The sweet spot (size) for general use ...

[Atomic Walrus]

Honestly I think the regular iPad looks really small now, but I suppose it could still be the better device if you just want to do web browsing or read email simply because it's comfortably held in one hand.

As a pen input device this size is perfect and I wouldn't want it any smaller.

 

[v0lume4]

The all-around best size I believe is the 9.7" iPad. Steve Jobs had it right. I use my iPad 2 (yep, still rocking the 2) ALL the time, and so often I still find myself thinking, "This is the perfect device."

Depending on the amount of travel you do/which apps you use, the Mini or Pro could be best suited for your lifestyle. But when considering the perfect portability/screen real estate ratio, I'd have to say the original screen size, 9.7", is just right.

 

[whtrbt7]

It's not the size, it's how you use it!
Realistically if we can have a device the size of a keyfob with the screen of a 15 inch retina MacBook Pro, that would be the ideal size. Holographic tech, here we come!

 

[Smeaton1724]

Yes buddy, I returned the Pro.

Hadn't tried a pencil, but I don't draw so it's of no use to me.

I'm still using my iPad 4, as you are, and I am now really wanting to upgrade.

I'm just going to wait it out for the Air 3, which I am pretty sure will be perfect for my wants/needs.

I'm hoping it will come along around about March time (hopefully sooner).

If Apple makes us wait until next September I will lose a lot of respect for them ...

Before the iPad Pro I really wanted to upgrade to the Air 2, for weight, speed (Everything runs on the 4 but it isn't fast) and cellular.

The Pro I knew wasn't any lighter and I've forgoes cellular again but the pencil is awesome. Like many an iPad Air 3 with pencil support would be perfect, but it doesn't exist.....YET. So there's embracing the present or waiting for the future, I can wait until March, but waiting until September would be crazy.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Same setup here. You rocking the 13 or 15 inch rMBP? I'm tempted to buy the Air 2 or the Mini 4 to have a small tablet but I can't really justify the cost after spending ~1200 on the Pro. Such a great device.

I have the 13". i7 3.1, 16gb ram, 500gb sad (apple wants too much for 1tb). I had a 15" for years before that but after using 13" at work for 2 years, I couldn't do a 15" again. The 13" is perfect balance of portability to screen size. 15" feels ginormous to me now.

I currently have the mini retina right now and don't use it as much anymore. Ever since I went from a 6 to a 6S Plus, the mini isn't as good for me.

 

[TheLondonFella]

Before the iPad Pro I really wanted to upgrade to the Air 2, for weight, speed (Everything runs on the 4 but it isn't fast) and cellular.

The Pro I knew wasn't any lighter and I've forgoes cellular again but the pencil is awesome. Like many an iPad Air 3 with pencil support would be perfect, but it doesn't exist.....YET. So there's embracing the present or waiting for the future, I can wait until March, but waiting until September would be crazy.

I agree with everything you say.

I have a feeling the Air 3 is ready now, but obviously if they'd released it alongside the Pro then it definitely would have cannibalised the Pro's sales.

I'm not a betting man, but I'd have £20 on the Air being released in March.

If they DO make us wait until September, then I will lose what respect I have for the company.

However, I feel certain the Air 3 is going to be amazing. I almost guarantee it will have Force Touch (another reason for them not releasing it along side the Pro). What about the 4 speaker system, found in the Pro ... do you reckon it will have that? How about a physical redesign?

Anyway, I'm not going to drive myself nuts about it anymore. I'll just carry on with my iPad 4 (SO pleased I downgraded to iOS 8.4.1 which runs well ... iOS 9 was extremely laggy on it, and completely ruined the experience) and pre-order the Air 3 as soon as I can.

It's nice to know I'm not alone on this one ;-)

Enjoy your weekend ...

The all-around best size I believe is the 9.7" iPad. Steve Jobs had it right. I use my iPad 2 (yep, still rocking the 2) ALL the time, and so often I still find myself thinking, "This is the perfect device."

Depending on the amount of travel you do/which apps you use, the Mini or Pro could be best suited for your lifestyle. But when considering the perfect portability/screen real estate ratio, I'd have to say the original screen size, 9.7", is just right.

Couldn't agree more.

What version of iOS are you running on your 2?

I didn't buy an iPad before the 3 because I couldn't get on with the fuzzy text.

The retina screens are superb.

I initially bought a 3, then had buyers remorse when the 4 came out (Apple's marketing!!) so sold the 3 on eBay & bought a 4 straight away.

Absolutely love the device, but I just want something new, now.

Also, I want to run iOS 9 in my iPad but "can't" on my 4 because it's too laggy on the latest version of iOS.

That's why I wanted the Pro to be "right" for me.

Anyway, can't wait for the Air 3 to come along ...

 

[TheLondonFella]

The 9.7" is the sweet spot for me. My two main uses are ebooks and video (also do mail, iMessage, light browsing, photos, FaceTime, etc). I guess the mini might be better for books and the pro better for video, so the air 2 strikes the balance.

Agreed ...

 

[matttye]

I agree. Haven't thought twice about getting a pro as I'm completely happy with my Air 2. The only thing I don't want to happen is for productivity apps to start getting loads of extra features on the pro that could quite easily be supported on the Air 2.

E.g. I'm waiting for Pages and MS Word to support custom templates (created directly from the iPad itself). No reason such a feature couldn't work on the Air 2.

 

[Night Spring]

have a feeling the Air 3 is ready now, but obviously if they'd released it alongside the Pro then it definitely would have cannibalised the Pro's sales.

I'm not a betting man, but I'd have £20 on the Air being released in March.

But what about the Mini4? They could have released that last year, but waited until this Fall. Based on that, I'm very skeptical about any spring release of an Air3.

 

[Macalway]

The Goldilocks effect (really)

Of course in a lineup your going to pick the middle one as the sweet spot.

 

[kasakka]

The biggest problem with the Pro is that the OS or any software does not really benefit from the larger screen. You don't get to cram more icons on home screens or have different layouts on apps when run on the iPad Pro. The device itself is quite nice. Hopefully iOS 10 will make the Pro better even though I feel Microsoft is right in running a full desktop OS on their Surface Pro line without artificial limitations.

At the moment the Air 2 seems like the sweet spot to me. Very portable and everything is made to work right on it.

 

[bcaslis]

The biggest problem with the Pro is that the OS or any software does not really benefit from the larger screen. You don't get to cram more icons on home screens or have different layouts on apps when run on the iPad Pro. The device itself is quite nice. Hopefully iOS 10 will make the Pro better even though I feel Microsoft is right in running a full desktop OS on their Surface Pro line without artificial limitations.

At the moment the Air 2 seems like the sweet spot to me. Very portable and everything is made to work right on it.

That's not quite true. While the icons are a bit of a joke, Safari is glorious on the Pro. Using it in portrait mode is like a magazine view of the web. Safari is one of the reasons I haven't returned it yet (though I might still). Pictures and videos are simply stunning. While the Air 2 is probably the best solution for someone wanting a handheld device, saying the software doesn't benefit from the bigger screen is simply wrong. Apps that have not been updated for iOS 9 are terrible running in upscaled mode, but anything updated for iOS 9 makes that big screen really impressive.

 

[brentsg]

For use around the house, I like the Pro. For use on the go, the Air or Mini are nice. Since I don't get out and about with mine a lot, I'll be giving my Air to the wife, using a Sony Z3 Compact on the go, and using the Pro at home and for travel when I have the backpack.

 

[Mcdevidr]

For me, after only a day or two of use the Pro feels completely comfortable for normal use. I had the same experience with the 6 Plus. I've had Mini, Air 2 as well. One thing I've learned since getting my Pro is that the case really does matter. I originally got the Apple Silicone back and I liked it but it added weight to the Pro. I took it back and got the smart cover and I'm much happier with that. It may be a minimal difference weight wise but I do believe that there is a fine line as it relates to everyday use and portability for the Pro and adding too much weight or bulk with a case was a huge impact for me.

Any case adds too much weight to the pro in my opinion. I have adjusted to using it full time, but I would never use a case with it. It is like that logitech keyboard that adds 1.6lbs. I mean you are dealing with an item now that weighs as much as a 13 Rmbp with that keyboard case. But to each their own.

 

[cardfan]

I was impressed with the tech of the ipad pro at first. But now that's out of the way, I'm just finding it too big to use comfortably. The smart cover is a bit flimsy IMO in propping it up as it just doesn't hold together strongly enough.

The speakers are impressive but I won't be maxing the volume often on this. The screen is fabulous. The performance is by far fastest of any ipad. The pencil is pretty cool but I'm not much of an artist or note taker with it although there's certain things I liked about having it.

All in all, it's making me want to try a surface pro 4 (and perhaps an ipad air two or mini 4 to replace my first air). The kickstand sounds like it'd solve a few problems. Plus I felt like I wanted to be able to do more than what the ipad and iOS offers. The surface pen seems more functional from what I've seen. And still, bottom line, both are same price. But the Surface seems compelling now for some reason.

So off I go to grab a surface and take my time comparing.

 

[Mike B in ok]

If you only can get one tablet, the 9.7" is a good all around device. If you are splitting up your tablet use, I personally like the Pro/Mini combo. I would use the Pro at home for TV, gaming, web surfing and light work tasks and then use the mini for on the go stuff.

This for me. If you have too much good sense to buy two different iPads, I would go with the 9.7 inch.

 

[xPad]

I truly believe the 9.7" to be the best size for "regular" use.

There's no such thing as either "best" or as "regular use". It's entirely subjective.

I'm certain the Pro is fantastic for artists & the like, but for regular use I feel the 9.7" iPad is just right.

No such thing as "just right" either.

 

[xPad]

I agree with everything you say.

I have a feeling the Air 3 is ready now, but obviously if they'd released it alongside the Pro then it definitely would have cannibalised the Pro's sales.

There's no reason to believe that. It takes a lot of work to tool up for a new device, and there's only so much manufacturing capacity out there.

As the supply of iPad Pros is currently constrained, adding a new iPad Air would constrain supply even further.

And as for cannibalism, Apple doesn't care. But if that was s motivating factor, they could have just released a new Air in September alongside the Mini.

However, I feel certain the Air 3 is going to be amazing. I almost guarantee it will have Force Touch (another reason for them not releasing it along side the Pro). What about the 4 speaker system, found in the Pro ... do you reckon it will have that? How about a physical redesign?

Force touch on a big device is no simple matter.

And there isn't enough room for a four speaker setup with large chambers like on the Pro. They might do four smaller speakers of the type already on the Air, but you won't get as much of an improvement like you might be thinking.

Although a Spring launch for a new iPad Air might happen, I'd be surprised if that happened. The iPad Air is already a top notch device. There's nothing out there better than it at its size.

 

[v0lume4]

Couldn't agree more.

What version of iOS are you running on your 2?

I'm running iOS 9. Let me point out that iOS 6 was the most solid iOS I've used on my iPad 2. iOS 7 crippled it. For me, iOS 9 has been the smoothest running OS since iOS 7. It's still slow. But it works so whatever.

 

[Krevnik]

That's not quite true. While the icons are a bit of a joke, Safari is glorious on the Pro. Using it in portrait mode is like a magazine view of the web. Safari is one of the reasons I haven't returned it yet (though I might still). Pictures and videos are simply stunning. While the Air 2 is probably the best solution for someone wanting a handheld device, saying the software doesn't benefit from the bigger screen is simply wrong. Apps that have not been updated for iOS 9 are terrible running in upscaled mode, but anything updated for iOS 9 makes that big screen really impressive.

Emphasis mine. I'd add a catch to the bolded text: If the app makes use of the extra space. I have apps where the space is basically wasted, and I have apps where it is well used. Basically: if the app is such where it can use the whole display for content (or nearly all of it), it is impressive. Otherwise, if it can't, it will be much less impressive.

 

[Aydy]

I feel the Air2 is capable of so much more than side by side multitasking. They touted the a8x processor, they doubled ram and yet didnt do much with it...Every tech review out there spoke of just how capable these new specs would allow the ipad to be, however in reality all the air2 got was multitasking and a slight speed bump over the previous A7 model/s. Its a shame.

My biggest bugbear with my apple devices is hearing whats available on the next incarnation of the previous model that i spent a fortune on. It feels like i am being drip fed features that i know my ipad can handle but if i want the features i have to upgrade.

 

[MH01]

The iPad Air 2, size , weight, ease of use, is probably the perfect iPad. The iPad pro, is like the 17" of MBPs.

Once you put on the apple KB, things start getting heavy with the iPad pro. The iPad Air 2 with Smart Cover is so compact and light

Content creation, iPad pro by a huge margin.

 

[pirateRACE]

Nah. Wrote off 9.7" since it's too small for productivity and that requires two hands. Optimal sizes are 5.7" for pocketability, 8" for one handed use and 13" for two handed use.

I really like owning a 6, mini and pro. Covers all my needs. I think some could be happy with plus and air though.