Week one with the 12.9 after owning a 10.5

[stevo8]

Coming from the 10.5, I figured I could use the added real estate of the new 12.9 considering it is now a fair amount smaller than the old 12.9. I used the 10.5 as a daily tablet for email, web etc. additionally use it a lot for photo editing via Lightroom. Loved the 10.5, no complaints. Hated the apple pencil charging/pairing design but used it a lot and always wondered how editing would be with more screen to work with.

So after a week with the 12.9, I just don’t think it’s for me. While smaller than the old 12.9, it is still significantly bigger than the old 10.5, and that size difference makes it very hard to do simple tasks while laying in bed, on the go, standing up etc. it’s really only nice when sitting at a desk or table.

So I ordered the 11”. Hopefully I enjoy it as much as I did the 10.5

 

[MisterSavage]

I had a similar situation coming from the 9.7 IPP. I thought the 12.9 would be for me because of the size reductions but that wasn't the case. I ended up exchanging it for an 11 and I love it.

 

[fm_carv]

I’m the opposite, had a 12.9 first gen iPad Pro and was really thinking about getting a smaller iPad this turn but then when I saw how small the 11’ looks side by side with the 12.9 decided to go for the larger one.

Can see the advantages of having the 11’ especially while travelling but don’t think I could get used with the smaller size

 

[Greenmeenie]

Hey, I was coming from an iPad mini...and at first I was drawn to the 12.9” as well cause I am an artist. But I travel a lot (hence the mini Love)...so I ultimately chose the 11” for that reason. Portability & power. Although the new slimmer 12.9” is more portable than the last, and many people will and do travel with it, I just felt the 11” was a better choice for me. I think if Apple offered an iPad mini with pencil support, I might have gotten that and then the 12.9” for art at home. But alas, that was not a choice. So the 11” It is, and I am happy with my decision.

 

[Cosmo M3]

Went from the 9.7 to 12.9 (Gen 1) to 10.5 (Gen 2) to the 11 (current) and I’m pretty happy with the smaller size.

 

[pixelements]

So I ordered the 11”. Hopefully I enjoy it as much as I did the 10.5

You will love it - I had the 1st gen 12,9, switched to 10,5 and now to the 11. It‘s the perfect size for me to edit my Fuji Raws with Affinity Photo and travel around!

 

[macduke]

I went from 10.5” to 12.9” as well and I can’t stop using it. That beautiful, massive display in such a thin and light package is stunning. I got out my original 9.7” iPad last night and holding both in my hands it was just nutty that this thing is lighter than the original. I love it. I just hope Apple makes some big software improvements to the iPad Pro in iOS 13.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Coming from the 10.5, I figured I could use the added real estate of the new 12.9 considering it is now a fair amount smaller than the old 12.9. I used the 10.5 as a daily tablet for email, web etc. additionally use it a lot for photo editing via Lightroom. Loved the 10.5, no complaints. Hated the apple pencil charging/pairing design but used it a lot and always wondered how editing would be with more screen to work with.

So after a week with the 12.9, I just don’t think it’s for me. While smaller than the old 12.9, it is still significantly bigger than the old 10.5, and that size difference makes it very hard to do simple tasks while laying in bed, on the go, standing up etc. it’s really only nice when sitting at a desk or table.

So I ordered the 11”. Hopefully I enjoy it as much as I did the 10.5

I bought the 12.9 before I bought my first 10.5 about a year ago. After a week I was ready to move to the 10.5. I did not waste my time this year and jumped right on a 11"

 

[off_piste]

I’m the opposite, had a 12.9 first gen iPad Pro and was really thinking about getting a smaller iPad this turn but then when I saw how small the 11’ looks side by side with the 12.9 decided to go for the larger one.

Can see the advantages of having the 11’ especially while travelling but don’t think I could get used with the smaller size

It’s funny because I got the 12.9” specifically FOR traveling. It’s much lighter and more compact than my work laptop but still has productive screen real estate.

 

[Stokkes]

If you loved the 10.5, loved the size, loved the portability you're going to love the 11".

More benefits, no compromises compared to the 10.5. You get more screen, better performance, full-sized app on a 2/3 split screen app (vs. iphone size on the 10.5).

The 12.9" is great. I've had both (just returned the 12.9 on my last day of my return period) and while that 12.9" screen is to die for, the sheer portability and inconscpicuousness of the 11" makes it my favourite of the two.

 

[shareef777]

Coming from the 10.5, I figured I could use the added real estate of the new 12.9 considering it is now a fair amount smaller than the old 12.9. I used the 10.5 as a daily tablet for email, web etc. additionally use it a lot for photo editing via Lightroom. Loved the 10.5, no complaints. Hated the apple pencil charging/pairing design but used it a lot and always wondered how editing would be with more screen to work with.

So after a week with the 12.9, I just don’t think it’s for me. While smaller than the old 12.9, it is still significantly bigger than the old 10.5, and that size difference makes it very hard to do simple tasks while laying in bed, on the go, standing up etc. it’s really only nice when sitting at a desk or table.

So I ordered the 11”. Hopefully I enjoy it as much as I did the 10.5

Same situation for me. Tried the 12.9 for a week and it simply can’t be used held up. I only found it comfortable to use in my lap (with the folio keyboard) or on a desk. Returned it for the 11” and found it to be a substantial improvement. The 12.9” would be an ideal laptop replacement, if it wasn’t for the limited OS.

 

[stevo8]

Two days into using the 11” and I am certain it’s a far better tablet for me. Swapped back to the 12.9 a couple times just to see if I’ll miss the screen size and I am sure I won’t.

One thing I don’t see mentioned much is viewing distance. I find myself holding the 12.9 further away from me when watching video content. So laying in bed it’s more natural for my eyes to view it at a distance that puts my arms uncomfortably extended. With the 11, it’s perfectly comfortable and natural to view at closer distances. Like holding it on my chest in bed, arms bent etc.

 

[GreenPea]

Coming from the 10.5, I figured I could use the added real estate of the new 12.9 considering it is now a fair amount smaller than the old 12.9. I used the 10.5 as a daily tablet for email, web etc. additionally use it a lot for photo editing via Lightroom. Loved the 10.5, no complaints. Hated the apple pencil charging/pairing design but used it a lot and always wondered how editing would be with more screen to work with.

So after a week with the 12.9, I just don’t think it’s for me. While smaller than the old 12.9, it is still significantly bigger than the old 10.5, and that size difference makes it very hard to do simple tasks while laying in bed, on the go, standing up etc. it’s really only nice when sitting at a desk or table.

So I ordered the 11”. Hopefully I enjoy it as much as I did the 10.5

How is your arm doing? (after lugging that beast around: being snarky
I plan to go the same route with the Ipad Pro 11".

 

[lax28]

I’m the opposite, had a 12.9 first gen iPad Pro and was really thinking about getting a smaller iPad this turn but then when I saw how small the 11’ looks side by side with the 12.9 decided to go for the larger one.

Can see the advantages of having the 11’ especially while travelling but don’t think I could get used with the smaller size

While I do think there is a perfect size iPad out there for everyone, and you should if uncertain try it at home an use your return window if not happy. I think comparing them only in store and side by side is hard. If you have ever shopped for TVs or better yet furniture for you home things always look smaller in store then when you get them home. You know looks like it will fit perfectly only to realize what looked small isn’t that small. I think they both appear a lot smaller in the store on the big tables and the 11”even smaller next to the 12.9. When in reality they both will really seem bigger once home, not only will the 11 not be so tiny but the 12.9 will seem bigger as well, it looked perfect in store and now at home looks big.

Like I said there is a perfect one out there for all of us, we just need to find it. Try them out, tells us what you think and good luck to everyone in getting the perfect sized one.

 

[J0ker]

Personally, the 11" is perfect for me too. We own a couple other iPads and a couple 15" MBPs and the 11" is perfect due to portability. For any kind of serious work, we go to the laptop, every time.

This isn't to knock the 12.9" and for those who chose that (it's really a nice device), but everyone has their reasons. The 11" vs 12.9" thread is currently still in full effect with people defending their purchases and it's interesting to see the poll go back and forth (I figured it would be pretty split).

 

[Ghost31]

I feel the same way my man. I had the firs and 2nd gen 12.9 and over time my excitement over “look how big this thing is! Laptop replacementtttt” really diminished and I got to the point where I really had to justify taking it out of my bag or even picking it up. There was always that hesitation “i’m gonna have to hold it a certain way because its so big” that made me use it less and less over time. I got to a point earlier this year where I used my phone most of the time.

Then I figured screw it. I knew a big iPad update was coming but I didn’t wanna wait any longer so in June I picked up an iPad 10.5 and everything just felt so right. I used it so much more often and it became my little companion that I would read more on, watch more stuff on, use more in bed. It became immediately obvious that I had made a mistake over the past couple years with the 12.9.

Now I have the 11 inch and its just pure perfection. I want to keep this one until it literally doesn’t work anymore

 

[TrueBlou]

Two days into using the 11” and I am certain it’s a far better tablet for me. Swapped back to the 12.9 a couple times just to see if I’ll miss the screen size and I am sure I won’t.

One thing I don’t see mentioned much is viewing distance. I find myself holding the 12.9 further away from me when watching video content. So laying in bed it’s more natural for my eyes to view it at a distance that puts my arms uncomfortably extended. With the 11, it’s perfectly comfortable and natural to view at closer distances. Like holding it on my chest in bed, arms bent etc.

Well that’s all that matters, you’re the one that has to live with it and you’re the one that has to be happy with it.
We’re all going to have different opinions on the screen size and they just won’t apply to everyone else.

I tried going to the 10.5 last year from the 12.9 and didn’t last long before going back to the 12.9 and again the new 12.9 this year.
I love the extra real estate for drawing, split screen and so on. I also find it easier to read mixed medium PDFs on the bigger screen and comics, which I always found myself squinting at on the smaller screen. Though unlike you, I don’t hold them any differently in bed or anything.

But at the end of the day, that’s why there’s 4 different sizes of iPad I suppose. My wife, until she inherited the 10.5 Pro I didn’t like, refused to use anything larger than an iPad Mini.
Well, she was forever stealing my Pro to draw on. At least giving her my 10.5 has solved that problem and she’s gotten used to the slightly larger size now.

 

[tromboneaholic]

My wife, until she inherited the 10.5 Pro I didn’t like, refused to use anything larger than an iPad Mini.
Well, she was forever stealing my Pro to draw on. At least giving her my 10.5 has solved that problem and she’s gotten used to the slightly larger size now.

My wife is the same way. The only time she will use anything other than her iPad Mini is when she needs to use the Pencil. She loves her Mini, but it was always too small for my taste. Now that I went from a 9.7 inch iPad Air 2 to 11 inch iPad Pro, her Mini seems even smaller to me than before.

 

[TrueBlou]

My wife is the same way. The only time she will use anything other than her iPad Mini is when she needs to use the Pencil. She loves her Mini, but it was always too small for my taste. Now that I went from a 9.7 inch iPad Air 2 to 11 inch iPad Pro, her Mini seems even smaller to me than before.

Yeah they will that. I’m using the wife’s old Mini for debugging apps just now. Switching from the 12.9 to the Mini is like switching to an iPhone
How do people cope?

I kid of course I know it’s the favoured size for a lot of people.
Just not me, heck I never even got productive on an iPad until the 12.9 came around. Before that they were just consumption devices for me.