11" vs. 12.9": Why I Chose the 12.9-inch iPad Pro
Here's a quick list of the differences between the two and why I personally feel that the 12.9 inch iPad Pro is the better choice for me.
Back in October of 2020 when I was picking the size of my new iPad, I had to pick between the 11 inch and 12.9 inch iPad Pros (and also the iPad Air). Given the big price difference, I was thinking about taking the 11 inch iPad. But with another person encouraging me to get the 12.9 inch iPad Pro, I decided to go with the larger model.
While I've felt some regrets over the past year and a half, I still feel that the 12.9 inch iPad (which I'm typing on right now) has been the best choice for me. In this post, I'll go over both sides of the argument, explaining the pros of both the 12.9-inch model and the 11-inch model.
4 Things I like About The 12.9-inch Model
Just as a quick note before we begin, I don't have an 11-inch iPad Pro that I'm comparing my 12.9-inch iPad with. Instead, I'll be comparing the 12.9-inch model with an older iPad Air.
Additionally, I have the 2020 model of the iPad Pro, which does not have the new display features of the 2021 iPad Pro. For that reason, I won't be considering display as a reason I bought the 12.9-inch model.
Multitasking
I think one of the biggest reasons people tend to go for the 12.9-inch model is the multi-tasking advantage. And I have to agree with this.
With the larger screen, it is far easier to have two apps open at once. As someone who uses my iPad every single day for school, writing, reading, note-taking, coding, and more, having multiple apps open on my iPad is a key part of my routine. That's especially important because the iPad is already limited in multi-tasking compared to MacBooks and other laptops.
Although you can multi-task on the 11-inch model, it feels a lot more restricted than with the 12.9-inch model.
Taking Notes
Because the 12.9-inch model is better at multi-tasking, it's also better for taking notes. On top having a larger screen to take notes with, taking notes with a textbook/presentation and a note-taking app opened is much easier with the 12.9-inch model.
That's not to say that the 11-inch model is bad for note-taking. In fact, I would argue that in some cases, the 11-inch model is actually better. For instance, students with relatively small desks in their schools may enjoy an 11-inch model, due to its smaller size. Similarly, some people prefer to have an actual textbook instead of a digital textbook. While a textbook open in split view on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is displayed bigger than on the 11-inch iPad Pro, an actual textbook provides the best viewing experience.
In my case, I prefer digital textbooks, even if I have to zoom in to read text or look at diagrams.
Typing
In terms of typing, I can't really say how good the 12.9-inch model is compared to the 11-inch model. I haven't experienced an 11-inch model in real life, so I'm going to base this off of what I read online.
The 12.9-inch iPad does have a superior keyboard, but it does look like people quickly become accustomed to the 11-inch model after using it for a while.
At the time of purchase, I chose to go with the 12.9-inch model, because I felt that I would be constantly switching between my iPad and my old laptop a lot, and I didn't want to keep on making typing mistakes because of varying keyboard sizes. I don't know if that's a correct assumption, but that was a reason I used to justify the 12.9-inch model over the 11-inch model.
Productivity
Another thing I love about the 12.9-inch model is the forced productivity. While I can't guarantee that you'll become instantly productive with the 12.9-inch model, the 12.9-inch model will limit the amount of fun you can have with your device. Some people may view this as a bad thing, but I view this as a good thing.
With its large size, I rarely watch YouTube videos on my iPad (though when I do watch videos, the 12.9-inch's larger screen definitely helps). That ultimately means that I rarely get carried away or procrastinate on my iPad. That's great for me, since I use my iPad to do work, take notes, debate, research, etc. But for people who purchase the 12.9" iPad to play games, this may be a downside.
3 Things I like About The 11-inch Model
Next, let's move on to 3 things I like about the 11-inch model.
Portability
Given the smaller size of the 11-inch model, it's a much better option for those that need portability. When I first got my iPad, I was stuck in distance learning. During this time period, I thought that portability would be a huge issue once I returned to in-person school.
But if I'm being honest, I didn't care as much as I thought I would about portability. The weight/size of my iPad haven't been an issue for me, and I haven't even really thought about wanting a more portable iPad since distance learning.
Fun
This ties into the productivity point from before, but the 11-inch iPad is the more fun model. It's the model that's easier to game with, watch movies on, or consume content with. And as I've mentioned before, this could either be a good or a bad thing, depending on the reason behind why you're purchasing an iPad.
If you're purchasing an iPad to do work with, the 12.9" is probably the better option for you.
Price
As always, price is a major factor in making a purchase decision between the two devices. With a 300 dollar price difference between the base models of the 11" and 12.9" iPads, price is likely one of the largest factors for most people.
I still feel a bit of regret when I see the price difference ($200 when I first got my iPad and $50 due to a larger Magic Keyboard), but I know that this 300 dollar price difference has likely been worth it. After all, I doubt that I would have had as much success with launching a volunteer marketing agency, a blog, or debate if I had used a smaller device.
Conclusion
Ultimately, although there are certainly times where I regret going for the larger model, the 12.9" was the right choice for me.
What about you? What size iPad do you have, and do you think it was the right choice?
Thanks!
Aditya