iPad Pro New iPad Pro 12.9 vs ..

[rug1111]

I currently have a 2017 iPad Pro 12.9 (256gb/LTE) and a 10.5 (64gb/LTE). Other devices I have: Chromebook 14" (recently sold my macbook air), Mac mini's, Windows box, Chromebox). Sometimes I'm not sure which iPads I prefer to use. I feel the 12.9 is too big to hold sometimes, but when I try to use the 10.5 the screen is a little small. However, I feel the 10.5 is a little easier to handle and carry around the house. I rarely take the devices outside. I'm thinking if I sell both of these devices, consolidate and get the 2018 iPad Pro 12.9 (64gb/LTE) by adding another $100. I also plan to get a mini 4/5 in the future.

Please advise.

 

[ericwn]

Why not just sell the smaller one and get a mini 5 for mobile use and keep the 12.9 that you already have for desktop use?

 

[rumz]

It sounds like you already know what you want to do: new 12.9 + Mini 5. What do you want to use the Mini 5 for? You even the 10.5 feels a little small at times.

I have the first gen 12.9 and 9.7 iPad Pros. Really the only time I have a distinct preference is when I travel-- then I favor the smaller one. What I definitely like about the 12.9 is just hooking it up to a keyboard and using it as my casual laptop replacement as my 2011 MacBook Air is finally getting too slow. Sometimes I'll even hold the 12.9 with one hand, though it's admittedly a bit uncomfortable vs. the 9.7.

So this is my planned setup for this fall:

- 2018 12.9" iPad Pro (or 2019 if it gets updated)
- Brydge Pro keyboard for the iPad-- so now my 12.9" iPad is my casual laptop; used to be a MacBook Air.
- Mac Mini -- for anything the iPad doesn't do natively
- Luna Display -- for controlling and using the Mac Mini wherever I might want at home via my iPad Pro.

The debate is then what do I use for my more portable setup... 11" Pro? Air 3? Mini 5? I've never been an iPad Mini user-- I feel like the 9.7 is a better balance of portability and usability for my use case. Maybe it's partially the contrast with the heavier, larger 12.9 that makes it feel so small

 

[RogerKmilw]

The gen 3 12.9, in my experience, is much easier to handle than the first two gens. I never used to take my gen 1 out of the house because of how unwieldy it is. My 10.5 pro was what traveled with me. Now the 10.5 is collecting dust because this gen 3 is perfectly portable for me. I’m also running the iOS 13 beta and I’m impressed. Makes the 12.9 gen 3 even better!!! Hope this helps.

 

[rumz]

The gen 3 12.9, in my experience, is much easier to handle than the first two gens. I never used to take my gen 1 out of the house because of how unwieldy it is. My 10.5 pro was what traveled with me. Now the 10.5 is collecting dust because this gen 3 is perfectly portable for me. I’m also running the iOS 13 beta and I’m impressed. Makes the 12.9 gen 3 even better!!! Hope this helps.

That's been my basic impression from the couple times I've picked up the new 12.9 at the Apple Store. It feels lighter and better balanced somehow. (Technically it's lighter than the original 9.7" iPad, not quite as light as the iPad 2). Pretty impressive!

 

[AutomaticApple]

That's been my basic impression from the couple times I've picked up the new 12.9 at the Apple Store. It feels lighter and better balanced somehow. (Technically it's lighter than the original 9.7" iPad, not quite as light as the iPad 2). Pretty impressive!

Mine feels great in the hand too!

 

[rumz]

The gen 3 12.9, in my experience, is much easier to handle than the first two gens. I never used to take my gen 1 out of the house because of how unwieldy it is. My 10.5 pro was what traveled with me. Now the 10.5 is collecting dust because this gen 3 is perfectly portable for me. I’m also running the iOS 13 beta and I’m impressed. Makes the 12.9 gen 3 even better!!! Hope this helps.

Thanks for reminding me about this. Visited the Apple store again today and the 12.9 is absolutely comfortable to hold with one hand in either orientation for me, significantly moreso than my gen 1 12.9. Although the 11” is also a notable increase in real estate over the 9.7”, it’s not as tempting to get both with how much better gen 3 12.9 feels. I’d been eyeballing some of the sales on the 11” to tide me over for a while until now

 

[sparksd]

Thanks for reminding me about this. Visited the Apple store again today and the 12.9 is absolutely comfortable to hold with one hand in either orientation for me, significantly moreso than my gen 1 12.9. Although the 11” is also a notable increase in real estate over the 9.7”, it’s not as tempting to get both with how much better gen 3 12.9 feels. I’d been eyeballing some of the sales on the 11” to tide me over for a while until now

I recently got the 2018 12.9 and absolutely love it. I kept my 10.5 Pro but never use it as I prefer the 12.9 screen size. "Holdability" has not been an issue at all and I use it sitting, standing and laying in bed.

 

[rug1111]

THanks for all the feedback. I went ahead and got the new 12.9 and sold both the 2nd gen 12.9 and the 10.5. So far the new 12.9 feels better when holding. I also got an ipad mini 4 and it's doing very well with the beta iPadOS so far that I don't feel a need for the mini 5 yet (maybe i'll hold out until the next update). I find myself using the mini more than the bigger pad.

I actually will give the new 12.9 to my wife since she's in school and will be using it a lot more. She's currently using a 2nd gen 12.9 of her own, but I'm debating whether if I should just sell her current iPad or keep it for my use. I also got a Surface Pro 4 from the bay for personal+work use.. so will see how I like the SP4 and whether i need to sell the 2nd 12.9 (my wife's).

 

[Maven1975]

iPadOS on a iPad 12.9 2018 is meeting all my requirements. Sold everything else and use it as my main along with an XR.

This is coming from someone that would have NEVER felt it was a possible situation. (Without major headaches)

It’s not just a “Tablet” anymore.

The AppStore is WAY too mature and convenient compared to Windows. I have been an ultrabook X1C/MB/MBA/MBP 13 user mainly.

Looking back at my use patterns, it finally clicked. I install next to nothing on my PC/Laptops.

For me, and I know others have a reason, job requirement, or hobby that makes them attractive, these intel powered laptops are just long in the tooth.

I can pop into any application within a second, multitask, create, film, edit... and whatever else just as fast, if not faster with my 12.9.

All while having stupid good battery life, 12.9” screen in a thin, light and tight package in complete and total silence.

I had though Apple was just going to lag on iPad, but it’s clear they are gunning for Intel and making the shift to Arm.

Can’t wait to see what’s next.

 

[fokmik]

Galaxy tab s6 you have to try it when it comes out

 

[maflynn]

I feel the 12.9 is too big to hold sometimes,

The 12.9 is definitely too large to hold, its a product imo that is best used on a desk.

but when I try to use the 10.5 the screen is a little small

Yes and know, in a sense you may be so used to the 12.9 that the 10.5 looks so diminutive, but its not really. I felt that way at the apple store and having the large and smaller iPads side by side. I'm rocking with a 10.5 iPad pro and imo its a nice balance of size, weight and hold-ability.

 

[sparksd]

The 12.9 is definitely too large to hold, its a product imo that is best used on a desk.


Yes and know, in a sense you may be so used to the 12.9 that the 10.5 looks so diminutive, but its not really. I felt that way at the apple store and having the large and smaller iPads side by side. I'm rocking with a 10.5 iPad pro and imo its a nice balance of size, weight and hold-ability.

After using my 12.9, I pick up my 10.5 but the screen is just too small for me now.

 

[maflynn]

After using my 12.9, I pick up my 10.5 but the screen is just too small for me now.

You get used to it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[rumz]

After using my 12.9, I pick up my 10.5 but the screen is just too small for me now.

It works the other way around, too. I've been using my 9.7" Pro to browse the web a lot lately (for a good stretch if time it just stayed in my work bag and rarely saw light-- I used the 12.9" at home).

Now when I pick up the 12.9" the screen looks massive Only problem is that that UI doesn't feel like it properly utilizes that extra size-- something I suspect iPadOS will help address in a few ways. (Especially with desktop Safari).