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iPad Opinions on on IPad 13”

Wando64

Wando64

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jul 11, 2013
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I would like to upgrade from my 11”pro (2018) to a 13” model and I am getting tired of waiting for Apple to release the m4 pro on the refurb store, so I am considering either an m3 air 13” or an m2 pro 12.9”.
The main worry about the pro is that it is starting to be rather old, but the mini-led seems like it would be a good benefit.
How is mini-led holding up for users that had it from the beginning?

By the way, I am already very aware that either option would be huge improvement on what I have.
 
Wando64 said:
I would like to upgrade from my 11”pro (2018) to a 13” model and I am getting tired of waiting for Apple to release the m4 pro on the refurb store, so I am considering either an m3 air 13” or an m2 pro 12.9”.
The main worry about the pro is that it is starting to be rather old, but the mini-led seems like it would be a good benefit.
How is mini-led holding up for users that had it from the beginning?

By the way, I am already very aware that either option would be huge improvement on what I have.
Click to expand...

My wife is using the M1 12.9 I had before the 13 and it's doing fine - she loves it with the MKB.
 
You don’t have to wait for the M4s to get on the refurb store. Many places are still selling brand new ones online at extreme discounts. OLED is better than mini-LED!
 
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Wando64 said:
I would like to upgrade from my 11”pro (2018) to a 13” model and I am getting tired of waiting for Apple to release the m4 pro on the refurb store, so I am considering either an m3 air 13” or an m2 pro 12.9”.
The main worry about the pro is that it is starting to be rather old, but the mini-led seems like it would be a good benefit.
How is mini-led holding up for users that had it from the beginning?

By the way, I am already very aware that either option would be huge improvement on what I have.
Click to expand...
I was able to get an Air M2 13" 512GB wifi+cellular heavily discounted on Black Friday, and also picked up the keyboard folio and Apple Pencil Pro. Handles really well, absolutely no concerns. Haven't had it from the beginning, but I can see it lasting a few years. It'll be my "on the go" device, since I picked up a MBP M5 as my primary device.

If you're able to get one discounted, highly recommend.
 
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My opinion. Try to hold it, while standing/sitting/lying in different positions, before you buy it. The 13” is a chonker. If you only intend to use it mounted on the Magic Keyboard, no problem, just go buy it.
 
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Concerning weight, compared to your 11":
The M4/M5 13" are half way between the M2 (100gr lighter) and the your 11" (100gr heavier).
The air is roughly half way between the the M2 and the M4/5 (around 50gr from each)

So for handheld use the M4/M5 will be much closer to your 11", the M2 will be the heaviest and the air will be in between
 
I bought (launch day) and used the M4 11” for just over a year. I liked the portability but, found the size cramped when remoting in to my Macs. I also found the double pane window use lacking due to the size of the 11”. I recently bought the M5 13” Nano and have been happy with the bigger size. I don’t always use the Magic Keyboard but, when I have, it has been at home. For my use, there is less friction with the 13” versus the 11”.

I got a Waterfield bag for mobile use with the 13” and it is working out well thus far.
 
Apple_Robert said:
I read just fine with the 13”. I like having a double page view on the screen.
Click to expand...
I appreciate I'm in a small camp. I still think a 13" laptop isn't very portable at all and want Apple to resurrect the 11" Macbook Air. I can't even comprehend the nutters who carry a 15" Air around!
 
Ctrlos said:
I appreciate I'm in a small camp. I still think a 13" laptop isn't very portable at all and want Apple to resurrect the 11" Macbook Air. I can't even comprehend the nutters who carry a 15" Air around!
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I am one of the "nutters" with the 15" Air, for me the weight difference with the 13" is negligeable for the increased size.
If Apple came with an under 1KG laptop (at 13" or 14", already exist in ThinkPad land) that would be another story...
Until then my main on the go device will be an ultralight Thinkpad
 
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Ctrlos said:
I appreciate I'm in a small camp. I still think a 13" laptop isn't very portable at all and want Apple to resurrect the 11" Macbook Air. I can't even comprehend the nutters who carry a 15" Air around!
Click to expand...
Here I am. One of those nutters. What’s interesting is that I have a backpack that can even fit a 17-inch laptop, so it really doesn’t matter whether I throw an 11-, 13-, or 15-inch one in there. Comparing weight is also kind of silly, because there’s other stuff in the backpack that already weighs more than even a 15-inch Air, which is actually very light for a computer of that size.

To me, the real nutters are the ones who can’t understand that people have different needs and use cases, and that’s exactly why there are different products for different people. When someone claims that, for example, a 13-inch laptop is universally too big (not just for their own use), it really seems like they’re not fully confident in their own choices and are trying to justify something to themselves.

I’d also recommend to the original poster that when people here suggest going smaller or bigger, it’s worth thinking about whether they even have the same use cases as you, and whether they use their devices in similar or very different ways.
 
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Folks, the OP is not asking for yet another 11” vs 13” pros/cons thread (we have plenty of those here already). The question asked was, with the M4 not having made it to the refurb store in the UK, should the OP get an M2 Pro or an M3 Air in the 13” size?

To answer that question, I think it depends on what you value most out of using the iPad. The pro will have the better screen (pro motion and HDR), better speakers, and FaceID. But the Air will be lighter. My real recommendation would be to keep saving and be patient to get an M4 13” when available at a price you can afford. The weight savings and screen improvements are just so good. If you really need to pull the trigger now, the M2 Pro is probably the better choice. Just be prepared that it’s the heaviest iPad Pro Apple ever made.
 
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The M2 is starting to get a bit long in the tooth at this point, unless you're someone who upgrades frequently, though if you got your 2018 11" at launch, you likely won't get another 7 years of OS support for the M2 for example. The lack of full HDR support from the Air means I'd either wait for a refurb M4, or even look for a deal on the M5? The next Air refresh could come with OLED too, so that's an option, but does mean waiting longer.
 
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Sami13496 said:
Here I am. One of those nutters. What’s interesting is that I have a backpack that can even fit a 17-inch laptop, so it really doesn’t matter whether I throw an 11-, 13-, or 15-inch one in there. Comparing weight is also kind of silly, because there’s other stuff in the backpack that already weighs more than even a 15-inch Air, which is actually very light for a computer of that size.

To me, the real nutters are the ones who can’t understand that people have different needs and use cases, and that’s exactly why there are different products for different people. When someone claims that, for example, a 13-inch laptop is universally too big (not just for their own use), it really seems like they’re not fully confident in their own choices and are trying to justify something to themselves.

I’d also recommend to the original poster that when people here suggest going smaller or bigger, it’s worth thinking about whether they even have the same use cases as you, and whether they use their devices in similar or very different ways.
Click to expand...
I wasn't really knocking it as a choice, just that it seems crazy to me! Normally if I'm on the road I have a rather crammed rucksack and don't really need more than a couple of windows open at a time.
 
Ctrlos said:
I wasn't really knocking it as a choice, just that it seems crazy to me! Normally if I'm on the road I have a rather crammed rucksack and don't really need more than a couple of windows open at a time.
Click to expand...

I've sometimes had to do some rush work while on vacation and for that, even the iPad (13") gets used as a secondary display for my 15" laptop. A single screen doesn't cut it as I'm mostly working on Excel spreadsheets.

If I didn't have to work, I'd just bring the iPad by itself. No need to bring the laptop.
 
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Wando64 said:
I haven’t found any discounts in the UK
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As someone has already mentioned Costco has some very heavy discounts on both 11” & 13” iPad Pro models at the moment, even if you need to join Costco it’s still worth it. I’ve just picked up a 13” 2TB model for £1199, I don’t need the extra storage but will appreciate the 16GB memory & at that price I just couldn’t resist.
 
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Wando64 said:
I haven’t found any discounts in the UK
Click to expand...
Ring up all the Apple resellers to see what old stock they have.

They sometimes have some good deal. I recently nearly got a M1 Max 16 inch 4TB for £2,500 but they sold it just before… (allegedly)
 
I highly suggest buying two of them. Keep one in a closet as backup. If you have to send your iPad away you have an instant replacement. Also the batteries on the M5 iPads are having it's health degrading by the hours. I would do a battery health check at least 4-5 times a day. Expect to have to buy a new iPad in a year.
 
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