Okay, so a little background. I have the iPad mini 4 which I love for portability. I decided to replace my Air 2 for a Pro 9.7 to try out the likes of the Pencil and other new features. I always thought the 12.9 was too large to be practical for me but eventually caved and picked up a second hand model to play with.
The more I use the 12.9, the more I appreciate the extra screen space and resolution. It is a fantastic media consumption device and my go to device at home with Plex or YouTube. I also think the Pencil just works better with the larger screen - I like using it on the 9.7 but much prefer it on the 12.9.
I keep hitting certain issues that I find bothersome though. For general reading or surfing the net, I much prefer the 9.7. I just find it more comfortable to use at normal distances and the 12.9 makes your eyes work harder as you traverse the bigger screen. I also really hate the stock iOS interface on the 12.9. I think some things can better optimised on the iPad and the 12.9 just exacerbates these niggling issues.
Ultimately though, for me the 12.9 hardware is great but the software lets the side down. Some apps work really well such as Procreate, Garageband, iMovie etc. but iMovie especially, while powerful and a useful tool for a phone, is very limited when you want to go beyond the basics. I also love the biggest iPad for photos but editing software is still a limiting factor on the iPad although I have a feeling that will change for the better when Affinity release their Photo app.
As I said in the subject, the 12.9 is a love hate thing for me. I love the hardware and some usage scenarios but hate stock iOS and the vast majority of apps on the big tablet. It seems the ideal solution currently for me is to keep all three iPads but that really is overkill and a waste of money in many ways. If Apple optimise iOS better for the iPad line and more apps make better use of the power and big screen then while still a hard decision, it would be easier to decide between the various iPads.
I'm still torn between the 9.7 & 12.9 Pros as a home device to compliment my mini 4.
The more I use the 12.9, the more I appreciate the extra screen space and resolution. It is a fantastic media consumption device and my go to device at home with Plex or YouTube. I also think the Pencil just works better with the larger screen - I like using it on the 9.7 but much prefer it on the 12.9.
I keep hitting certain issues that I find bothersome though. For general reading or surfing the net, I much prefer the 9.7. I just find it more comfortable to use at normal distances and the 12.9 makes your eyes work harder as you traverse the bigger screen. I also really hate the stock iOS interface on the 12.9. I think some things can better optimised on the iPad and the 12.9 just exacerbates these niggling issues.
Ultimately though, for me the 12.9 hardware is great but the software lets the side down. Some apps work really well such as Procreate, Garageband, iMovie etc. but iMovie especially, while powerful and a useful tool for a phone, is very limited when you want to go beyond the basics. I also love the biggest iPad for photos but editing software is still a limiting factor on the iPad although I have a feeling that will change for the better when Affinity release their Photo app.
As I said in the subject, the 12.9 is a love hate thing for me. I love the hardware and some usage scenarios but hate stock iOS and the vast majority of apps on the big tablet. It seems the ideal solution currently for me is to keep all three iPads but that really is overkill and a waste of money in many ways. If Apple optimise iOS better for the iPad line and more apps make better use of the power and big screen then while still a hard decision, it would be easier to decide between the various iPads.
I'm still torn between the 9.7 & 12.9 Pros as a home device to compliment my mini 4.