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iPad Pro Just upgraded from iPad Pro 10.5 to 11” and I’m not sorry

gmikesell

gmikesell

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 31, 2009
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I spent months reading reviews and “should I upgrade” posts and videos. Nervous as all get out that I would be filled with buyers remorse after dropping hundreds of dollars on the new iPad Pro 11” I finally said screw it and went ahead and did it. I’ve had it for a couple days now and I’m just going to say if you have the means, I highly recommend it! Would I skip my rent payment for it? Hell no. The iPad 10.5 does still work but if you liked the iPad 10.5 I’m going to bet you’re going to love the iPad 11”! Significantly faster, more responsive, larger display in a similar enclosure size. A little lighter. Bright display with a bit more contrast. Also, I did get the cellular version and after a day of use, I’m not seeing any enclosure warping and not having touch response issues with the keyboard or anything else. No funky white ghost dots or “dirty screen” symptoms. I’m not even missing the home button like I thought I might. The Face ID works fantastic for me. All in all, I’m pretty optimistic I’ll be happy with this till the next iPad is released! Lol in my experience, trying the new iPad out in the store didn’t do it justice. As soon as I was able to incorporate this device into my daily work flow, that was when I got the “ahhhh” feeling I was hoping for. Crossing fingers I don’t have issues develop later down the road.
 
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Thats great! What is odd though is that every time there is a new device release, we inevitably end up reading these kinds of posts. Sure there are enhancements in new releases, nevertheless, the question always remains: What is the value proposition that such enhancements bring, and at what cost?

For example, a user could very well make the assessment that the 11” iPad has enough value to justify upgrading from the 10.5”, but equally another user could also be justified in asserting that the value proposition of the enhancements that the 11” provides is simply not enough to warrant an upgrade.
 
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I've been using my iPad Pro 11” for months and I cannot be happier about it. It is the perfect portable computer for me. I really wish the the iPad mini had the same form factor so that I can bring it with me everywhere I go with my small shoulder bag.
 
The 11” is a beast of a machine. A beast that is also very refined.

However, unless I had a specific reason to upgrade, I personally wouldn’t. In fact, I just bought the 10.5” Pro, since the 11” cost 52% more.

I’ll upgrade after a few years. My dream machine would be something like an 11.5” with Smart Keyboard that has a function key row, 18.5+ mm key spacing, backlit keys, and caps lock light. An 11” would be OK with 18 mm key spacing but I’d like to see those other features I mentioned.
 
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EugW said:
The 11” is a beast of a machine. A beast that is also very refined.

However, unless I had a specific reason to upgrade, I personally wouldn’t. In fact, I just bought the 10.5” Pro, since the 11” cost 52% more.

I’ll upgrade after a few years. My dream machine would be something like an 11.5” with Smart Keyboard that has a function key row, 18.5+ mm key spacing, backlit keys, and caps lock light. An 11” would be OK with 18 mm key spacing but I’d like to see those other features I mentioned.
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I agree, I found a new boxed and sealed 12.9" 1TB 2018 iPad online. After contacting Apple to find out it had not been registered and was not listed as stolen, for £1300 it was a steal. (Guy gets yearly updates though his company and sells them on if he feels they offer nothing he needs) makes himself a fair amount of cash and I got a great deal. Even the Apple rep said buy it!

Its a beast and now I'm used to its size I love it. My Air 2 was dying and the touch screen was more of a window it was so unresponsive. It was from launch day though so faired well. Had I not have found the 12.9" pro 3rd Gen, I would have probably have gone for the 10.5" pro as well. The 11" not really having much more that makes it stand out, and I have to say thin bezels and FaceID in portrait mode is a total pain you always cover the camera up, well I seem to. I belive even now I could not tell the difference in processor speed for most tasks between my current iPad and the 10.5" Pro tbh. They are all that good now, the 10.5" I've seen for some great prices in sales of older stock in some brick and mortar stores too.
 
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I’m glad you’re happy, in the end that is all that matters.

I had the 11”pro for a month and a half before ultimately deciding to return it. I also have had a 10.5 Pro since launch. The practical and logical side of me won out in the end as I couldn’t find a single thing the 11 could do that the 10.5 couldn’t. My favourite things are the 4GB ram (less app and safari reloading), 4 speaker audio (Netflix), and promotion(basically no lag scrolling or with pencil). The other things were trivial in the end. I also became a bit jaded with Apples QC lately. And my 10.5 developed a white spot and I couldn’t sell it in good conscience.
 
Moyapilot said:
I’m glad you’re happy, in the end that is all that matters.

I had the 11”pro for a month and a half before ultimately deciding to return it. I also have had a 10.5 Pro since launch. The practical and logical side of me won out in the end as I couldn’t find a single thing the 11 could do that the 10.5 couldn’t. My favourite things are the 4GB ram (less app and safari reloading), 4 speaker audio (Netflix), and promotion(basically no lag scrolling or with pencil). The other things were trivial in the end. I also became a bit jaded with Apples QC lately. And my 10.5 developed a white spot and I couldn’t sell it in good conscience.
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It's too bad you got the white spot. That thread about it here is a long one. It seems there have been many QA issues lately, including the white spot, bend gate (number 2, as the first time was with an iPhone), and the MacBook / MacBook Pro keyboard stickiness issue. What's worse though is it seems a lot of these issues are indirectly related to Apple's targets of thin and light. I love these thin and light devices, but wish Apple could ease off just a little bit on their aggressiveness to achieve this.

I didn't buy the 11" Pro because of the cost. I think the Pros are too expensive, and only considered the 10.5" Pro because of the refurb. pricing.
 
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The 11" iPad Pro is a sweet, sweet piece of kit, no doubt. I upgraded from the original iPad Pro so the improvements were quite a bit more significant.

The only issue I have is that having such a powerful and sleek piece of hardware only highlights to me just how limiting iOS 12 is on the iPad. Using split screen and moving files between apps is still wonky and inconsistent. I'm still happy with my iPad but am more ready than ever for Apple to do something different with the iPad version of iOS this year. It's time to remove the software shackles.
 
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killhippie said:
I agree, I found a new boxed and sealed 12.9" 1TB 2018 iPad online. After contacting Apple to find out it had not been registered and was not listed as stolen, for £1300 it was a steal. (Guy gets yearly updates though his company and sells them on if he feels they offer nothing he needs) makes himself a fair amount of cash and I got a great deal. Even the Apple rep said buy it!

Its a beast and now I'm used to its size I love it. My Air 2 was dying and the touch screen was more of a window it was so unresponsive. It was from launch day though so faired well. Had I not have found the 12.9" pro 3rd Gen, I would have probably have gone for the 10.5" pro as well. The 11" not really having much more that makes it stand out, and I have to say thin bezels and FaceID in portrait mode is a total pain you always cover the camera up, well I seem to. I belive even now I could not tell the difference in processor speed for most tasks between my current iPad and the 10.5" Pro tbh. They are all that good now, the 10.5" I've seen for some great prices in sales of older stock in some brick and mortar stores too.
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Same here. I got my 11” 1TB cellular unlocked for $1,329 and it was sealed, brand new, never registered.. I’ve since added AppleCare+ and a minimalistic folio case with a screen protector. It is a beast, and editing very large 4K video is just so ridiculously butter smooth. I can do anything I want on this iPad, and store all the stuff I need to.
 
At this point im waiting for the 11 pro replacemenr, would that be at the end of the year, maybe one a thad bit thicker..
 
MisterSavage said:
Same here. I was worried about Face ID in landscape mod when the iPad in in my lap but it works perfectly.
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I'm not sure why you would be worried about that. The technology was designed in the first place on the iPad to work this way.

The main problem people have complained about is just the fact they grab the iPad where the Face ID sensor is located, and thereby cover it up inadvertently, preventing Face ID from working.
 
I made the same upgrade when the 11" was released. I have no regrets whatsoever. Both are fantastic devices, but I love Face ID and the new charging method for the Apple Pencil.
 
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EugW said:
I'm not sure why you would be worried about that. The technology was designed in the first place on the iPad to work this way.
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These were the first devices where Face ID was used in landscape mode. These devices are much further from the face than a phone typically is. Wondering if Face ID would work as well doesn't seem a stretch to me.
 
MisterSavage said:
These were the first devices where Face ID was used in landscape mode. These devices are much further from the face than a phone typically is. Wondering if Face ID would work as well doesn't seem a stretch to me.
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I can tell you from experience that FaceID works very well on the iPad Pro in either orientation. The only real issue I have is that one of my hands tends to block it in landscape mode, but it quickly warns me and I remove the hand and then it works fine. I have no complaints.
 
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redman042 said:
I can tell you from experience that FaceID works very well on the iPad Pro in either orientation. The only real issue I have is that one of my hands tends to block it in landscape mode, but it quickly warns me and I remove the hand and then it works fine. I have no complaints.
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Same here. My initial concern evaporated as soon as I got my new IPP. I love Face ID and would never go back to a Touch ID device.
 
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I’ve got the 1st gen 12.9 IPP, had the 11” (256gb) for a week before returning it. It was great, but the cost made me appreciate my 1st gen more, especially as I would have to add the cost of pencil 2.

Gonna have to play with the new iPad airs, before making a final decision. Would get £243 from Apple to trade-in my 1st gen.
 
Right now USB-C doesn’t add much benefit over Lightning IMO but I suspect that could change with iOS 13, with true external storage support. If not iOS 13 then perhaps iOS 14.

I’m not convinced they’d bring that to the Lightning models, even though they could. We shall see.

However, I’m happy to ride it out with the 10.5” for a few years until this USB-C implementation matures.
 
Just bought Affinity Photo. A lot of it is instantaneous and uber smooth on the 10.5" iPad Pro, but of course some of the more involved actions take a little while. I suspect for these latter actions that it'd be noticeably faster on the 11" Pro.
 
So I purchased the iPad Pro first GEN 12.9 cellular loved it and then when the second GEN came out I pick that one up from T-Mobile then this last year I waited a bit before trying to order the third GEN I was originally planning to stay with the 12.9 but trying to purchase It from T-Mobile was almost impossible even after waiting a couple months I must’ve ordered one in December with a delivery of January order got canceled trying to get an order got canceled so I decided to step down to the 11 inch I thought I’d be disappointed but honestly I feel more comfortable bringing the 11 inch model everywhere I go with the Apple Pencil attached on top and I ever would have with the 12.9 granted the 12.9 has a smaller all around size are the same size screen in the 11 inch is the same size as the vases the 10.5 but with a bigger screen so we’ll just have to wait till next time they release the pro to determine which one I’ll go with next but after having it for a good three months I am absolutely in love with the Face ID and much smaller basils And the new body style all the way around
 
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I went from a 10.5 Pro to the 12.9. I decided although the 3rd gen 12.9 was much smaller than the prior versions it was still too big for what I used it for. I'm completely satisfied with my 11 incher.
 
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