latency isn't bad. But I see excellent performance from both my 12 Pro Max and M1 12.9.
 
Tablet for me.

I mostly use my phone for calling, texting and as point-and-shoot camera. I don't need top of the line for that. Granted, I do have the latest SoC for now with the iPhone SE3 (A15). Great price and performance plus battery life's not bad for my usage. With my typical light use, I only charge every other day (just top up from 50% to 90%).
 
Tablet, no doubt. It can do 90% of things a phone can do, minus, obviously, phone call and sms. I even play games extensively on iPad now instead of on the phone, simply because the performance on the phone is just not there for intensive gaming, plus the screen is ridiculously small.
 
Tablet, no doubt. It can do 90% of things a phone can do, minus, obviously, phone call and sms.

I've forgotten my iPhone at home a few times and thanks to Wi-Fi calling/ATT NumberSync and SMS forwarding, I can use my cellular iPad as phone with my regular mobile number.


I even play games extensively on iPad now instead of on the phone, simply because the performance on the phone is just not there for intensive gaming, plus the screen is ridiculously small.

Mini 6 is great for handheld gaming. The 11-12.9" are more for gaming with a gamepad/controller.
 
As others above, I use my phone as a phone (and a camera), not as a media consumption, browsing let alone work device. So I don't need the latest and greatest, as long as the camera is decent. And I prefer small and comfortable phones.
My iPad is the opposite, I want it as big as it gets (I have all sizes but I use the 12.9 the most)
 
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I've forgotten my iPhone at home a few times and thanks to Wi-Fi calling/ATT NumberSync and SMS forwarding, I can use my cellular iPad as phone with my regular mobile number.




Mini 6 is great for handheld gaming. The 11-12.9" are more for gaming with a gamepad/controller.
I have been using iPhone so little I have to write a special reminder to remind me carrying it while I am working in the field, which lead to the unfortunate end of the same iPhone being lost since I, well, forgot it somewhere when travelling outside, only to realise it lost one day later. Lmao.

As for gaming, 11” iPad Pro is the largest size i can still hold with two hands and type, while carry enough performance to run demanding games at max settings. iPad Mini screen is too small for iPad unfortunately.
 
Phone. I use it more often, in more places, and it’s more essential to me. Dealing with any unreliability on my phone, including it being slow or laggy, on a regular basis would be extremely frustrating for me.
 
If you had to make a decision
100% up to you and how/what you use them for.

I have a phone and an iPad, have tried many times to use the iPad more for countless things, but I literally charge it up once a month or so in order to have the battery work and perform any updates.

So for me, the phone makes a ton more sense, but only you know your situation.
 
I like that they’re relatively the same now. Exactly why I got the cellular iPad. I can interchange My mini 6 w my iPhone if I feel that will be the better tool for the job.
 
Probably the phone. A fast phone will use minimal CPU resources for my mundane tasks. Which means it won't use much battery. If it's taxing the CPU or the CPU is working longer on a task. It's draining the battery faster.

While there are generational differences in power consumption. In general. The less time the CPU is working. The less it is draining the battery.
 
This is again one of those interesting questions that compel me to think about my choices.

I’d argue that if push comes to shove, I think a good phone is probably a more pragmatic choice. But that requires qualifying what I mean by “good”.

By “good”, I mean (1) a big screen - so 6.8” or a foldable phone (2) high refresh rate screen (3) good software (4) good battery life - min 8 hours SoT - so a good power-efficient chip set and a well optimised OS environment (5) relatively long support cycle - minimum 4 years of OS upgrades (6) large, preferably expandable, storage.
 
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For me a faster tablet would work but I just have the base iPad 9 but it is fast enough for me the a13 is still a pretty good chip
 
Faster tablet for sure, because what are you going to do with all that power on your iPhone?

It is the same reason why my main Mac computer is more powerful than my tablet.
 
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