iPad M4 iPad Pro 11 inch or 13 inch?

[The Game 161]

13 inch

better for content, more enjoyable for viewing all levels of browsing. MK is also better on the 13 inch

 

[The Game 161]

Surprised OP hasn't used a poll here.

I know the old thread had a massive amount of votes

 

[honcho]

I went 11”. I was tempted by the 13” but the 11” form factor is so easy to use and hold.

 

[Nikhil72]

Ended up returning my 11”. The 13” is now easy enough to hold and it wasn’t like I could one hand the 11” either. And my iPad is my work computer too and it made s no sense to keep both, tempted as I am

 

[erasr]

Comment of the year 😀

Quite nice wasn’t it 🙂

Yeah what I failed to explain is that my router is downstairs, underneath the bedroom. And whilst I know most of you have arguments as to why WiFi is perfectly safe, my gut feeling is to not have a device on my stomach for long periods of time. It’s just a gut feeling. No pun intended.

 

[Rafterman]

Best practice is to wrap any sensitive body parts in foil prior to 13” iPad lap use.

Um... /s?

 

[Surfsalot]

Ordered 13" 512GB with folio to try.
Will see.

 

[NauticalDan]

I hold the 11” with two hands in portrait orientation most of the time.
I hold the 13” with two hands in landscape orientation most of the time.

I didn’t really notice a comfort difference, but sold my 11” as the years went on and it was just collecting dust. Most of the time, I wanted the bigger screen.

 

[ArcticBlue00]

I’ve owned both 11” and 12.9” and tried M4 11” and 13” last weekend at the store, but it’s still too hard to choose one.

11” is easier to carry and handle, but feels cramped for a long time use, especially when using it in a split view.
13” got lighter than the previous generation, but it’s still big to handle as a tablet.

My main use case of the iPad is viewing a pdf on the left side of the split view and a note app on the right, so I think I’m leaning towards 13”.
However, I often have to carry my iPad along with my MacBook (for tasks that iPad can’t replace with such as coding, spreadsheets), so lighter+smaller 11” would be good for this.
On the other hand, sometimes I need my iPad to be a laptop replacement (as a sole device), especially when traveling or on business trips. In this case, 13” seems like a better choice because of the larger screen.
But then again, 11” is lighter and easier to carry, so it wins in terms of portability when traveling.

Oh my god, I wish there was a 12” iPad Pro.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

I’ve owned both 11” and 12.9” and tried M4 11” and 13” last weekend at the store, but it’s still too hard to choose one.

11” is easier to carry and handle, but feels cramped for a long time use, especially when using it in a split view.
13” got lighter than the previous generation, but it’s still big to handle as a tablet.

My main use case of the iPad is viewing a pdf on the left side of the split view and a note app on the right, so I think I’m leaning towards 13”.
However, I often have to carry my iPad along with my MacBook (for tasks that iPad can’t replace with such as coding, spreadsheets), so lighter+smaller 11” would be good for this.
On the other hand, sometimes I need my iPad to be a laptop replacement (as a sole device), especially when traveling or on business trips. In this case, 13” seems like a better choice because of the larger screen.
But then again, 11” is lighter and easier to carry, so it wins in terms of portability when traveling.

Oh my god, I wish there was a 12” iPad Pro.

My 2 cents about the portability thing: yes, the 11" obviously is lighter and smaller... but at the end of the day, when you're travelling, you still need to put it in your bag. In terms of portability, it requires roughly the same level of effort as travelling with a 13 inch model. It's not like it's a phone which you can put in your pocket.

In terms of weight... well, I think the 13" is very light, but everyone's arm strength is different of course. I generally compare it to the first 9.7" iPad: people back then were amazed by how thin and light it was. That first 9.7" iPad is more than 17% heavier than the 13" iPad Pro...

If you do end up getting the 13" model, I'd recommend using Stage Manager. It really improves the multitasking experience by a lot. And if you are using a single fullscreen app that you consider to be too big, you can decide to resize the app window a bit... towards the size of the 11" model, an iPhone model and basically everything between.

 

[teohyc]

I’ve owned both 11” and 12.9” and tried M4 11” and 13” last weekend at the store, but it’s still too hard to choose one.

11” is easier to carry and handle, but feels cramped for a long time use, especially when using it in a split view.
13” got lighter than the previous generation, but it’s still big to handle as a tablet.

My main use case of the iPad is viewing a pdf on the left side of the split view and a note app on the right, so I think I’m leaning towards 13”.
However, I often have to carry my iPad along with my MacBook (for tasks that iPad can’t replace with such as coding, spreadsheets), so lighter+smaller 11” would be good for this.
On the other hand, sometimes I need my iPad to be a laptop replacement (as a sole device), especially when traveling or on business trips. In this case, 13” seems like a better choice because of the larger screen.
But then again, 11” is lighter and easier to carry, so it wins in terms of portability when traveling.

Oh my god, I wish there was a 12” iPad Pro.

Both are portable and can be brought anywhere easily.

The question is do you hold the tablet often, or have the tablet on the table often.

 

[mc2000]

Both are portable and can be brought anywhere easily.

The question is do you hold the tablet often, or have the tablet on the table often.

As a project manager, I often visit job sites and annotate pdf drawings. I find the 13 Pro cumbersome to hold with laser and measurement tape in the other hand. That's why I chose de 11 but when I am sitting at my desk, the 13 would be better. Guess I need both!

 

[wmadan]

I didn't think I ever would go from a Pro phone to a Pro Max phone, but I did this time around and I love it. It is not too big or heavy as I feared. I am now rethinking my purchase of an M4 11-inch. I have a 13-inch coming this week to compare it with the 11-inch. Can anyone provide any thoughts on sitting in a chair, legs folded, and writing notes on a 13-incher? I take my iPad to church and that's one of the things giving me pause now.

 

[WidowMaker03TX]

Yesterday, I picked up a 13" Pro after seriously debating between the 11" and 13" Pros. In the end, viewing content on a larger screen pushed me to the 13" Pro.

 

[Surfsalot]

HUGE lol

 

[erasr]

It is huge and personally I don’t want the feeling of carrying around my MBA M2 13” laptop screen, which is essentially what it is.

I’ll do most of my heavy lifting work on the MBA during the work day, leaving that in the office when I’m not taking it to work.

It’s lovely to then have the smaller 11” tablet, ultralight, for news reading and YouTube Premium content.

Quite a few times now I’ve been sat in bed first thing with my 11” and MKB, needing to jump onto Teams or email to do something. What’s perfect is being able to grab the iPad and do it on that, in bed, without having to get my ‘dirty’ work laptop from the office (attic room upstairs).

Or, it’s the weekend, and me and my girlfriend are chatting ideas (we have a side job in a similar marketing field), and we grab the iPad and MKB, take it with us to the coffee shop or bar round the corner and get some ideas down. Or I’ll go alone in the week to escape the house and take the iPad.

It’s so light and easy to move around in all places. The 13“ will feel to me too much like a laptop, plus with the MKB it’s a huge no from me; too heavy and big. The height of the 13” is also a problem with the MKB, higher than my MBA even.

However, if you have a 13” as your computer, it’s amazing. The screen is also big and amazing, more immersive, but there’s compromise with either size.

 

[Surfsalot]

It is huge and personally I don’t want the feeling of carrying around my MBA M2 13” laptop screen, which is essentially what it is.

I’ll do most of my heavy lifting work on the MBA during the work day, leaving that in the office when I’m not taking it to work.

It’s lovely to then have the smaller 11” tablet, ultralight, for news reading and YouTube Premium content.

Quite a few times now I’ve been sat in bed first thing with my 11” and MKB, needing to jump onto Teams or email to do something. What’s perfect is being able to grab the iPad and do it on that, in bed, without having to get my ‘dirty’ work laptop from the office (attic room upstairs).

Or, it’s the weekend, and me and my girlfriend are chatting ideas (we have a side job in a similar marketing field), and we grab the iPad and MKB, take it with us to the coffee shop or bar round the corner and get some ideas down. Or I’ll go alone in the week to escape the house and take the iPad.

It’s so light and easy to move around in all places. The 13“ will feel to me too much like a laptop, plus with the MKB it’s a huge no from me; too heavy and big. The height of the 13” is also a problem with the MKB, higher than my MBA even.

However, if you have a 13” as your computer, it’s amazing. The screen is also big and amazing, more immersive, but there’s compromise with either size.

I have a 24” imac in my home office, can’t carry it around lol
Don’t really want another Mac, I’ve had the 12.9” before.
The lighter weight on the 13” is good, the new folio is too.
I don’t use a keyboard on iPads, another reason I don’t want a MacBook.

Those saying video is not much bigger are kidding themselves lol

No winners here just what people prefer.

 

[Surfsalot]

Nice having a full on screen keyboard for a non keyboard user.
Nicer size and balance on the lap too.

$2538 AUD with edu discount is hard to cop lol. 13” 512GB with folio.
Lucky get 10% of that tax back and a tax right off but still.

 

[teohyc]

Just made a video comparing the 11 vs 13 from the perspective of someone who uses the tablet for drawing outdoors.

Video's 17 min

13-inch has some undeniable advantages.
+ Better for Stage Manager
+ Better for split screen use
+ Better for reading PDFs, comics, documents where text size is fixed and small
+ Better for use as wireless external display
- Weight is now a lot more manageable, but size is still unwieldy

 

[alecgold]

Just made a video comparing the 11 vs 13 from the perspective of someone who uses the tablet for drawing outdoors.

Video's 17 min

13-inch has some undeniable advantages.
+ Better for Stage Manager
+ Better for split screen use
+ Better for reading PDFs, comics, documents where text size is fixed and small
+ Better for use as wireless external display
- Weight is now a lot more manageable, but size is still unwieldy

nice points, but they all boil down to one point: more real estate is better (probably in your use case).
But if you haul around a 13/14/15/16” laptop, the iPad is exactly what it is supposed to be: an additional device. And in that case the 11” offers a lot of extra’s in a small package:
+ extra screen
+ 5G
+ same processor/GPU
+ pencil for note taking/drawing/doodling
+ less weight
+ easier to pack and haul around
+ easier to hold and handle.

 

[SkweeBop]

I can't imagine going for something smaller than the largest possible for myself. I bought a refurb 11" pro because the only way you could get a big one was to go Pro, and truly I wish I'd bought the larger model--but my use case is almost strictly musical score reading with the iPad sitting on a music stand or attached to a mic stand. I don't typically use the camera for anything but scanning in ForScore as any tablet is cumbersome for photography.

The fact that they are offering an Air with a giant size will definitely be my next purchase when I need it, and I'm now considering a trade in on that big Air.

 

[erasr]

Just been to the Apple Store again. Spent ages comparing both in various different ways.

It’s a hard no for 13” from me, however it is a beautiful screen and would make an awesome laptop replacement or device to watch video.

So that’s the thing, I mostly use mine to read the Apple News, other news subscriptions, forums, Reddit and YouTube premium.

For reading and browsing, 11” is definitely more comfortable. I get that websites render slightly better on 13” but it’s way more uncomfortable and awkward for long periods holding the 13”.

11” feels like the Mini in comparison, in a good portable sense. It’s a beauty for reading and surfing, especially one handed.

13” excels if I’m watching video in bed, which I do do, but it’s not worth the trade off for lightness and browsing experience.

It felt too big for browsing and reading. Almost silly.

Just my opinion though. Not fact.

Portability and size of 11” is the actual USP. People say bigger screen is better, but no, I feel it’s worse for browsing and reading news.

 

[richpjr]

People say bigger screen is better, but no, I feel it’s worse for browsing and reading news.

For those who hold it, agree. If you use it with a MKB the bigger screen can't be beat. I have both an M2 11" and a M1 12.9 and use them for different purposes just for this reason. I am trying to decide if I will upgrade one or both to the M4 version depending on what, if anything, interesting is announced next week.

 

[Rafterman]

Is the 11 really that much smaller than the 13 for carrying around? 1.3 lbs vs 1 lbs, 13 inches vs 11. To me, the differences seem negligible.

 

[Johnny Steps]

I find it interesting how bigger products tend to be more popular. You would think a portable, yet just as powerful device would be the one consumers go for. But as we saw with the discontinuation of the iPhone Mini, the people voted with their wallets. I think it's how I love the size and form factor of the Nintendo Switch Lite, but I would want it to have the power of the OLED Steam Deck.