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All iPads Hot Take: All iPads should be a uniform 12”

BB714

BB714

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 21, 2025
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I’ve owned both the 11 and 13 inch iPads and I love them both for different reasons. 11” is just more easily handled, but the screen on the 13” is glorious. Keeping both is too expensive. I think if the size was a uniform 12” across the entire line (Pro, Air, and standard) it would really clear up the confusion which to buy (and which to return). Of course the Mini would stick around too because it’s own category of sorts. A 12” iPad wouldn’t be too much more as to be an inconvenience to 11” users and I don’t think artists and others who use the 13” would mind (too much) about downsizing a screen a little bit in the long run.
 
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I disagree about a uniform size, but I would like to see a 12" option in the lineup. Perhaps the next pros can grow a bit to 12" and 14". If they returned to the 4:3 aspect ratio at 12", the display would be about the same footprint as the iPad 2, 3 and 4. Allowing for a narrow bezel it would therefore only be a bit larger than those original Models, which I think would be perfectly acceptable.
 
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the original 9.7 was fine, the 8.3 is fine - I like the iPad to have some rigidity, the thinner bigger ones seem to be too structurally flexible
 
Taking away choice will be an unpopular opinion of course. There are people who like the specific 11" and 13" sizes. Some would even like it smaller than 11" or bigger than 13".

The argument that both owners should settle with 12" because 1" shouldn't make that much difference to either of them--is flawed because it could be used exactly in reverse. If someone wants 12", then they should get an 11" or 13" because 1" shouldn't make that much difference to them.

If you genuinely think 12" is the best size for you, then I have sympathy that it's not available for you. But to keep it in perspective, there will always be people who want a different size than those offered, no matter what is offered (for instance I personally want a much smaller iPhone). On the other hand, if you want only one iPad size offered just because you are indecisive, then I have no sympathy because that is wanting to punish other people for your indecision.
 
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BB714 said:
I’ve owned both the 11 and 13 inch iPads and I love them both for different reasons. 11” is just more easily handled, but the screen on the 13” is glorious. Keeping both is too expensive. I think if the size was a uniform 12” across the entire line (Pro, Air, and standard) it would really clear up the confusion which to buy (and which to return). Of course the Mini would stick around too because it’s own category of sorts. A 12” iPad wouldn’t be too much more as to be an inconvenience to 11” users and I don’t think artists and others who use the 13” would mind (too much) about downsizing a screen a little bit in the long run.
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I disagree. Different people have different wants/needs, and it seems that sales are sufficient to justify three or more sizes.
 
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both sizes are good and needed. However I would like a 16:9 aspect ratio on the 11 inch. Or make a special 12 inch with the 16:9. Oled screen, give it the good speaker setup of a pro series, and call it the iPad Cinema. This would be incredible for media consumption. Only reason why im considering adding a samsung tablet to the mix, the 16:9 would be great for media. The current 13 is way too boxy for media, the 11 gets closer to 16:9 but there is still wasted space.
Come on apple, iPad Cinema, make it happen
 
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Hot take:

Stop using "hot take" for every brainfart.

As long as all the different iPads sell in large enough numbers to make for economics of scale Apple should continue with them (maybe even offer some more).

As for "expensive" production wise it's all the same if you got 100 lines doing 1 size or spilt it 40:40:20 over 3 sizes.
R&D cost are mostly in the chips and SW regardless of size, and the last thing you wanna do is give developers the notion that there is and always will be just one size the have to develop for.
 
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Hell, no! I love my 11” iPad Pro size, I think it’s the ideal compromise, but it’s already dangerously close to be “too big” for me.

And I’m quite sure that 13” iPad users will probably say that they enjoy that bigger size despite the drawbacks on portability. Offering them only a 12” size could be insufficient for their use, while still being too big to be comfortable carried around.

My hot take: leave the 13” iPad, or make make it a tad bigger if their target users want so, and leave the compact 11” size or maybe even reduce the overall footprint if they manage to make the bezels thinner, rather than increasing the display size.
 
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